Tag Archives: desert

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

View From A High Place

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“View From A High Place” — Looking out at Death Valley and the Grapevine Mountains from a viewpoint in a high canyon.

Elsewhere in California on this early winter day the skies were cloudy and rain was in the air. But in Death Valley the skies were (partly) blue and the temperatures were comfortable. We had a little extra time between stops so we headed up to this popular little canyon late in the day. On the way back down we came across this place where the dark canyon opened in the bright valley.

There is a lot of “Death Valley stuff” in this photograph. The distant playa is just above sea level, and in places is covered by impressive sand dunes. The distant desert mountains tower thousands of feet above the lowlands. Because there is little to no vegetation on them, their geology is laid bare. The dark foreground walls are near the opening at the bottom of a grand desert wash.

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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

Winter Desert Sky

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Winter Desert Sky
“Winter Desert Sky” — Evening clouds fill the winter sky above Death Valley.

We were in Death Valley just before Christmas 2025. Winter weather there is often beautiful, but it can change rapidly and difficult conditions are also possible — dust storms, rain, and even cold! This was one of those days. We woke up to gray skies and a forecast of rain arriving later that day. We had almost given up on our primary photographic objectives when we looked up and saw light on nearby peaks! There was apparently a brief break in the incoming clouds.

We sprang into action, heading out immediately and stopping at the first opportunity to photograph light on nearby peaks. We saw that it was even clearer to the north, so off we went in that direction. There the enormous desert sky was broken by cloud patterns as the last light gently lit distant mountains.

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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: Nature, Photographs: The Southwest, Photographs: Utah

Slot Canyon Walls

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Slot Canyon Walls
“Slot Canyon Walls” — Soft light penetrates the depths of a slot canyon.

The material making up the walls of Southwest slot canyons varies quite a bit depending on which strata the canyon traverses. Sometimes the rock can be broken and somewhat unattractive, sometimes it can hold fossils or show joints between different layers. But in some places the sandstone seems pristine — solid layers of rock broken only by small details and textures. That was the case here, at a spot where a canyon junction allowed in a bit of extra light.

I made this photograph on my first visit to this spot about a decade ago. Because I like to see with fresh eyes and because I enjoy discovery, I often intentionally forego a lot pre-visit research, preferring to show up and just look on my own. That was the case on this day when I turned, more or less on a lark, down a gravel side road, found a place to park, and just started walking, eventually coming to this spot and others that were equally beautiful.

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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: Nature, Photographs: The Southwest, Photographs: Utah

Capitol Reef

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Capitol Reef
“Capitol Reef” — Early morning view of the peaks of Capitol Reef from the east.

A friend and I met up in Capitol Reef National Park some years ago, and we spent a few days photographing in and around the park. We began accessible spots not far from our camp, but later we made a long drive down gravel roads to the east of the Capitol Reef ridge. I made this photograph shortly after a colorful sunrise on these summits.

That sunrise photograph, which I’ve shared previously, was focused on the area behind my camera position for this photograph. The sky colors are wonderful, but I also like the darker and somewhat more foreboding quality of this sky that has lost the dawn colors.

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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.