Dune, II

Colorado, March 2024.

From the video Ambient photography in the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado.

Dune, I

Colorado, March 2024.

From the video Ambient photography in the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado.

Shadows and dunes

Colorado, March 2024.

From the video Ambient photography in the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado.

Ambient photography in the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado

Last stop in my spring road trip across the American West: the breathtaking Great Sand Dunes National Park, in Colorado. I only had a full day there, but so many things to capture and enjoy. From the howling coyotes that woke me up in the middle of the night under a full moon, to the relentless wind and menacing thunderstorms, this place is always a challenge. Which makes the images you make there the more rewarding.

Scars of a road trip

I’ve talked about the scars of war before. How cameras and lenses are meant to be used rather than left on a shelf.

This belief of mine was put to the test during my latest road trip across the West. I got snow, heavy rain, intense winds, and storms. I shot along the coast, in the rainforest, in the high desert, amidst the red landscapes of Utah, and on sand dunes. It was exhilarating at times, frustrating at others.

Twice, I dropped my cameras.

The first incident happened at the Painted Hills in Oregon. My video camera (a7iv) took a bad fall while I was recording myself on a windy late afternoon. I was rushing everything and failed to properly secure the tripod.

My heart skipped a few beats when I turned around and saw the destruction. I feared I’d lost the camera. Fortunately, it was “just” the 17-28mm lens that broke on the mount.

Now, that lens lives in my a7iv as I use it all the time for my videos. So hastily, I purchased another copy (a used one) on eBay. It turns out that was another bad, rushed decision on my part. Because once I got home a few days later, I managed to put the “broken” lens back together, and it seems to work just fine! So now, I own two 17-28mm lenses.

That wasn’t the end of my gear related accidents, though. A couple of weeks later, in the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, I dropped my stills camera in the sand.

This was a rare accident. I don’t remember what I was doing with my video camera, but I thought that holding the a7riv between my legs was a good idea. I often do it without any trouble. However, this was a very, very windy day. I lost a bit of balance at some point and I instinctively tried to correct myself by shifting one of my legs, which made the camera fall into the sand. Thankfully, these cameras are well sealed and nothing bad happened. I cleaned it with the air blower, and that was it.

We are all one road trip older now -- my cameras and I. They bear new scars, and I probably grew some new gray hairs. We stumbled, we fell, but we stood back up. We are prepared for the next adventure. Unsure if any wiser than before, but certainly still strong enough.

Light breaking through

Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado, September 2020.

From the video How to make the most of a photography trip (from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado).

Dark tree of the Rockies

Rocky Mountains National Park, Colorado, September 2020.

Colorado cabin

Colorado, September 2020.

That time when temperatures dropped over 60F overnight, as we went from smoky air and scorching sun, to a big snowstorm that blanketed the Rocky Mountains. Watch the video of that adventure here.

Rocks of the Rockies

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, September 2020.

A beautiful hike through some thick fog.

Rocky forest

Colorado, September 2020.

The Rocky Mountains welcomed me with a very early snowfall, at the beginning of September. I couldn't have asked for better conditions, as fresh snow covered the mountains, and the fog swallowed the forest.

The long way back home

This is the last video from the road trip. It documents the long drive back home, after 3 months on the road. Hairball was kind of falling apart, so that made the trip a bit... interesting. I hope you enjoy it.

How we travel

We are moving again, leaving Colorado and heading towards Utah. In this video, we talk about how we travel, why we do it this way, what we carry with us, and I make some images in Salt Lake City.

How to make the most of a photography trip

There’s never enough time at a location. That was definitely what happened to me in my recent visit to Rocky Mountain National Park. A beautiful and huge place, and only 2 days to enjoy it.

In this video, I share some tips on how to make the most of a photography trip, so we can go back home with as many good images as possible.

Nasty weather, happy photographer

I am on the road again! And what better way to start the trip than with an unexpected snowstorm at the beginning of September. I welcomed and embraced the snow, and tried to make good images at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Photographing Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

I had an amazing time at Great Sand Dunes National Park. I had to drive quite a lot to get here, but it's one of those few locations on my list of "places I must go back". A breathtaking landscape.