~ Joy of Photography
My first post in this series was on Governor Basin. The images in this post and the preceding post were taken at American Basin.
American Basin, San Yuan Mountains, White Lined Sphinx Moth
Continue reading “Rocky Mountains High Part 3, White Lined Sphinx Moth on Columbine”
I just finished editing images from a mid-July trip to Ouray, Silverton, and Durango Colorado in search of fun, flowers, and scenery. We went last year as well but the flowers were spectacular this year. These images are all from this trip.
My favorite spot both last year and this for wildflowers is Governor Basin. American Basin is second. The highly touted Yankee Boy basin would be third. The first two require a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle (and I mean it!). Careful drivers might be able to negotiate Yankee Boy basin with in all-wheel drive car with reasonable clearance.
My previous post was on Governor Basin. This one is on American Basin.
American Basin, San Yuan Mountains, Columbines
Continue reading “Rocky Mountains High Part 2, Silverton, Colorado”
I just finished editing images from a mid-July trip to Ouray, Silverton, and Durango Colorado in search of fun, flowers, and scenery. We went last year as well but the flowers were spectacular this year. These images are all from this trip.
My favorite spot both last year and this for wildflowers is Governor Basin. American Basin is second. The highly touted Yankee Boy basin would be third. The first two require a high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle (and I mean it!). Careful drivers might be able to negotiate Yankee Boy basin with in all-wheel drive car with reasonable clearance.
Governor Basin, San Yuan Mountains, Columbines
Continue reading “Rocky Mountains High Part 1, Ouray, Colorado”
Death Valley National Park is a phenomenal study of erosion, weather, geology, sand dunes, salt formations, and huge spring wildflower blooms on rare occasions.
One of the “must see” areas is Zabriskie Point.
Manly Beacon is the high triangular-shaped outcrop on the right. Manly Beacon was named in honor of William L. Manly, who along with John Rogers, guided members of the ill-fated Forty-niners out of Death Valley during the gold rush of 1849.
Get to this spot well before sunrise. As soon as the sunrise light hits the Panamint Mountain Range on the opposite side of the valley, the shot will soon be over.
Also, you need clouds for the shot to work. If there are no clouds, try another location. The sand dunes and Dante’s View (both coming up) are better choices if the light is not dramatic.
Feature Image Details
I consider this light to be good quality and the air was clear. I would have preferred better clouds over the Panamint Range across the valley, but the clouds worked nicely as a panorama.
Manly Beacon
That is one of the images in the panorama.
By the time light hits Manly Beacon, the best images were long ago in your camera.
Do not be late for this spot, or for that matter, any spot in Death Valley. Morning light is very fleeting.
Pre-Dawn Image
In the above image, you can see the light coming up to the SouthEast (Winter). The contrast was intense. I blended two images together in Photoshop.
The advantage of staying high (at the top of the photography area) is that you can shoot in several directions. It may be better to be a bit lower for Manly Beacon but this shot vanishes.
Those interested in my equipment and recommendations can find it here: Mish’s Equipment List.
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Mike “Mish” Shedlock