Sand Dunes Photography Tips

The way I see it, sand dunes are among the most wonderful places in the world. They’re the very definition of a windswept landscape — the product of our planet’s most fundamental forces. They also exist everywhere, from coastal regions to deserts that span entire continents. Below, I’ll offer some of my top tips for photographing sand dunes and getting incredible images.

Before I begin, here’s a quick summary of the most important tips for sand dunes photography:

• Pack weatherproof camera equipment.
• Don’t change lenses if it’s windy.
• Use a clear filter to protect your lens.
• Bring a tripod that you can clean.
• Look for small patterns in the sand.
• Simplify your composition.
• Pay attention to footprints in your image.
• Don’t fixate on just one subject.
• Pay attention to the light and color.

Below, I’ll go into some more detail and real-world examples of how to apply these tips in practice.

1) Finding sand dunes

The first step is simple: Find some sand dunes. It might sound hard if you don’t live in the desert, but there are more dunes around the world than you might think. You probably have a good place in mind already. If not, you might be able to find amazing dunes somewhere that you travel.

Whatever the case, do some research ahead of time. For example, a lot of people know that Death Valley has beautiful sand dunes, but did you know that there are five separate dune fields across the park, ranging from popular to rarely visited? Each one has unique qualities for photography, and you might prefer one over another depending upon the type of photos you want. That’s something you should know before you visit.

I probably don’t need to tell you that the best option here is just to search online. As early as possible, figure out everything you can about the dunes: their size, height, accessibility, and so on. Along with that, search Google Images to figure out how they might look when you arrive. The important thing is to be prepared and ready to capture the photos that you want.

2) Make your equipment sand-proof

This one’s a bit more difficult. Most camera gear isn’t built to hold up perfectly in sandy conditions. If you’re not careful, you could end up damaging or even ruining your equipment.

The good news — if it’s not windy, you’ll usually be fine. Unless you actually drop your camera, you probably won’t get too much sand in it. (And even if there is a little, you can just wipe it off without worrying too much.)

The bigger problem is that wind is very common on sand dunes. That’s usually why they formed in the first place. So, how can you keep your equipment safe when you’re walking through a swirling ocean of sand?

The best place to start is with your lens. Many lenses out there aren’t sealed for conditions like this. If enough sand lands on the focusing ring, for example, the ring could become rough and gritty afterward. That happened to me once, and it took a few months before the lens was back to normal.

Worse — some lenses move in and out as they zoom or focus. If that’s true for your equipment, it’s a recipe for disaster. Even if just a few grains of sand fall on the lens while it’s extended, they might get stuck inside. This causes a scraping sound every time you zoom your lens in the future. That’s not good.

So, if possible, bring a lens that doesn’t move externally as you use it. This is the case for certain zoom lenses and a majority of prime lenses.

3) Should you change lenses?

If your camera lets you change lenses, a lot of what I said above is even more relevant. If sand is flying around, never expose sensitive parts of your equipment. So, changing lenses on a sand dune — if it’s windy, at least — is not something I recommend.

Of course, this does present a bit of an issue. If you can’t change lenses, and you also can’t use a moving zoom lens, are you stuck with just a single prime lens? Do you have to take every single photo at the dunes using the same focal length? Not necessarily. There are some lenses — usually more expensive options, but not always — that don’t move while you zoom them. Or, if you have multiple camera bodies, this is an excellent time to use a different lens on each one.

But, if these aren’t options for you, all is not lost. Unless you’re in the middle of a sandstorm, you can probably get away with using a zoom lens and homemade weatherproofing. Take a plastic bag, cut a hole for the front of your lens, and seal any sensitive areas off with rubber bands. Even as you zoom the lens in and out, you shouldn’t get any grains of sand falling onto the exposed part of the lens barrel. Again, this won’t work in the most extreme conditions, but it’s far better than nothing.

If you absolutely need to change lenses, wait until the wind dies down as much as possible. Turn your back to the wind and change lenses as quickly as possible, ideally pointing the camera at a downward angle while you do so (in order to minimize the amount of time sand can fall into the chamber). However, there’s no good solution if it’s a windy day, and the best route is to avoid changing lenses if possible.

4) Weatherproofing your other gear

Along with lenses, you also have to protect your camera and your tripod.

Cameras are easy. In general, you don’t need to take any extra steps to protect them from sand. That’s especially true if you have a weather-resistant DSLR or mirrorless camera. Chances are good that it’s already sealed for the level of sand that you’ll encounter. Still, if you have the chance to choose between multiple cameras, pick the one that is better sealed. You can never be too safe.

