Tag Archives: lake

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

Lake Manly Shoreline, Desert Mountains

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Lake Manly Shoreline, Desert Mountains
“Lake Manly Shoreline, Desert Mountains” The dark Panamint Mountains rise in the distance beyond the shoreline of ephemeral Lake Manly.

Typically I might simply not attempt to photograph this scene. The glaring sunlight, while somewhat filtered by the clouds, was brightly lighting the white sand deposits along the shoreline of Lake Manly. Distance, haze, and backlight combined to mute the details of the Panamint Mountains. And this light was harsh, not the softer light of early morning or evening. But somehow I felt that the composition and the drama of the light and atmosphere held some promise.

The salt deposits reminded me of important things about this valley. They were a reminder — as is the water of ephemeral Lake Manly — that water played a major role in the formation of this place. And, as high as the water of the lake was at this moment, the yet higher salt deposits made it clear that this is not an unprecedented thing, and that even higher lake levels are still probably possible.

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

Mountains, Wash, and Reflection

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Mountains, Wash, and Reflection
“Mountains, Wash, and Reflection” _ A large wash near the base of the Panamint Mountains is reflected on the surface of Lake Manly.

This is a kind of Death Valley photograph that you won’t often see — mountains reflected in the quiet surface of a huge lake. This is Lake Manly, the reconstituted remnant of a much larger lake that filled the valley long ago. Between a historic tropical storm late last summer and better-than-usual rainfall since then, the lake reappeared and persisted. It currently covers many square miles in the Badwater area of the valley.

This photograph is (yet another) illustration of the vast distances encountered in Death Valley and how deceptive they can be. You might look across this landscape and imagine walking to the base of that wash leading into the mountains. However, even if the lake wasn’t there, you would be hard pressed to reach that spot with even a very long day of walking.

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

Edge of Lake Manly

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Edge of Lake Manly
“Edge of Lake Manly” — Photographed from high above, the waters of temporary Lake Manly meet the edge of Death Valley salt flats.

The star attraction of the season in Death Valley has been the reemergence of historic Lake Manly in the hottest, driest, and lowest area of the valley near Badwater. Geologists tell us that the original version of this lake once filled the valley floor, and there’s abundant evidence: old waterlines high on valley hillsides, the tufa formations, and the salt flats themselves. A huge and unusual tropical storm brought heavy rains to the area last year, and more recent precipitation has helped to keep it going.

Since seeing this lake is such a rare event, I made it the focus of my recent visit to the park. I photographed it several times, from different points of view, at different times of day, and in different conditions. I made this photograph very early in the morning from the overlook at Dantes View. As the shadows receded and sunlight arrived on the lake and surrounding terrain I made a series of photographs with long lenses, highlighting the abstract patterns and colors of the flooded playa.

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

Morning Clouds, Lake Manly

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Morning Clouds, Lake Manly
“Morning Clouds, Lake Manly” — Morning clouds drift over Lake Manly and the distant Panamint Mountains, Death Valley.

I made my annual visit to Death Valley this past week. While there I realized that it has been 25 years since my first encounter with the place, and that I have been photographing there every year for about two decades. In addition to the usual attractions, this trip focused on Lake Manly, the temporary resurrection of the prehistoric lake that once filled the valley. The lake reappeared after intense tropical storm rainfall last year and was augmented by more recent heavy rains.

Look past the obvious aridity of the place and the role water played in its creation becomes obvious. Roadways continuously rise and fall as they cross minor and major washes. The mountains are covered with the evidence of water erosion. The extensive playas and salt flats were created by pooling water. But the reappearance of Lake Manly really brings home the role of water in forming Death Valley’s geography.

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.