Here is( yet another) photograph from an astounding early-April afternoon and evening of wind and sand storms, a passing weather front, desert landscape, and transforming light. We were south of this location in the middle of the day and had heard a forecast for high winds and blowing sand. Sure enough, the wind began to rise, and when I looked far to the north I could see the dust rising. We quickly headed that way.
There was an unusual conjunction of conditions. The high winds were whipping up sand and dust and sending it high into the air and far up into desert mountains to the northeast. At the same time the remnants of a passing weather front were building clouds above the blowing dust and sand, and virga was falling from some of the clouds. Just before sunset I began to photograph this scene, and I kept photographing as the colors and light transitioned to sunset and then dusk.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.
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