Death Valley
This trip I focused on “show and tell”—to show the place as it really is, from a variety of locations, rather than the tried and untrue clichés that leave one wondering what the place is really like. So I made some images in what little good light was available, but many more in “bad light” as I wanted to show the character of the place as it is really is during nearly all of the day—more of those images to follow.
Death Valley is a demanding place to work in; amenities are hours away over bone-jarring “washboard” roads. To efficiently make one’s way around the park requires camping (no showers for a week), food, water and a backup plan in case of vehicle problems. Dust is a steady problem (Nikon really screwed up on the D3 with no dust-off feature). Yet the solitude and quiet are unmatched, and it’s one of life’s simple pleasures to never need to “hold it” after one drinks too much water.
Padre Crowley Point near Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park
(Canon EOS 5D-IR + Nikon 28-70/2.8)
Badwater, from the less-traveled West Side Road
(Nikon D3 + Zeiss ZF 25/2.8 Distagon)
Early morning, looking south from west of Badwater
(Nikon D3 + Zeiss ZF 50/2 Makro-Planar)
Off-road exploration has its penalties (new car paint)
(Nikon D3 + 14-24/2.8)
Eureka Dunes
(Nikon D3 + 14-24/2.8)
Mining structure
(Canon EOS 5D-IR + Coastal Optics 60/4 APO macro)
Eureka Dunes (distant)
(Canon EOS 5D-IR + Leica 180/2.8 APO Elmarit R)
