|
Photography In Death Valley
Death Valley offers the photographer some of the
most spectacular and unique scenery in the world!
The landscape is diverse and contrasting; colorful and rugged
in its beauty. Many famous photographers have been here including Ansel
Adams. Adams is best known for his breathtaking black-and-white
photographs of Yosemite but he also frequented Death Valley and the Eastern
Sierra Nevada's. The popular sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells have recently
been named after him. You will find that the challenge facing most
photographers of Death Valley is not where to find the beauty but how
to truly capture it.
We typically travel in the winter or early spring simply
because that's the most comfortable time of year for hiking. Also, the sun
is lower in the sky then and it creates those wonderful shadows. The
"downside" of this time of year, however, is that the daylight hours are shorter
and, with the tall Panamint Mountains to the west, the sun sets early. As
you probably already know, sunrise and sunset are the most dramatic times of the
day - no matter what season. We have provided the information you'll need
to plan your day of photographing with those times in mind. No
matter what your skill level, you will want to come prepared with plenty of film
and, if you can, plenty of time, too, because there is so much to see!
Listed below (in alphabetical order) are some of the
special places that we have found to be particularly beautiful and inspiring.
Each offers something unique and/or extraordinary and, whether you take
photographs or just sit back and soak it all in, they are certain to bring out
the artist in you. They are also fairly easy to access which is helpful if
you carry a lot of equipment.
 Of course, we could not possibly list all of the
beautiful places to photograph in Death Valley - they are everywhere. We
encourage you to explore on your own and to use this Guide to give you ideas.
We find Death Valley truly breathtaking and hope that you enjoy photographing it
as much as we do.
Enjoy your photography experience and Happy Exploring!
|
The
Place |
The
View |
The
Description |
| Amargosa River Canyon |
 |
The river gorge has lots of color
and different rock layers that have been exposed by erosion and the Amargosa
River. There are several oases that attract wildlife and the remains of
old trestles and related things from the T&T
Railroad. |
| Ashford Mill |
 |
The colorful mountains nearby and
the Panamint Mountains in the distance made a great backdrop for
photographs of the Ashford Mill ruins. |
| Artists Palette |
 |
The variety and intensity of
colors here along with the narrow canyons and unusual formations
make this one of Death Valley's most famous (and most visited)
places. It is also easily accessible from a paved road and is fairly
close to Furnace Creek. |
|
Chloride Cliff |
 |
Similar to Dante's View for a
spectacular view point, this spot more clearly defines the lowest
and highest point in the contiguous United States. However,
there is no paved road leading to this spot - 4WD only! |
| Dante's View |
 |
This is one of Death Valley's
grandest scenic view points and one of the most
popular. The lowest and highest points in
the contiguous United States can be viewed from here at the same
time! |
| Mosaic Canyon |
 |
This magnificent canyon near
Stovepipe Wells has many colorful rock layers, dry waterfalls,
narrow canyons and uniquely shaped rocky surfaces. |
|
Golden Canyon |
 |
One of the most popular hikes in the Park, this
canyon offers brilliant colors and and oddly shaped geology
supplying an unlimited amount of photogenic subjects.
|
| Racetrack Playa |
 |
The "moving rocks" on this dry
lakebed have baffled scientists for years. This mystery adds to the
fun of photographing it! |
| Racetrack - The Grandstand |
 |
Another "oddity" of the Racetrack
Playa. This rock outcropping casts some strange shadows on the
lakebed. |
|
Ventifact Ridge |
 |
On two small ridges near Artist's
Palette lay some unique rocks that have experienced a different type
of erosion: sandblasting, which can makes for some pretty unique
pictures. |
Back to top of page or Home
Last updated
March 03, 2007.
|
