Sand Dunes, Sunrise, Death Valley National Monument, California
Ansel Adams
Description
Subject Matter:
Taken at dawn, this photograph shows an expanse of sand dunes in the raking morning light. The dawn illuminates the silken, windswept surface of foremost dune’s slope, while its other side remains in shadow. The two slopes of the dune meet at an exact point, which forms a sinuous, almost serpentine line that meanders vertically away from the viewer. Light spills over this ridge, softly illuminating the striated patterns in the sand. The contrast of the light and dark dunes create a composition of interlocking shapes, their hard edges abutting one another. Rising pyramid-like in the distance, another dune is enveloped in deep shadow, which lends a sense of ominous magnificence to the scene.
Physical Description:
The photograph depicts an expanse of sand dunes in the morning light.
Usage Rights:
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