In the Field: Capturing the Otherworldly Eureka Dunes with OWC Atlas Cards
From a remote corner of Death Valley, photographer Lloyd Chambers puts OWC's Atlas camera cards to the test.
Lloyd Chambers • Jul 13, 2023
So much of photography is about being in the right place at the right time. In a lot of situations, capturing the image you're looking for at that right place and right time might only actually happen every few years. Some places are very hard to get to and no two days are ever the same.
As a photographer, the smartest thing you can do is to pick the gear that eliminates risk and potential failure as much as possible. Camera cards in particular―whether you're using SD cards or CFexpress cards―must be reliable above all else. You should buy an SD or CFexpress card and be able to ignore it or forget about it immediately afterward.
For this very reason, since 2022, I have captured all my images on OWC Atlas Ultra cards. Atlas Ultra SD V90 cards boast minimum sustained recording speeds of 90MB/s. Meanwhile, Atlas Ultra CFexpress cards are capable of minimum sustained write speeds of up to 1,300MB/s. Suffice it to say OWC Atlas Ultra cards are built with professionals in mind and have the speed and durability professionals expect.
High-performance, highest quality memory cards for the most demanding video recording uses of professional filmmakers and continuous burst mode shooting by advanced photographers.
High-performance, highest quality memory cards for advanced photography and video recording at maximum camera settings.
But instead of throwing more specs at you, let me show you what I mean. Eureka Dunes is a perfect example of one of those "right place, right time" environments. Very few environments are as challenging as Death Valley National Park, where these dunes are located.
Tucked away into a remote corner of Death Valley, Eureka Dunes is a miles-long playground that requires serious effort to reach and ascend. Different in details every time, I never tire of seeing it again.
Tie down the stuff in your car and check the fillings in your teeth for the jarring ride over 10 miles of “washboard” dirt road. Bring your fitness and your water bottle, because you’ll need both to summit. But gawking is fine too.
Eureka Dunes, East Side
Don’t drive to the east side unless digging your car out of ultra-fine sand seems fun. But it’s one of the best viewpoints. Two of my children went with me to the top back in 2007—tired them out but wow did they have fun coming down.
Eureka Dunes, Summit
Just when you thought you were at the top...
Eureka Dunes, high up on the Eastern Ridge
By the time you get to this height, you’ll have had a pretty serious workout. The better part of your water bottle might be gone.
Singing Sands
At the right time of year, pressure on the sand will make an eerie hum—the singing sands.
View from Eureka Dunes summit to White Mountain Peak
There’s that 10 miles of dirt road that leads to more dirt road that leads to pavement.
View towards Eureka Dunes
Follow the paved road to the dirt road turnoff.
