Guest Article: Jane Goodall, Death Valley

by Jane Goodall  

Website:  www.thebeautifullight.co.uk

Have you ever had problems distilling your landscape images? Sometimes complex landscape subjects can confuse and over-excite the eye.  A good antidote is to experience the desert landscape where simple but beautiful vistas abound, with a feast of wonderful colours and textures and a large variety of subjects. It is difficult to dispute that a photographic tour of Death Valley provides a wonderful opportunity to further your photographic vision.

I have personally only visited death valley in winter as it is very comfortable during the day, allowing easy hiking through the canyons and dunes. In December it can be freezing at sunrise. If you approach death valley from the south, you can stop off at the pinnacles which are about 15 minutes drive from the main road just north of Trona.  These stone monoliths are an extensive collection of stone structures which are easily accessible by car but a four wheel drive will give you deeper access.  Allow a few hours before sunset to find your way around.

I would recommend a visit to the stovepipe wells’s dunes as an introduction to the valley.  I have stayed in furnace creek inn as a good central location for exploring the whole park but don’t underestimate the size of the park, you can expect to be driving a lot around this vast expanse.

Because the dunes are so accessible , they can be covered with foot prints so you may find you have to walk a good way to get clean sand or hope for good winds before you visit.  If you visit in hot conditions walking through the dunes can be exhausting and you will need lots of water, protect the camera from the sand while walking. There is no concern about getting lost, just walk to a high spot and you will easily see the road (and your car parked in the distance).  Because of the large mountains, you lose the sun on the dunes at sunset, and as usual lighting changes fast, so there is a small window of time to make use of the very dramatic light.  Morning shoots can really be worthwhile, so check out your route the day before (a GPS would come in handy if you walk in before sunrise). There are some wonderful opportunities to make images of large vistas but also abstract shapes. This dune shot was taken about one hour before sunset.

I have only used four wheel drive vehicles to explore the park, but it is not essential, this image was taken on the road from furnace creek to Badwater and really illustrates the scale of the park relative to us humans.

Four wheel drive gives you more flexibility and the opportunity to visit the ‘Racetrack playa’ which is only accessible by a very rough track that takes at least two hours to navigate in and one and one half hours back from the main road. The racetrack is a wonderful phenomenon, and provides unique photographic opportunities.  The moving rocks have mud trails behind them that suggest the stones have been sliding along the mud cracked playa.   The sun hides early behind the mountains so don’t expect the setting sun to light it up.  I was lucky to have overcast conditions so allowed photography at midday. 

No camping allowed, so if you want the soft light, its out and back in the dark, which makes the ride in and out a bit scary.

Another inspirational location is Titus Canyon, Four wheel drive required if you want to do the whole route and the scenery is one of the most dramatic I have ever seen. Beautiful red and green rock and stunning mountain vistas, this valley is a great contrast to the rest of the park.

Another location that is a must see, is the artists palette, the soft colours are striking during the day but only really give up their secrets in the soft light, and after sunset the colours sing.  If you have time and it’s not too hot, walk the golden canyon trail and see the cathedral rock, a stunning red rock structure. Zabriskie point is always a great morning shoot but be prepared to rub elbows with fellow photographers.  I loved 20 mule canyon, lots of fantastic photographic opportunities for sunset. I haven’t mentioned Badwater and the devils golf course, well you must go of course, if you love wrecked cars then head up to Scotty’s castle. Dante’s point and others I haven’t had time to visit, there is so much more to explore, this is only a taster.  Death valley provides a photographic feast, enjoy!