Tag Archives: plants

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

Stick in the Mud

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Stick in the Mud
“Stick in the Mud” — Dead branches on a bed of dried and fractured mud, Death Valley.

As always, cracked desert mud turns out to be an irresistible subject. I photographed this little patch in the northern portion of Death Valley. We arrived as broken clouds were developing, and that gave us varied light as shadows moved across the landscape. I made this photograph in the “in between” light — not full sun, but strong enough to be directional. The mud patterns are interrupted by the pieces of old wood, but that’s not all to notice in this little scene. Look closely and you’ll see a variety of spring plants beginning to grow in this seemingly-barren terrain.

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

Desert Plants and Dried Mud

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Desert Plants and Dried Mud
“Desert Plants and Dried Mud” — Small desert plants sprout on dry and cracked mud.

When spring (or late winter, actually) arrives in Death Valley National Park after a wet season, a striking show of wildflower can appear. It seems incongruous in this arid landscape, and it can be spectacular. Uncountable colorful wildflowers cover normally-dry gravel slopes. A closer look reveals even more plants underfoot, where tiny sprouts suddenly appear in many areas in the park.

This photograph focuses on that subject, and a close look reveals more and more little things in the frame — various sorts of new plants, bits of old vegetation, and more. And all of this appears against one of the subjects most irresistible to photographers, dry cracked desert mud.

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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

Salt Creek, Sunrise

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Salt Creek, Sunrise
“Salt Creek, Sunrise” — Salt Creek flows past low hills and toward salt flats, Death VAlley.

Salt Creek is a remarkable place, a perpetually flowing creek in the middle of the hottest place on earth and the home to thousands of endangered pupfish. But I’ve also found it to be a pretty difficult place to photograph. Light is challenging, especially late in the day, when tall mountains block the light. But I return and keep working at it!

I made this photograph as the first direct light was arriving. Just beyond the area accessible via a winding boardwalk, the creek flows in many branches through this eroded terrain. From here (behind my camera position) it passes through the area where pupfish are found, and shortly after that it flows out into the salt flats.

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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

Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks

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Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks
“Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks” — Desert Gold flowers bloom with snow-capped desert mountains in the distance.

This photograph epitomizes the extraordinary diversity of Death Valley National Park. It includes two subjects that might surprise those unfamiliar with the place — wildflowers and snow. Because it is known as the place registering the world’s highest recorded temperature, many imagine it to be a place of sand dunes and barren salt playas. Those are part to its landscape, but they are far from the “all of it.”

These wildflowers are desert gold, which was blooming in great fields of yellow in many lowland locations when we visited in late February. I spotted these flowers on a small rise and set up my camera so that they were backed by Telescope Peak, the highest point in the snow-capped Payment Range of desert 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.