Sand Hill at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

This image was taken of the Mesquite Flat San Dunes in Stovepipe Wells, which is a part of Death Valley in California. This location must be accessed by car. It's recommended to drive 22.4 mi (36 km) west on Highway 190 and then park your car in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Parking (36.606029, -117.116142). Feel free to park in the main lot and walk in from there, but I've found that I prefer parking further east near a river washout (36.608797, -117.085412) and then walking in from there. Most of the compositions I've been happy with, I've found closer to east/southeast side of the dunes, so parking further east should be best. Sand dunes are always changing due to wind and light angles so be prepared to spend some time scouting out the area and putting in time to really explore. Reference the GPS coordinates provided and you'll be able to find a similar perspective.

You can photograph the Mesquite Flat San Dunes during any time of the year and find similar conditions, but beware of the extremely hot temperatures in the summer. I prefer to visit during the winter months when the heat is more bearable and during this time, I've found there's also a higher chance of wind storms.

In order to capture the harsh shadows (like I have in my photo), I recommend visiting at either sunrise or sunset. Try to get to this spot about 30 minutes before and you'll be met with really incredible light as the sun ascends and descends. The lighting can be unpredictable because of the wind patterns, so there's a chance the conditions could vary — be flexible! You'll usually want to avoid midday since the light will be too direct and harsh and will wash out any shadows that emphasize depth and dimension on the dunes.

Walking in sand is difficult, be prepared to put in some effort and wear the proper attire. I also recommend having a face covering, such as a bandana, or hat and glasses since the wind and sand combination can be really harsh. Water is a must, too!

If you have the opportunity, look to visit on days when the winds are over 20mph, which will blow sand everywhere and create an amazing atmosphere when the sun is at a low angle.

For this specific shot, I wanted to focus on one hill, rather than a vast perspective of the landscape. In doing this, I was able to enhance the features, like the shadows and shape of the hill, which allowed the hill to become the central focus of the shot.

I usually shoot with a telephoto lens for dune photos so I can zoom in on the details of the sand formations, but if you find the right area, a wide-angle lens can give incredible results. Experiment with both wide-angle and telephoto lenses to really open up your composition possibilities.

Make sure to bring along tripod for a longer exposure so you can capture the sand movement.

Death Valley is the largest National Park in the lower 48 — you could spend weeks here without seeing the same place twice! Some of the more popular photography spots include:

- Badwater Basin

- Zabriskie Point

- West Side Road

- Racetrack Playa

Additionally, Stovepipe Wells is the nearest small town where you can find food and gas and Furnace Creek, which is a bit further away, is a slightly larger town that's not too far.