I have been drawn to the desert ever since my first visit to the dunes in July of 2011. It is such a foreign environment to anything I knew while growing up in Germany, which probably explains my intense fascination. I’ve been back several times, and though no one in their right mind ever goes there in July, it is actually the best opportunity to capture the dunes in their most pristine and untouched state. Because of the intense heat (often times reaching in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit), you don’t see the remaining traces of foot or ATV traffic. I arrived that day in the late afternoon, which was perfect to set up a sunset shoot. I stayed overnight and observed a spectacular night sky. The best times for shooting are certainly sunset and sunrise, but I really liked the contrast in this particular shot, which I captured before packing up midmorning. The white sand contrasting with the dark blue sky, its a place of great contrast.