Posted by Roland Burkert on February 17, 2011 at 10:44 PM
Folks,
I am planning to be in Death Valley from March 2 to March 7. I have never been. My neighbor, who is also going on this trip, knows the area very well, but he is a geologist, not a photographer. We will have several four wheel drive vehicles, lots of balls and an ice chest full of wine. As far as I know, food is optional. Maybe we will skin and roast a snake. Following Preston's advice, I will take a tripod and I hope to learn how to use it.
I think I am interested in shooting the dunes, a slot canyon, the racetrack and Zebriski Point. What are the best times to be at these areas? How exactly do I get to the slot canyon? Am I missing something important?
Any and all commemts are welcome!!!
Also, if any of you will be in the area and would like to share a bottle of wine and some roasted snake appetizers, please let me know. I will text you our whereabouts so we can hook up.
Female photographers that can double as nude models are preferred. For such a person, we may even be able to russel up a square meal of cans-du-jour with a bag of chips.
Thank you and with all due respect,
Roland
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 18, 2011 at 1:08 AM
All I can say Roland is... I wish I was going!
Would that be Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir? I guess it depends on the snake...
Sorry, can't help you with your other questions...
If you search this site, and fredmiranda.com, you'll find endless suggestions about these places. Zabriskie and Badwater at sunrise are requirements. Just visit all the icons at all the turnouts and you'll be fine. I'll be there 2-27 to 3-2.
Posted by Rodney Ninow on February 20, 2011 at 10:03 AM
Roland DV is a special place, you will love it. The Mesquite Flat sand dunes are easily accessible and are pretty good both at sunrise and sunset. I have shot at both times. I suppose sunset is easier to get there, since you aren't hiking out in the dark. You will have a pretty good walk from the road, so give yourself at minimum an hour, the longer the better. I call these easily accessible even with the walk because the other dunes, the Eureka dunes is way at the north end of the park and a LONG drive on a dirt road.
One problem with those dunes is foot prints. Hopefully you are going on a weekday and that will help minimize them. I like to hike out to the tallest dunes, which, of course, is the farthest out.
Badwater is good at sunrise, but for me has been disappointing many times. It is just hard for me to get a good composition there. Bring some kind of disposable or water proof shoes, as you will most likely want to hike out onto the salt flat that will probably be flooded. You can tell where most people go as the trail is wide and flat.
But I digress, I could describe dozens of areas, you asked about the Racetrack. It is really nice at Sunset, I have not been there at sunrise. You could conceivably shoot the dunes at sunrise, have lunch and get to the Racetrack for sunset. Try and arrive at least an hour before sunset to find a good rock and get set up. When you get there, drive all the way to the southern end to an interpretive sign, this is where I found the largest quantity of moving rocks.
Zabriski point is sunrise territory. Get there well before sunrise, as it is VERY popular and you'll want to stake out your place. Even with that, be prepared to move. I was there with a couple other photographers, we were all about 5 feet back from the edge when a guy comes up, sets up a chair in front of us and sits ON the edge. Needless to say the rest of us had to move to avoid having him in our picture.
There are not slot canyons like you might be familiar with in Antelope canyon in AZ. But Mosaic canyon is nice, and it is easy to get to. Time of day for this is variable. Again, it's not like Antelope, where you have to be there right exactly at the correct time for the beams of light to shine in. Mosaic is pretty open to the sky, but it is narrow in some spots. I've never been there at sunrise or sunset, so not sure what it would be like, but doubt it would be any better than around 10 am.
One problem you may run into, being with non photographers is time of day. When most people are going to dinner, we are out, shooting till sunset and beyond. Often times the best light comes out AFTER sunset, when clouds in the sky are lit with alpenglow or the Earth shadow comes into view. If they are your ride, encourage them to bring their dinner, or at least a snack to keep them happy.
Where are you staying by the way?
Posted by Paul Duval on February 22, 2011 at 9:45 PM
While in Death Valley if you have time try to check out the Eureka Valley and the Dunes ( tallest in California ) if not all of the other places will probably be fine. The Nat'l Park has it's own website that has allot of good information for someone who has never been there. Being with a geologist is not a bad thing he knows some rarely visited places and interesting rock formations can be cool subjects for images.
Paul
Posted by Ed Williams on February 26, 2011 at 10:53 PM
You might want to check out Darwin Falls Roland. Easy hike and amazing place for Death Valley.
Discussion
5 repliesI am planning to be in Death Valley from March 2 to March 7. I have never been. My neighbor, who is also going on this trip, knows the area very well, but he is a geologist, not a photographer. We will have several four wheel drive vehicles, lots of balls and an ice chest full of wine. As far as I know, food is optional. Maybe we will skin and roast a snake. Following Preston's advice, I will take a tripod and I hope to learn how to use it.
I think I am interested in shooting the dunes, a slot canyon, the racetrack and Zebriski Point. What are the best times to be at these areas? How exactly do I get to the slot canyon? Am I missing something important?
Any and all commemts are welcome!!!
Also, if any of you will be in the area and would like to share a bottle of wine and some roasted snake appetizers, please let me know. I will text you our whereabouts so we can hook up.
Female photographers that can double as nude models are preferred. For such a person, we may even be able to russel up a square meal of cans-du-jour with a bag of chips.
Thank you and with all due respect,
Roland
Would that be Chardonnay or a Pinot Noir? I guess it depends on the snake...
Sorry, can't help you with your other questions...
Lon
One problem with those dunes is foot prints. Hopefully you are going on a weekday and that will help minimize them. I like to hike out to the tallest dunes, which, of course, is the farthest out.
Badwater is good at sunrise, but for me has been disappointing many times. It is just hard for me to get a good composition there. Bring some kind of disposable or water proof shoes, as you will most likely want to hike out onto the salt flat that will probably be flooded. You can tell where most people go as the trail is wide and flat.
But I digress, I could describe dozens of areas, you asked about the Racetrack. It is really nice at Sunset, I have not been there at sunrise. You could conceivably shoot the dunes at sunrise, have lunch and get to the Racetrack for sunset. Try and arrive at least an hour before sunset to find a good rock and get set up. When you get there, drive all the way to the southern end to an interpretive sign, this is where I found the largest quantity of moving rocks.
Zabriski point is sunrise territory. Get there well before sunrise, as it is VERY popular and you'll want to stake out your place. Even with that, be prepared to move. I was there with a couple other photographers, we were all about 5 feet back from the edge when a guy comes up, sets up a chair in front of us and sits ON the edge. Needless to say the rest of us had to move to avoid having him in our picture.
There are not slot canyons like you might be familiar with in Antelope canyon in AZ. But Mosaic canyon is nice, and it is easy to get to. Time of day for this is variable. Again, it's not like Antelope, where you have to be there right exactly at the correct time for the beams of light to shine in. Mosaic is pretty open to the sky, but it is narrow in some spots. I've never been there at sunrise or sunset, so not sure what it would be like, but doubt it would be any better than around 10 am.
One problem you may run into, being with non photographers is time of day. When most people are going to dinner, we are out, shooting till sunset and beyond. Often times the best light comes out AFTER sunset, when clouds in the sky are lit with alpenglow or the Earth shadow comes into view. If they are your ride, encourage them to bring their dinner, or at least a snack to keep them happy.
Where are you staying by the way?
Paul