Tag Archives: california

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Wildflowers, Playa, and Mountains

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Wildflowers, Playa, and Mountains
“Wildflowers, Playa, and Mountains” — Desert gold blooms on gravel hills backed by Death Valley playa and desert mountains.

This was one of the first photographs I made on our late-February visit to Death Valley National Park. It was literally the first time I took the camera out after arriving, and the second exposure I made. We had entered the Valley, crossed it, and were starting our drive toward Beatty, Nevada. I felt that the scene encapsulated the scale of this valley and the surrounding desert mountains, and the patch of desert gold flowers was the icing on the cake.

When arriving at a location after a very long drive, it can be tempting to just set up camp or go to the hotel and crash. But I prefer to take the camera out and at least “prime the pump” by making a few photographs. That helps get things going, and marks my switch to photographer mode for the rest of the visit.

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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Tongue in Cheek

Blue Playa

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Blue Playa
“Blue Playa” — Intensely blue dry mud on Death Valley’s hidden “Blue Playa.”

I have photographed in Death Valley National Park for almost three decades. I have heard whispered rumors of this remarkable “Blue Playa” for years, but no one would share anything definite about it. All I knew was that somewhere in a remote and seldom-visited area of this vast park there was purportedly a small playa featuring astonishingly colorful soil which, in the right lighting conditions, is so blue that it rivals the color of a clear sky. This has been on my mind for years.

Since those who know weren’t talking, it was clear that I’d have to do some sleuthing. All I knew was that the place is remote, surrounded by difficult mountains, and not terribly large. Out of respect for the feature — and concern about potential damage should the location become widely known — I’m going to omit specific details. But here’s as much of the story as I can share publicly.

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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sky

Morning Sky, Edge of Lake Manly

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Morning Sky, Edge of Lake Manly
“Morning Sky, Edge of Lake Manly” — Morning cloud-filled sky above the shore of Lake Manly.

It looks like I’m finally coming to the end of this season’s Death Valley Photographs. But there were quite a few, many featuring Lake Manly, the temporary lake flooding Badwater Basin. When the lake appears after a wet year it gives us an unusual opportunity in this desert landscape — to photograph reflected sky and mountains where we would usually see a salt flat.

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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Crater Wall Detail

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Crater Wall Detail
“Crater Wall Detail” — Eroded strata of a Death Valley crater wall.

We re-visited this location in Death Valley at the recommendation of a friend. I have photographed here before but was never particularly inspired by the subject. We arrived late in the day, and almost didn’t get there in time for decent light… because we stopped before we got there when I was distracted by another subject.

We showed up just as the sun was dropping behind high ridges to the west, and clouds were further softening the light. That soft light is often good for a subject like this. For one thing it makes the subject less harsh. For another it reduces the contrast between highlights and shadows and opens up those shadows a bit.

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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.