Death Valley is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest National Parks in the United States. Even with this distinction, it is a landscape that encompasses many dynamic scenes. These qualities make it an endless world of opportunities for beautiful photographs. Evidence of Earth’s forces can be seen all around the park with the carved canyons, never-ending salt flats, mud cracks, sand dunes, mountain ranges, and rock formations. We will be visiting and photographing this park when more pleasant cooler temperatures are occurring. We will photograph and chase the light across this varied and textured landscape, while also heading out one night to photograph under the stars for some night photography. We will be photographing areas such as the Mesquite Dunes, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie point, and other locations that have become our favorites over the years, which are lesser known. We will photograph larger scenes, and take time to catch the details in more intimate scenes. During the workshop, we will also have classroom time to teach photo processing techniques, and workflow to help your photos stand out! With over 3.4 million acres to explore, there is always something to photograph, and you will not be disappointed. Come photograph and explore this incredible landscape of many faces!
Tag: California
Death Valley Backcountry Camping with David and Jennifer Kingham
With rugged and raw landscapes, Death Valley is full of dynamic and beautiful scenes to photograph. Get away from the crowds, and join us as we explore, photograph and camp in the more extreme, adventurous, lesser-traveled parts of the park and the surrounding Eastern Sierra. We will explore the dramatic Eureka Sand Dunes, (the highest dunes in California, and second highest in the U.S.) and a remote valley with massive mud cracks surrounded by soaring peaks, along with the Eastern Sierra and Alabama Hills with its unique granite formations and a backdrop of Mt. Whitney. We will photograph and camp among the large and more intimate scenes. Let us help you find your creative vision while photographing mud cracks, sand dunes, Joshua trees, rock formations, and snow-covered mountain peaks. We will take care of the driving and meals so that you can focus on your photography. Come along, and let us show you some of our favorite places to photograph in one of our favorite National Parks!
Death Valley with David and Jennifer Kingham
Death Valley is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest National Parks in the United States. Even with this distinction, it is a landscape that encompasses many dynamic scenes. These qualities make it an endless world of opportunities for beautiful photographs. Evidence of Earth’s forces can be seen all around the park with the carved canyons, never-ending salt flats, mud cracks, sand dunes, mountain ranges, and rock formations. We will be visiting and photographing this park when more pleasant cooler temperatures are occurring. We will photograph and chase the light across this varied and textured landscape, while also heading out one night to photograph under the stars for some night photography. We will be photographing areas such as the Mesquite Dunes, Badwater Basin, and Zabriskie point, and other locations that have become our favorites over the years, which are lesser known. We will photograph larger scenes, and take time to catch the details in more intimate scenes. During the workshop, we will also have classroom time to teach photo processing techniques, and workflow to help your photos stand out! With over 3.4 million acres to explore, there is always something to photograph, and you will not be disappointed. Come photograph and explore this incredible landscape of many faces!
Jeeping and Hiking Death Valley with David and Jennifer Kingham
This is a unique opportunity to photograph some of the most remote areas in Death Valley that are only accessible with Jeeps or hiking. Even if you have been on a workshop with us before in Death Valley, many of the locations will be new to you. You will have the opportunity to photograph two different remote sand dunes, massive fields of Joshua Trees, sailing stones on the Racetrack, polygons on Badwater, and unique viewpoints of Zabriskie Point and 20 Mule Team Canyon. Be prepared for long drives to reach these remote areas, because of this we have extended the workshop by a day so we have an opportunity to rest during the day, and we will do the post-processing and critique sessions at the end of the workshop.
California Monarchs and Elephant Seals with Gordon and Cathy Illg
Monarch butterflies are the beauties, elephant seals are the beasts and many other species are also included. All on the lovely central California coast. It is one of our favorite tours!
Anza-Borrego with David and Jennifer Kingham
Anza-Borrego is a vast, stunning desert landscape that few photographers venture to. If you are familiar with Death Valley you will appreciate array of scenery this area provides. From mud cracks with stunning mountains as a backdrop, to gorgeous badlands, interesting rocks formations, and even a slot canyon. There is a lot to appreciate in the desert if you take the time to slow down and experience it. Come join us to photograph this unique location. We teach in a small group size to maximize your learning and experience. Our focus is on your learning and helping you to find your creative vision!
Grebes “Walk” On Water to Find a Mate
Story and Photography by Krisztina Scheeff with KS Nature Photography
Western Grebes rushing on Lake Hodges, CA. © Krisztina Scheeff
When it comes to dating in the world of Grebes it is not as easy as just going out for a fish dinner or a morning swim. These birds have much higher standards. If a mate cannot “walk” on water, they are out of luck.
The life of the sea otter
Story and photography by Frank Toller
These marine mammals live mostly on the North Pacific coast and typically weigh between 31 and 99 pounds. They are able to live their entire life in the water, in part because of a massive fur coat, the densest in the animal world. They feed on invertebrates such as sea urchins, clams, crab, and abalone as well as octopus and some species of fish. The otters will use rocks to scrape their prey and open shells, making them unique among marine mammals as tool users.
The sea otter population has risen from 1,000 to 2,000 years ago to 100,000 now. © Frank Toller
They can go onshore and occasionally will do so. The otters are very friendly and while taking these pictures on Jetty Road at Moss Landing, California [55 miles south of San Jose on the coast], I observed the animals allowing children to approach within six feet. The kids and pups seemed equally curious about each other. Continue reading
NATIONAL PARKS: Death Valley NP
Sultry patterns of light and shadow on Mesquite Flat dunes in Death Valley National Park, CA., (c) Jerry Ginsberg
Story and photographs by Jerry Ginsberg
For those of us old enough to remember, there was once a TV series called “Death Valley Days.” The show used the vast Death Valley National Park as a backdrop for its slice of life vignettes. It greatly romanticized the harsh desert environment made commercially viable by its borax deposits. Twenty mule teams pulled heavy wagons laden with the stuff out of the valley and off to market. Today this valley encompasses the biggest U.S. national park outside of Alaska. With 3.3 million acres, it is half again the size of Yellowstone. Continue reading