Tag Archives: wash

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

Curve in the Canyon

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Curve in the Canyon
“Curve in the Canyon” — A gravel wash curves through narrows in a Death Valley canyon.

The sensations upon entering one of these canyons after walking in desert heat and sun are striking. It is suddenly much darker and much quieter, and often the air is still. At this bend in the canyon, the walls and edges conspired to create a sort of spiral shape with everything centering on the bigger and warmer-toned section in the upper center of the photograph.

Hiking these canyons they ofcanten start to feel like a steady progression back and forth — a turn to the right is soon followed by one to the left, and so forth. In some canyons this leads to a somewhat humorous “just one more”situation. I might check my watch and note that it is about my turn-around time. I tell myself, “First, just hike to the next curve.” Getting there I tell myself, “You can take a look at what is beyond this section.” So I round the bend and see the canyon continues… and, of course, I just have to continue on to the next bend… and then next… and the one after that.

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

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

At the Edge of the Salt Flats

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At the Edge of the Salt Flats, Death Valley National Park.
“At the Edge of the Salt Flats” — Panamint mountains tower above as a small wash runs to the edge of the salt flats, Death Valley.

During my late-February visit to Death Valley National Park I spent two early mornings photographing this location. It is generally most interesting at dawn, when the morning light shines on the distant Panamint Mountains, so I was there well before sunrise. In order to find ideal locations here you really have to scout ahead of time. On the first of the two visits I slightly missed my target location in the darkness. I still got photographs, but before my return on the last morning of my trip, I checked it one more time and determined that following this runoff gully would get me where I needed to be.

There was another benefit from following the little gully. The soil on the higher ground to either side is quite soft and walking on it leaves obvious footprints. In many places the bottom of the gully is covered with small rocks, and it is easier (on me and the landscape1) to walk on this harder surface. Distances here are deceiving. If you started at sunrise (and could find a route) it would take you an entire, long day just to get the base of those mountains.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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

Desert Holly Plant, Dry Wash

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Desert Holly Plant, Dry Wash, Death Valley
“Desert Holly Plant, Dry Wash” — A dormant desert holly plant in a desert wash, Death Valley.

This photograph comes from one of the more arid, inhospitable-looking locations in Death Valley National Park. The soil here is not conducive to much plant life, and few plants manage to eke out an existence. One that does is the desert holly. When it gets enough water it sports lovely gray-green foliage, but when the heat and aridity become too much the plant goes dormant and turns brown/tan.

These plants are growing along the edges of a desert wash, which makes sense given that any sufficient runoff will move down this stream bed and leave behind a bit more moisture for the plants growing there. Washes like this, though often with a more gravelly surface, are everywhere this park, and they frequently provide passage into mountains.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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

Canyon Narrows Light

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Canyon Narrows Light, Death Valley
“Canyon Narrows Light” — Soft, filtered light illuminates the walls of a Death Valley slot canyon.

Desert canyon light is remarkable. A canyon like this one is a huge contrast with the world outside — the intense, harsh desert light gives way to soft, gentle light and shade. The temperature drops. The color of the ight changes, too. Deep in the canyon it often shifts to ward blue, especially when the canyon walls are black or gray. There are also changes and contrasts where different softs of light come together — as in this photograph where the deeply shaded blue tones contrast with the warmer tones of the higher walls.

I walked quickly to get to these narrows, but once I arrived I stopped, took out my tripod, attached my camera, and ambled slowly while searching for photographs. New possibilities appeared at every bend in the canyon, and my progress stalled to a near standstill as I stopped every few feet to look at a new composition.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.