2008 - When traveling, I try to make time to visit most of the national and some of the more interesting state parks at least once every few years.  My last visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Park was about 2004 and I had a totally different camera system, photographic vision, and camera skills.  This visit I arrived early afternoon and had a wonderful rainstorm and perfect afternoon light to work with.  It was like a candy-store for a nature photographer.  Every where I looked on or near the dunes was a shot to take--and it only got better as sunset approached.  What I like about this image is that it combines the clearing storm in the sky, the direct sunlight on the dunes and the touch of light on the rocks behind the dunes. I believe I shot a few hundred images but this one best represents what I think when I hear "Great Sand Dunes".  Taken in the Great Sand Dunes National Park, Southern Colorado.

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