Photo Blog by Rajan Parrikar » Death Valley

Death Valley – A Study in Texture

Rajan P. Parrikar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:38:49 +0000

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These photographs were taken in a single session along Badwater Road in the Death Valley National Park in California. An impending storm had given rise to conditions atypical in Death Valley – soft, diffused afternoon light that accentuated the colours on the Black Mountains.

Colours
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Black Mountains
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Palette
5D Mark II, TS-E 17L

Folds
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Rugged
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II

Black Mountains
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Glow
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Light Capers in Death Valley

Rajan P. Parrikar — Sun, 01 May 2011 04:49:28 +0000

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Last year I found myself in the middle of a fierce storm in Death Valley, California. After the initial fury subsided, I positioned myself on Westside Road hoping to catch some of the late evening magic, and was suitably rewarded. The gusts were still very strong and these images had to be made handheld at ISO 400.

Clearing storm, Amargosa range, Westside road
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II

Amargosa range from Westside road in Death Valley
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II

Storm over Death Valley (revisited)

Rajan P. Parrikar — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:47:19 +0000

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I was fortunate to find myself in the middle of a storm in California’s Death Valley this March.

This shot was taken as the storm raged on at the northern end of the Badwater basin with the Panamint range in the backdrop.

Stormy afternoon in Death Valley, California
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II

And about an hour later, we were witness to this marvellous sight.

Rainbow over Death Valley
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II

The build-up to this storm figured in an earlier post.

Storm over Death Valley

Rajan P. Parrikar — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:02:46 +0000

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I was fortunate to catch the frisson of an incoming storm this March in Death Valley, California. With conditions changing by the minute, I kept shuttling back and forth between the Westside Road that cuts through the Badwater basin and Zabriskie Point.

Ominous clouds form over the northern end of the Badwater salt pan, as seen from Westside Road.

Storm brewing over Badwater basin in Death Valley
5D Mark II, 24-105L

It was a marvellous sight at Zabriskie Point. Notice the giant alluvial fan spreading out from the mouth of the canyon on the far side of the Badwater basin.

Storm clouds loom over Manly Beacon at Zabriskie Point
5D Mark II, 70-200L f/2.8 IS II

The colourful mineral-laden mudstone hills near Zabriskie Point contrast with the grey weather all around.

Storm in Death Valley
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Trail of Borate, Death Valley

Rajan P. Parrikar — Wed, 05 May 2010 07:26:25 +0000

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The first rays of the sun melting the crest of the Panamint Range at Zabriskie Point in California’s Death Valley make for the purest of eye candy. A clutch of photographers can be reliably found there at dawn jockeying for slots on the mound overlooking the badlands. It is easy to be seduced by this iconic location and overlook other photographic opportunities right next door. On this morning, I explored compositions figuring the borate-laden hills lined up along the highway near Zabriskie Point. With an assist from the early morning light the warm yellow hills cut a crisp picture.

Borate-laden hills in Death Valley, California
5D Mark II, 24-105L

The black & white interpretation of the above image also makes for a compelling image.

Death Valley, California
5D Mark II, 24-105L

Back

Rajan P. Parrikar — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:24:57 +0000

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I took time off from blogging during September to tend to matters in need of more immediate attention. Regular programming will resume shortly.

For now, here are a couple of candid pictures of mine taken by Sanjeev Trivedi during our excursion earlier this Spring through Death Valley, California.

My solitary figure at the Stovepipe Wells sand dunes in Death Valley, California
Photo by: Sanjeev Trivedi

In Death Valley, California
Photo by: Sanjeev Trivedi

Death Valley Colours

Rajan P. Parrikar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:27:44 +0000

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Early morning view from Zabriskie Point:

Zabriskie Point, Death Valley
5D, 135L

Ubehebe Crater, late afternoon:

Ubehebe Crater, Death Valley
5D, 24-105L

Death Valley Jaunt

Rajan P. Parrikar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:19:34 +0000

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Filled with geological wonders and haunting vistas, Death Valley National Park in California presents a fertile playground for the landscape photographer. These are a few of the outré sights on offer in Death Valley, taken during a quick jaunt at the end of April 2009. All the photographs below were shot with Canon EOS 5D.

View from Zabriskie Point at dawn
5D, EF 14L II

View from Zabriskie Point at sunrise
5D, EF 24-105L

Devil's Golf Course
5D, Tilt-Shift 45 mm

Artist's Drive
5D, EF 24-105L

Moving stones at Racetrack Playa
5D, 14L II

Red Cathedral seen from Golden Canyon
5D, EF 24-105L

Golden Canyon, late evening
5D, EF 24-105L

Dante's View at dawn
5D, EF 14L II