Death Valley Morning, Sand Dunes and Grapevine Mountains

This photo was taken as the very first light of the day made it’s way into the valley. The sky was slightly overcast, giving a very soft look to the photo. The color of the sand is actually a light tan. On film, however, the shadow areas take on a blue cast from the reflected color of the sky, and the sunlit areas take on a warm glow from the rising sun. Areas in between appear nearly white. Five minutes after this photo was taken, the scene had changed completely, with the sky turning a darker blue, and the light becoming harsh.