George Barr (at Behind the Lens) posted a message at his blog that made me think about a recent experience photographing one of the classic views in Death Valley, Zabriskie Point.

A frequent occurrence is to come home with a good shot that has nothing to do with what you went out to take, that the spot you anticipated would work well doesn’t, but 10 minutes later you stumble on something really good.

I had gotten up very early to photograph the sunrise at this spectacular location. Ultimately I did get some landscape images that morning that I like but, much to my surprise, some of the images from that morning that please me the most are not the landscape photographs that I went there to create.

After setting up near the other photographers – and there are almost always other photographers shooting this scene – we waited and watched for the right light. At one point, it occured to me to turn my attention to photographing the photographers instead of the scene. I moved my tripod back a bit and ended up with several photographs that I like a lot, but which are not your typical Zabriskie Point landscapes.

Two Photographers, Zabriskie Point. Death Valley National Park, California. April 4, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (Sales)

Afterwards, I did turn my attention back to the sublime early morning landscape, and I came away with some landscape photographs that I like as well. Then, having finished (or so I thought) the morning light, I headed back down the paved path toward the parking lot.

Along the way, I happened to look at a scene that I had walked past on previous visits – and pretty much ignored as I walked on to get in position to photograph The Obvious. To be unsophisticated in my description, this scene was essentially some small mounds of dry mud with a secondary dirt ridge in the background. I almost didn’t bother, but something made me take a few additional minutes to set up my equipment there on the paved walkway a few seconds up the hill from the parking lot.

The resulting photo, which I’ll post soon, has surprised me by becoming one of my favorites from my early April trip to Death Valley.

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George Barr (at Behind the Lens) posted a message at his blog that made me think about a recent experience photographing one of the classic views in Death Valley, Zabriskie Point.

A frequent occurrence is to come home with a good shot that has nothing to do with what you went out to take, that the spot you anticipated would work well doesn’t, but 10 minutes later you stumble on something really good.

I had gotten up very early to photograph the sunrise at this spectacular location. Ultimately I did get some landscape images that morning that I like but, much to my surprise, some of the images from that morning that please me the most are not the landscape photographs that I went there to create.

After setting up near the other photographers – and there are almost always other photographers shooting this scene – we waited and watched for the right light. At one point, it occured to me to turn my attention to photographing the photographers instead of the scene. I moved my tripod back a bit and ended up with several photographs that I like a lot, but which are not your typical Zabriskie Point landscapes.

Two Photographers, Zabriskie Point. Death Valley National Park, California. April 4, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (Sales)

Afterwards, I did turn my attention back to the sublime early morning landscape, and I came away with some landscape photographs that I like as well. Then, having finished (or so I thought) the morning light, I headed back down the paved path toward the parking lot.

Along the way, I happened to look at a scene that I had walked past on previous visits – and pretty much ignored as I walked on to get in position to photograph The Obvious. To be unsophisticated in my description, this scene was essentially some small mounds of dry mud with a secondary dirt ridge in the background. I almost didn’t bother, but something made me take a few additional minutes to set up my equipment there on the paved walkway a few seconds up the hill from the parking lot.

The resulting photo, which I’ll post soon, has surprised me by becoming one of my favorites from my early April trip to Death Valley.

—–

Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don’t feel like doing them.– Julius Erving

Seen at Oboeinsight
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Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don’t feel like doing them.– Julius Erving

Seen at Oboeinsight
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