#52weeksofnature Photo Contest Week 28 Winner
The winner of Week 28 of our #52weeksofnature photo contest is Jeff Johnson (@jeffjohnson101). Sometimes the break of day over white sands can add the proper touch of color. Jeff has won a $100 gift code to hippytree.com and we are donating to the Surfrider Foundation in his name. Learn more about Jeff below.
Where was the image shot?
White Sands National Monument, New Mexico
What camera did you use and what were the settings?
Camera: Canon 5D mark IV
Lens: Canon 16-35 f/2.8 (with LEE 0.6 ND Soft Grad Filter)
Shutter Speed: 1/13
Aperture: f/7.1
ISO: 640
Was there any special preparation required to capture the photo?
White Sands has locked gates with specific entry and exit times, but you can book an early entry with the rangers. I’ve learned that shooting sand dunes can be tricky and the longer focal lengths, such as a 70-200mm, do better to get that depth and compression effect with all the shapes and shadows. However, for this image I shot wide because I wanted to get low to use the sand ripples as leading lines and have the bush as a foreground element.
How long have you been shooting?
I started shooting in the water as a teenager with one of those yellow, plastic Minoltas. In those days I was more interested in being on the other side of the lens, so shooting didn’t really take root until later. It’s been a straight up obsession for the last six years.
What's your favorite subject matter to shoot?
The top three subjects that make me feel the most alive are anything ocean related, natural landscapes and astrophotography. The last couple years I’ve been doing my best to get out somewhere new for every Milky Way window.
Do you shoot with a crew or shoot solo?
I shoot to connect deeply with nature, get into flow state, hang with friends and be creative. Sometimes it’s solo but most of the time it’s with the crew that makes me laugh till it hurts.
