Photos from Death Valley

As the year comes to an end, I’ve started to look back upon my year's work. That includes looking back at my last trip of the year, which was to teach a photo workshop in Death Valley National Park. This newsletter issue will include photos from that trip.

This was the third workshop I've run in the park, and I can't wait to do another. It's funny because I told myself that this would be my last workshop in Death Valley. Then I got there and loved it and immediately wanted to go back. I didn't want to leave. I wish I was running a workshop there in 2024. Maybe I should add one?

One of the unique features on this visit was that Lake Manly in Badwater Basin formed again. A hurricane hit the park with more rain than it typically gets in a year. That water filled the salt flats with a temporary lake.

It's interesting that I know the area as having hexagonal salt formations, but for most the participants on the workshop this was their first experience with the basin. I was blown away about how different it was. I wonder if they will feel the same if they return in the future and see the salt.

All the rain cleaned up the Devil's Golf Course. Usually it's a jumbled mess of sharp salt formations that will rip your pants as you walk through it, but the water cleaned and dissolved many of the formations leaving only the tallest ones.

I could have spent every sunrise looking for unique compositions.

There was also a hole in the ground that must have been 10 feet deep. It was full of salt water.

It was a popular feature for my workshop. We gathered around it in wonder.

My favorite parts of Death Valley are the sand dunes, and on this trip I wanted detail shots of sand.

In this area, I loved how the shadows and light flipped. I shot multiple different photos with the focus point at slightly further distances. Then I combined those shots to have sharp focus across the entire scene.

The playa between dunes had interesting mud cracks that were still intact. This area can see lots of visitors, so this mud can get trampled and lifted. It was nice to have pristine mud cracks.

On our last morning, I took to group to Dante's View.

Lots of photographers focus on shooting into the valley from Dante's View, but I love how the mountain ridges layer when using a long lens.

Here's a shot into the valley.

For a last shot, here's a strange rock that sits next to the road. On my first night in the park, I stopped to photograph it. It was a late friend's favorite stop in the park. It was nice to re-live the memories I had from trips with him to the park.

Until next time

That wraps up my year. I hope you had a good year of photography. I know I did. Have a Happy New Year's Day, and I'll see you again in two weeks.