Tripods are bit more difficult. Even if it’s not windy, you’ll probably get plenty of sand on the lowest leg sections, just because they’ll be resting on the dunes. And, if you haven’t heard, sand is the number one killer of tripods. You might have experienced this before; I know I have (twice).

So, what can you do to avoid this fate? My top suggestion is not to bury your tripod’s locking mechanisms under the sand. More than any other part of your tripod, those are highly susceptible to damage.

For example, if you have twist locks or flip locks on the tripod legs, be sure that they stay above ground. The best thing you can do here is to extend the bottom, thinnest section on your tripod before any of the others. (And this is one of the few times where I recommend doing so, since it’s the least stable section on your tripod.)

Then, when you’re collapsing your tripod after you’ve finished taking pictures, make sure that there aren’t any grains of sand on the tubes before you close them. If there are, you might end up scratching the tripod or making the legs stick in the future.

Also, if you can take apart your tripod and clean it, do so as soon as possible. High-end tripods will have this ability. It’s the best way to extend the life of your tripod and minimize any damage. (If you’re interested, you can read more about using your tripod properly for landscape photography.)

5) Use a clear filter

The last equipment-related tip I have is to use a clear filter.

If sand is flying around everywhere, especially if you’re at a low angle, you’ll want to protect the front element of your lens. Even on modern lenses, it’s very possible to scratch the coatings on the front. And if that happens, it’s permanent. There’s nothing you can do to fix it except to send it out for repair.

I normally don’t use a clear filter for landscape photography. This is simply personal preference, but it’s rare to be in a situation where I’m especially worried about damaging the front element of my lens. Sand dunes are the exception. If you’re taking pictures in the dunes, and it’s windy, some sand will hit your front element. It might not scratch your lens — there’s no way to be certain — but it’s certainly not ideal, especially for prolonged periods of time.

So, do yourself a favor and use a clear filter (and make sure it’s a good one, or you’re at risk of losing significant amounts of sharpness). You might be using a clear filter already, but, if not, this is one time when it really helps.

6) The creative side of sand dunes photography

Photography is all about the creative side of things, and there are more opportunities to flex your artistic muscles at sand dunes than nearly any other type of landscape.

Why is this? It’s all about lines and shapes. Fundamentally, sand dunes are nothing but the pure elements of composition. Where else will you be able to find so many examples of diagonals, curves, patterns, repetition, harmony, and balance? It’s like walking on an abstract canvas. Use that to your advantage.

Sand dunes give you a huge opportunity for creative photography. My first recommendation is to pay attention to any small details and patterns that you see. You’ll find plenty, and some work quite well for photography.

Also, this is a wonderful opportunity to practice the art of simplification. Good landscape photos have a clear, strong, direct message. They say what you want them to say, and nothing more. No element of the image speaks counter to your message.

Because of the nature of sand dunes, simplification is very natural. You aren’t working with complex, chaotic landscapes in the first place. It’s very different from something like a rainforest, or even a city.

So, pick out the elements that you want, and eliminate everything else. This goes for plants or shrubs that you might see, as well as objects in the background. It’s easy to create very deliberate compositions. You have a lot of flexibility.

I also recommend moving around and searching for different subjects. There aren’t many landscapes with such a range of possible foregrounds and backgrounds that you can find just by moving around a little. Sand dunes are great for exploring.

Personally, when the light is good, this is one type of landscape where I’m always running around. There’s just so much stuff to photograph. You might come back with several good and unique images from one or two hours at the dunes.

So, don’t fixate just on a single subject and avoid moving. Normally, that might work in landscape photography — finding a good composition, and waiting there for the light — but I don’t recommend it here. Sand dunes simply have too many opportunities for photography.

On the same note, when you’re moving around, pay attention to your footprints. If you’re taking pictures on sand dunes, it’s very easy to run around from one composition to the next — and then ruin all of them because your own footprints are in the photo. So, whenever possible, tread carefully.

And, lastly, search for good light and color. In certain cases, the sand might reflect some colors in the sky, just like snow. Or, if the sun is low on the horizon, it can create interesting shadows that might work well as an abstract. There’s no end to the interesting lighting conditions you might encounter while taking sand dune photos, and it’s important to keep your eye out for whatever may occur.

7) Conclusion

Sand dunes are magnificent for photography. If you’ve taken pictures of them before, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat.

It definitely takes some planning to photograph sand dunes. You can’t just go in unprepared, or you might end up damaging your equipment. However, it’s not as difficult as you might think. If the light is right, and you’ve found some good dunes, you’ll come home with amazing photos.