This is another of the “imaginary landscape” photographs. They all begin with the actual landscape, but then I treat the images freely, modifying them in a variety of ways, though always with the the original source material at least somewhat identifiable.
Continue reading Playa and Plants — Imaginary Landscape
There is something. a little unusual about this post. I didn’t pick this photograph so much for aesthetic reasons as for its inclusion of some fascinating features in this part of Death Valley. Let’s start with the obvious. There are desert gold wildflowers in the foreground, but if you look closely you can see many more of them across this broad Vally on the dark hillside. Keep reading to learn something about that hillside.
Continue reading Southern Death Valley
This season I took advantage of the rare opportunity to photograph reflections of desert mountains in Death Valley. We were there just before Christmas 2025 and then again near the end of February 2026. The Lake Manly was there both times, though it had visibly diminished on the second visit. But from up close its surface still reflected the surrounding mountains and sky.
Continue reading Lake Manly, Morning Clouds, Reflection
On this sunny February day, we stopped briefly at a wetland area in California’s Central Valley, breaking up the long drive home from Death Valley National Park. We had actually departed the park one day earlier, stopping overnight and then continuing the next morning. Shortening the drive this way made it easier to get here before sunset. We found geese in a pond, and paused to make some photos before continuing on home.
Continue reading About to Land