Tag Archives: valley

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Argus Range Clouds

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Argus Range Clouds
“Argus Range Clouds” — Low clouds hug the edge of the Argus Range to the west of Panamint Valley.

The typical assumption is that Death Valley and its surroundings are hot and dry. That is often the case — not much rain falls there in a typical year, and it can be unbearably hot. But the climate in and around the park is a lot more varied than many realize. I’ve been snowed on there several times, and not just in the mountains. I even recall seeing a few flakes one early April at Scotty’s Castle! This photograph — on a day with rain and snow in the mountains — comes from the last week of winter.

I made the photograph in Panamint Valley, on the west side of the Panamint Mountains, the tallest range in the park. Those mountains were at my back as I looked to the west. The high clouds marked the receding edge of a weather system that was producing rain and snow on the higher peaks. The fascinating band of “high fog” was forming over the edge of the snow-capped Argus Range in the wake of the front’s passage.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Desert Gold

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Desert Gold
“Desert Gold” — Desert gold blooms in the Panament Valley of Death Valley National Park.

The wildflowers in California’s deserts and here in Death Valley National Park vary wildly from year to year depending on the amount of precipitation and its timing. There are always some flowers, but they are scarce when it is dry. Every so often the conditions shake out just right and the desert and mountains explode with color. It is hard to predict precisely when it will happen or to what degree. This year there was plenty of water, but the schedule was odd. When flowers bloomed way early (back in late 2023!) some thought that the spring color might be a bust — but that is not what seems to be happening.

I was surprised to find an extensive bloom of desert gold flowers stretching across upper Panamint Valley. I saw it when I arrived at the park, and days later it had grown stronger as I left. From what I saw — surprising blooms here and there and a lot of new green plants coming up — I won’t be surprised if this year’s bloom ultimately surpasses expectations.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: People In Landscape, Photographs: Southern California

Desert Church, Storm Sky

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Desert Church, Storm Sky
“Desert Church, Storm Sky” — Stormy skies above the St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Roman Catholic Church in Trona, California

The town of Trona, near Death Valley, can feel like a place that is dying. A large factory operates in the town, extracting minerals from the giant dry lake in Searles Valley. I have passed through for years, and the number of abandoned and boarded-up homes and businesses has increased. This intriguing church sits along the highway, wedged between the town and the dry lake.

The church has fascinated me since I first saw it many years ago. I have never seen people there or even a car parked in the gravel parking lot. It is one of the least aesthetic Catholic Churches I have ever seen, looking entirely functional and standing implacably in this rough landscape. On the day I photographed it the wind was blowing and storm clouds had gathered over the distant Panamint Mountains.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Sunrise Clouds, Searles Valley

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Sunrise Clouds, Searles Valley
“Sunrise Clouds, Searles Valley” — Fascinating cloud shapes at sunrise, above Searles Valley and the distant Panamint Mountains.

This photograph was a bit of an accident, an example of switching gears to take advantage of an unexpected opportunity. I had stayed in Ridgecrest, California the night before, with a plan to leave very early and photograph the Trona Pinnacles at sunrise. I’ve been there many times, but I have never quite gotten the light I was hoping for, and I thought this might be my chance. But I arrived to find clouds, lots of clouds! It was apparent that I wasn’t going to get the sunrise light on the pinnacles that I hoped for. However, interesting things were happening in the distance.

The highest peaks of the Panamint Range are visible to the north, including Telescope Peak. This mountain is the highest in the Death Valley area with a summit at over 11,000 feet. Lenticular clouds were forming above the ridge and soon colorful sunrise light began to reach them, producing a striking contrast with the dark mountains and more distant clouds.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.