Tag Archives: arid

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Gullies in Soft Light #2

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Gullies in Soft Light #2
“Gullies in Soft Light ” — Eroded gullies and ridges in soft light, Zabriskie Point.

In the right light (and perhaps with a certain amount of post-processing) the geological patterns in a place like this can be drawn out and emphasized. But most of the time they are rather subtle, with pastel colors and low levels of contrast. This is especially true early and late in the day when the formations are not in direct sunlight. In this series of photographs from Zabriskie Point I decided to embrace the low contrast light and allow subtleties of shape, texture, and color to predominate.

Previously I mentioned that I ended up here because in the predawn twilight I thought I saw the potential for a spectacular sunrise sky. You cannot predict such things with certainty, and this time the colors did not develop as I hoped. Since I was there and set up to make photographs, I decided to use a long lens and focus on smaller details of this area’s landscape.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Gulllies and Strata, Morning Light

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Gulllies and Strata, Morning Light, Death Valley
“Gulllies and Strata, Morning Light” — Highly eroded gullies and strata, Death Valley National Park.

Some geological formations in Death Valley National Park are simply otherworldly. The sparse vegetation lays these features bare — they are more visible than in places covered by forests and other vegetation. The landscape has been uplifted, split, warped, and eroded in remarkable ways. Here tilted strata emerge in deeply eroded land, and morning shadows add more contrast.

I’ve often noted the irony that this place, known for its dryness and heat, is one of the best places to clearly see the effects of water on the landscape. The material in these formations was laid down under water millennia ago. And the diagonal gullies were created by water erosion. If you have your eyes open, you’ll see that the evidence of water’s effect on the landscape is visible everywhere in this park.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Southern California

Desert Church, Cloud-Filled Sky

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Desert Church, Cloud-Filled Sky
“Desert Church, Cloud-Filled Sky” — Cloud-filled skies above the St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Roman Catholic Church in Trona, California

This is not the first time I have photographed this striking desert church, and isn’t even the only photograph of the subject from my visit to this area earlier this year. Trona is a small, hard-scrabble town in the desert between Ridgecrest and Death Valley. It is build around extraction industries, primarily based on “mining” the mineral deposits left behind when water evaporates from nearly Searles Lake. It is a tough place, full of abandoned buildings, and terribly hot at times.

The church has caught my attention for years as I’ve passed through on my way to Death Valley. It is one of the most unusual Catholic churches I have seen. Its construction seems entirely utilitarian, and its shape is notable blocky and square. There’s nothing colorful or soaring about its structure. This all seems fitting in this harsh environment. On this visit I paused to photograph it again, this time with an impressive cloud-filled sky from a departing late-winter storm.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Mountains and Dunes, Sunset

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Mountains and Dunes, Sunset
“Mountains and Dunes, Sunset” — Evening light on desert mountains with sand dunes in shadow, Death Valley.

Until you spend time there, it is possible to imagine that the terrain of Death Valley corresponds to traditional notions of “desert” — vast open and flat areas largely filled with sand. There are sand dunes, of course, but they cover a very tiny fraction of the entire park. There are open, flat areas that are not dunes, but they also are arguably not the area’s main feature. But everywhere there are mountains, and the arid landscape lays bare their forms.

I was in what are perhaps the best-known Death Valley dunes on this evening. I arrived in the late afternoon when the light was still strong, planning to be in an interesting location when the shadows of the Cottonwood Range would sweep across the flatlands before sunset. I made this photograph just after that happened, and while the dunes are in shadow there is strong and warmly-colored side light on the more distant mountains.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.