More dunes...

Mud flats like these lie hidden beneath the Mesquite Dunes - but when the sand is blown aside, the beautiful patterns emerge. The wet conditions had softened the mud, so I didn't step onto the flats... but when it is drier, the mud is hard enough to walk on. The cracks will widen as the weather dries up, and the mud will curl into fantastic patterns.

I took this shot a few minutes after the one in the Feb. 17 post - as we were leaving the dunes. The sun was still peaking through the clouds, and the soft light enhanced the colors on the ground. The sky was heavily textured - which added a lot of interest in this shot. I used a GND filter to help reduce the dynamic range. A tripod is always essential.

I want to take a minute to thank those of you who have commented on my blog, called, or emailed me recently. I appreciate all your kind words about my work, and it means a lot to me to hear from you. I hope I can continue to produce images that meet your expectations. :)