This picture was taken in 2023 at Dune 45, a massive sand dune in Namibia.
I realized that a portrait orientation captured the immense scale of the dune more effectively than a landscape shot (though I took several in that orientation as well). It emphasizes the loneliness of this tree—the gatekeeper on duty.
I was lucky to capture the moment the wind picked up; the blowing sand reinforces the sense of a harsh environment—after all, no one enjoys being caught in a sandstorm, not even this tree—and adds a unique touch to the photo, bringing a sense of movement to a static desert landscape.
