Tag Archives: wash

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

Canyon Bend

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Canyon Bend, Death Valley.
“Canyon Bend” — A narrow desert wash curves though the depths of a slot canyon, Death Valley.

This photograph was made in a somewhat remote Death Valley canyon — access requires a long drive on primitive roads followed by a bit of walking. On this late February day it was very quiet here, and I saw only two other parties during my visit. We often see photographs of very colorful Utah slot canyons, but this photograph is more typical of Death Valley, where the rocks are more likely dark and much less colorful. But the shade and the quiet are just as wonderful.

I often photograph canyons in vertical “portrait” format. The feeling of these landscapes tends to be vertical — narrow passages between very high stone walls. But stepping back a bit we notice that the canyons wind back and forth. Rather than heading straight into the mountains they lazily twist from side to side. It felt like the horizontal “landscape” orientation might better illustrate this.

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.

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

Canyon Narrows, Amargosa Range

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Canyon Narrows, Arargosa Range, Death Valley National Park.
“Canyon Narrows, Amargosa Range” — A section of narrows in a Death Valley canyon.

You are going to see a fair number of Death Valley canyon photographs here over the next few weeks as I share images from my late February visit to the park. With a few exceptions, the most interesting canyons in the park — and there are many of them! — are less accessible than some of the other famous features. You might have to drive on dirt roads, hike up huge fans and washes, or walk through long sections of less-remarkable valleys to get to the “good stuff.” But the best of them are well worth the effort.

The canyon experience contrasts with the vast distances, intense heat and dryness, and harsh sunlight which we think of as typical in Death Valley. Canyons can be cool and shady and their narrow confines often restrict your views to a few meters. The light is often soft and filtered as it bounces down from high above. As they cut though ridges and mountains he canyons reveal ancient strata. Perhaps best of all, they are often quiet and lonely places where time seems to stop.

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.narrows, slot, constrict, stone, rock, cliff, wall, gravel, wash, erosion, amargosa, range, fall, canyon, shade, dark, geology, landscape, hike, nature, travel, california, desert, usa, north, america

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

Overhanging Canyon Narrows

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Overhanging Canyon Narrows, Death Valley National Park
“Overhanging Canyon Narrows” — Tall cliffs overhang a section of winding canyon narrows, Death Valley.

I make (at least) one annual photography trip to Death Valley National Park, and I’ve been doing so for something like two decades. My favorite time to visit is in the winter. This year’s trip was during the final days of February — the calendar said winter but a heat wave made it feel more like summer, with temperatures up to ninety degrees. Many areas of the park were inaccessible due to washed out roads and to construction, so I visited a few familiar places and went to a couple of new ones.

This slot canyon is an old favorite, and I have hiked and photographed it several times in the past. The “slots” are great destination on days, like this one, when it is both windy and hot. Death Valley slot canyons are different than the better-known Utah-style slots. They often feature rather dark rock, and the slots are often shorter. In this canyon there are several sections of these narrow passages, but in between there are longer sections of open canyon.

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

Afternoon Light, Lake Manly

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Afternoon Light, Lake Manly
“Afternoon Light, Lake Manly” — Light beams above the snow-capped Panamint Mountains and Lake Manly.

These beams of light — sometimes known among photographers as “God light” — are a common afternoon feature in Death Valley. The valley runs roughly north-south, and there are tall mountain ranges on either side, with summits rising up to 11,000’+ at Telescope Peak on the west side. Consequently, direct sunrise and sunset are blocked from much of the valley floor, However, some time after sunrise and before sunset the light passes though canyons and gaps in the mountains, and this is the effect when it illuminates atmospheric haze.

If you visit Death Valley, it s good to keep this geography lesson in mind, since it can affect your experience and photography potential. If you want to photograph sunrise/sunset, you can see sunlit peaks on west side mountains in the morning and the east side mountains late in the day. If you want light down in the valley, you’ll have to find it a bit after sunrise and well before chronological sunset. What to do in the middle of the day when the sun is harsh? I like to head for canyons, the deeper and narrower the better!

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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