Singing Sand Mountain #5
Dunhuang, China
2016

The more poetic name I came up with for this image, based on what made it catch my eye, is Mid-Autumn Festival Moon. I took this during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in China, which falls on a full moon. It is a time when people get together with family for a reunion, prayer, and giving thanks for the harvest. Special moon cakes are shared for the occasion. It’s sort of like a Chinese version of Thanksgiving in the U.S. It is the second-most important holiday of the year, after Tết.

A reporter for KR3 TV in Great Falls, Montana (and broadcast on their affiliates throughout the state) has been traveling with us on this China trip and filing reports for the news back home. Here is the segment he did on me.

http://www.krtv.com/clip/12747595/montana-photographer-finds-inspiration-in-china

Singing Sand Mountain #4
Dunhuang, China
2016

The leading edge of the dunes near town are pretty tracked up with tourists like me walking around, and others on camels, dune buggies, etc. I would love to be dropped in the interior of the 25 square mile dunes to view an unbroken expanse of dune shapes and curves. Or, A similar pristine view can be had with less effort by simply waiting until after a wind storm smooths out all the tracks near the parking lot.

Singing Sand Mountain #3
Dunhuang, China
2016

Here, by accentuating the shadows, I tried to make a string of tourists on camels on a one-hour tour look like a true caravan out for months on the Silk Road (which ran right through this area).

Singing Sand Mountain #2
Dunhuang, China
2016

Singing Sand Mountain #1
Dunhuang, China
2016

These sand dunes are so-named because of the audible noise they make when the wind is blowing. It was calm when we were there so we did not get the opportunity to hear them sing, but then we avoided breathing in the blowing sand so there is that to be thankful for. Here I’ve created an image reflecting how I imagine a strong wind and blowing sand would affect the view on a blinding hot day.

Four Times Loving You
Yumen City, China
2016

It just made sense to create this tetraptych from some photos I took the other day given that one of the photos they are exhibiting in China this year is this triptych called Social Media #1 I put together a few years ago:

Waiting
Dunhuang, China
2016

Dang, That’s Purty
Dunhuang, China
2016

That’s a pretty goof-ball title for this shot of a pagoda on the Dang River. I blame it on all the confusion from the goof-ball schedule (or lack thereof) they have us on. That, and my natural tendencies for such things.

Selfie
Jiuquan City, China
2016