Death Valley & Eastern Sierras 2016
Isolated Dune, Mesquite Flats Dunes
One of the appeals of photographing sand dunes is the simplified nature of the subject. Focusing on this one dune and my key light source behind the dune I was able to capture a range of color you don't normally see in one isolated dune,thanks to reflected and bounced light on the camera and dune.
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Long Shadows on the Dunes, Death Valley
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Hidden Lakebed, Mesquite Flats
The nooks and low points in the sand dunes can be as interesting as the dunes themselves. The Mesquite Flat sand dunes actually cover an ancient lakebed that can still be seen in little pockets of the dune field.
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Red Velvet Mites on a Desert Five Spot
My trip to Death Valley was too late in the season to see the super-bloom, but I did see something I had never seen before, all the wildflowers were infested with tiny little red specks. I used my macro extension tube to get a better look and saw what looked like freaky red ticks. Doing a little research on the Internet I found out they are red velvet mites.
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Gravel Ghost, Death Valley
On my trip to Death Valley I was hoping to get some great detail shots of the wildflowers with my extension tube. However finding a flower that wasn't infested with mites was a challenge. Next time I'll make sure to go earlier in the wildflower season.
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Badwater, Death Valley
At 282 feet below sea level it's the lowest point in North America. Normally this place covered it what looks like giant octagonal cobblestones but I think the recent water from last fall soften all those edges and salt crystals.
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Visiting an Old Friend
Anyone who follows my posted photos knows that I have a fondness for these 4,000 year-old contorted trees found in the White Mountains just east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. This tree in particular is probably the most-photographed of the grove, and one I enjoy revisiting often.
If you do visit these trees be prepared to have your breath taken away, literally. They grow best in higher elevations. The notable trees in the White Mountains are around 10,000 feet elevation or higher. Even a simple walk around the grove will get you huffing and puffing until your climatized.Caleb WestonDoug Hammerancient bristlecone pineblack whitebristlecone pine treecaliforniadeadforestgnarledinyo national forestlandscapemountainsnatureoutdoorspringtreetwistedwhite mountains
Waiting for the sun to rise in the Alabama Hills
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Sunset on the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes in DeathValley National Park
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Mud Cracks in Gower Gulch in DeathValley National Park
I am drawn to textures and patterns I find on my many adventures, and the variety cracks in this dried flow was an intriguing subject. This was taken about 3 months after most of the rain storms passed through Death Valley
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Wash Debris, Gower Gulch
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Sunrise, Alabama Hills
A favorite destination of mine to visit since it's far enough from the Los Angeles metro area to be a destination but close enough that it doesn't take all day to get there. The proximity to LA also makes it a popular location for film productions. In fact just 100 yards from this rock formation I photographed a production crew was setting up for a shoot.
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