The Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado, March 2021, Part 5

There was a brief sleet storm just after I went to bed the second night of our stay near the Great Sand Dunes National Park.  It was going to be a very cold night, so I wondered how the sleet and cold would impact our morning photography.

We arose before daybreak to get into the dunes before sunrise.  It was 17 degF, the coldest morning we had experienced during this trip.

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021

The dunes were dusted by the overnight sleet.  This added interest to the landscape, but the sleet and cold temperatures preserved footprints from the previous day.

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021

At least the footprints were somewhat muted, but there seemed no way to avoid getting footprints into photographs.  I might have removed these in Lightroom, but I’m sure the results would not have been satisfactory.

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021

In a valley between dunes, I found interesting patterns, where there either were no footprints or I could easily exclude those from my photos.

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021

 

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021
Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021

The sleet dusted, frosty sand dunes with snow covered mountains and clouds over them were good for making black and white images.

Snow and Sleet on the Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, March 2021

This wraps up the highlights of my March 2021 photography in the Great Sand Dunes.

Thanks for following,

Ken