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11/07/2006 08:13:32 PM · #1
So Im going to spend a couple days in Death Valley this weekend and want to know what the best places are to go. If you have any suggestions let me know!
11/07/2006 08:25:01 PM · #2
no suggestions to make, but tell me if it's true what they say about the sliding rocks.
11/07/2006 08:31:29 PM · #3
A few tips:

o Go to the Sand Dunes area early in the morning or late afternoon (to get the long shadows)

o There is a golf course there with nice palm trees. You could compose a shot with the desert all around to make it look like an oasis

o A shot of the salt flats with some wispy clouds in the background, then convert to B&W, dodge and burn and you may have a nice photo.

o For some candid shots of tourists, go to Bad Water (it's the lowest elevation in the United States)

o Finally, the sky there is so beautiful at night. You can see all of the Milky Way. If I were there, I would set up a tripod with a very long exposure (bulb mode, maybe). Aim at the North Star and shoot. You should end up with some very cool concentric star trail rings.

Just my two-cents' worth. :-D
11/07/2006 09:50:52 PM · #4
You might find a few ideas here for places to go. I was there a couple of years ago for a week.

Get to bad water about an hour before sunrise and walk out for amazing light. Same with sunset - about an hour before, or earlier.

Death Valley is a huge, open space so the light starts probably earlier there than anywhere else.

The Stove Pipe Wells dunes are really accessible - so covered in foot prints, unless you are lucky enough to get a sand storm. Panamint valley dunes are bigger and harder to get to.

Scotty's Castle is a weird folly to visit.

Its probably my most favourite national park in the states. Have fun!

The race track is probably about a 4 hour drive from anywhere, and you'll need a good 4 wheel drive vehicle. I didn't make it out there because its about a 40 mile dirt road.

When I was there, Zabriskie point was closed, but I'd try to get there now.

Take plenty of water. Even at this time of year it is warm and very arid. You'll dehydrate quickly.



Message edited by author 2006-11-07 22:22:31.
11/08/2006 01:39:22 AM · #5






You'll want to be a Zabriskie Point before and just after sunrise (see first two thumbnails above). Badwater and the Devil's Golf Course are also great at sunrise. The Dunes (both Stovepipe Wells and Eureka) are best at sunset. The Racetrack is only 27 miles on a rocky road and you don't need a 4X4, my high-clearance Subaru Outback did just fine. I even spent a couple of hours rescuing people from New York that got two flats in their rental 4X4. You can even camp at the Racetrack to be there for sunrise, if you'd like. For more photos, check out my website at:

//www.bryanbrazil.com/cm/thumbnails.php?album=299

Some other cool places are Mosaic Canyon (easy to get to, 1/4 mile hike), Darwin Falls (5 miles on gravel road, 2 mile hike), and the Ryolite Ghost Town (on the road east to Nevada).

Message edited by author 2006-11-08 02:00:44.
11/08/2006 01:53:36 AM · #6
Red wall canyon is worth a hike. Cross country for about 40 minutes to reach the opening. Then you can hike half mile or so to a dryfall then scale the dryfall and enjoy another 1/4 mile of narrow canyon before it opens up again.

Darwin falls is a nice short hike if you want a little green.

The road to racetrack is doable but it is rough. Saw a convertible mustang out there (probably a rental). Take a good spare and the ranger recommended 2 spares!

edit:

Hey Josh, just realized it was you who posted. I think you already picked my brain. Have fun.

Message edited by author 2006-11-08 01:54:19.
11/08/2006 12:00:16 PM · #7
Thanks for the tips everyone, I will see what I can get in!
11/08/2006 12:02:10 PM · #8
Originally posted by bryanbrazil:

Darwin Falls (5 miles on gravel road, 2 mile hike)


Darwin Falls was pretty cool to get to. Very small location but very atypical for the valley.


11/08/2006 08:36:10 PM · #9
bump
11/09/2006 05:22:37 PM · #10
Has anybody done their own processing to bryanbrazil's winning image?


I've tried some, just to get to see if I could get the same result. I couldn't. Anybody got their results to post?
11/16/2006 06:39:45 PM · #11
Do you have any photos to show us, runin2dson?
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