Abstract dunes and soft light

The Illusion of Stillness

Being surrounded by giant dunes as far as the eye can see, is a surreal experience. The Namib dunes are some of the tallest dunes in the world and the blowing winds create patterns along the surface of the dune, as well as slowly moving the dunes across the desert floor. The darker areas on the surface of the dunes contain iron that contrasts with the light-colored sand to emphasize the texture created by the wind.

An unusual weather pattern caused the sand to take on a velvety appearance due to the soft light combined with the wind-blasted surfaces. This photograph “Illusion of Stillness”, from my Winds and Time series, is a photograph that explores one of those shapes created by the winds and contrasts it with the sky. Many of the photographs in my Winds and Time series are abstract in composition as I explored the shapes and patterns of the desert.