Description:

Rooted in golden fields beneath towering dunes, a solitary juniper leans toward the rising sun — a quiet testament to resilience and hope. Alone at the Dunes invites reflection on how we are shaped by the light we seek.

Story behind the shot:
I spent a week and a half touring around Colorado in a campervan in 2021. One of the first stops on my tour was the tallest sand dune in North America at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. That dune pictured here stands over 700 feet tall and was a challenge to hike up. When I had arrived the previous day, I hiked up to the top to catch sunset across the plains that rest at the foot of these dunes. at that time, the dunes were full of people. The following morning I woke up to emptiness. Not far from where I had camped, this lone tree sat between me and the giant dunes. The rocky mountain range extends beyond the dunes and is the guardian of the morning light. I takes a little longer in the morning for the light to reach this area as the sun needs to rise over these massive mountains since the dunes are to the west of the range. Sitting among a field of sunflowers I couldn't help but notice everything turned toward the rising sun. Even the lone juniper trees growth seems to have been influenced by the anticipation of the delayed morning light and appears to be reaching for its warm embrace.