A Perfect Curve in the Dark

A Perfect Curve in the DarkMonahans Sandhills State Park, Texas This photograph was made at Monahans Sandhills State Park after wandering the dunes just before sunset. I came across this single dune and stopped immediately. The curve was nearly perfect, soft and intentional, like something drawn rather than formed. It reminded me of the idealized dunes you see in films or illustrations, almost too clean to feel accidental. The irony was that it pointed the wrong way for what

used only to balance depth and light as it changed slowly over time

Where I grew up in the Texas Panhandle

That tension is what drew me in

The final image reflects the conditions that existed that night

I realized how often my night work had revolved around the Milky Way

avoiding exaggerated contrast or color

The Big Bend region of Texas is one of the darkest and most remote areas in the continental United States

built around repetition and balance rather than a single focal point

This image was created using a simple focus stack to maintain clarity across the foreground stone and surrounding rock while preserving the strong sun star created by a high aperture setting

this area sees very little foot traffic compared to other parts of the park

This photograph came from a brief

adding depth without overpowering the landscape