Hi Gang,
I just returned late last night from a long weekend in Death Valley National Park. For the next week or so I’ll be running a series of landscape images from DV and I’m working on a new video tutorial on the use of split neutral density filters.
I’m not a big fan of desert landscapes, but DV really made its way into my heart. It’s to be experienced for sure and hopefully these images will give you a small taste of it.
From a photographer’s perspective, 3 days in the park was simply a long scouting trip. I wasn’t sure I’d come back with 1 image to share and while I think I did, it was a great reminder of just how much work it takes to get great photography out of an unfamiliar place in a short period of time. DV is the largest park in the lower 48, making it very difficult to get to know. You watch the weather, you hike the trails, contemplating all the possible shots and under what conditions you’d like to shoot them. Then you move 30 miles down the road and do that again. And finally you have to pull the trigger, make a decision and drive another 30 miles because of something happening in the sky, the light. Then you get there and it evaporates and you find yourself muttering the same old cliche, “If it were easy everyone would be doing it.”
I also want to wish everyone a HAPPY HOLIDAY and hope you all enjoy your time with family and friends.
Technical: Zabriski Point, Canon 1Ds Mark II, 24-70mm, Singh Ray Blue/Gold polarizer, ISO800, tripod, composite of 4 frames, early twilight morning, aperture priority, varying shutter speed.
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Wowza. Amazing Al.
I should have been there.
AJ,
Amazing light and all of the ridges bring me inside the “room” of your shot and make me want to stay awhile. I love the small flat piece of land in the left central portion of the image. It is a place to rest that I can come back to. I am really glad that you decided to go and look forward to the video. Let’s get together soon.
KG
You nailed it, Alec. The polorizer gives a dramatic effect which works exceedingly well with this landscape. Impressive.
That is beautiful! Eat your heart out Ansel!!! Unfortunately I’ve trained in Death Valley with the Army, so it does leave a bit of bile in my mouth. I really like this one though … no effects, just sharp image.
Wow! Looks like what I imagine the surface of the moon to look like. Great pic, Al! I will look forward to seeing more.
Hey Deb,
The entire place is what the moon wants to look like! Thanks for being here and have a great holiday.
Hey Eric,
Thanks for being here and the kind words. What kind of training and when in DV? Good grief…
Hi Kevin,
Zabriski is in Golden Valley, and like the sand dunes, is a fairly reflective surface. So, in both places the polarizer is really essential. You’ll see that in some of the upcoming images.
Cheers,
Alec
Hey KG,
That small piece of land IS DEATH VALLEY. In all of its starkness there is an enormity of activity. Just got to slow down and be with it a while. Guiness, soon.
Alec,
I¹ve been there in 94 and 95. They were four week desert training field
exercises at the National Training Center (NTC), just north of Barstow. The
first year I was there in the fall, and the second time I was there in
summer. The place was beautiful (except for all the tanks), but it was less
beautiful in the heat of summer looking through the lens of your gas mask
and wearing chemical warfare clothing and rubber boots and gloves. Wow,
listen to me whine! I¹m getting sweaty just thinking about it.
Eric
The contrast in this image is amazing. I could sit and stare at this for hours. Sounds like you had a pretty incredible trip Alec. Nice work!
Meg, you’re alive! Must be a slow week a Target…oopps, sorry. That’s probably not funny these days…:O
Thanks for being here. See ya tonight!
Wow Alec……ths is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!
No Usha, you’re fantastic, but thank you.
Glad to hear you’re still around…???
The lighting is just beautiful, Alec. I keep expecting R2D2 to come over the ridge in front plus small rocket ships passing through the valley. I remember Zabriski point well but my pictures didn’t quite make to the state that you have here. Now I want to go back and try again.
Wes
Nice image! At least you did not have to Photoshop two guys running along the ridgeline in front of Zabriskie Point as many may have behind us that morning. Looking forward to the rest of the week.
Travis
T-Bone,
Hehehhee, did I just feel a stone hit me in the back? We pissed off a good 20 folks that morning…serves them right for not getting out there sooner!
Glad you made it home safely.
Great image! Amazing! I was just wondering why use ISO 800 if you are using a tripod? Thanks, Josh
Hey Josh,
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for the kind words. You’re going to find this underwhelming, but it was ISO800 BECAUSE I FORGOT TO CHANGE IT TO ISO100! I was shooting hand-held and when I went to the tripod I forgot to make the change. Good news, the 1Ds MarkII is so good at ISO800 I didn’t have a problem with noise.
Thanks again for stopping by…
Cheers,
alec
Hey Alec,
I really enjoyed your Putin photo tutorial. Do you plan on doing any
Thanks for getting back to me. I thought that might be the explanation.
workshops on your own or with Craig in the future? I’m looking forward to
more of your tutorials. I especially like the format of studio lighting
with post processing.
Take care,
Josh