Beneath an Angry Sky - Death Valley

Seldom are we given the chance to photograph Death Valley National Park under heavy and angry skies. Our travels put us here for 24 hours as storms moved out of the Pacific and across the American Southwest in early December of 2014. Here, we experienced moody light, soaked dunes, scorched earth - wet and even darker than normal, and mocha tinted water flowing from every canyon. In winter rain, Death Valley becomes mysterious - almost sensuous, showing subtile hues rather than bold colors. The cold, penetrating winter chill permeates the silence. It was, thank God, void of the notorious summer heat we all associate with Death Valley. A tormented place, now quiet, desolate, peaceful. It's very name, 'Death Valley,' is misleading. Actually, nothing is further from truth. Enjoy. We did.

Grand View...
Back to the south from the slopes of the Grapevine Range, Death Valley National Park.
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Rain collects on the salt flats at Badwater Basin. Death Valley National Park
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Muddy Wash - Artist's Drive...
Yes it rains in Death Valley - At least it does the two days we were there. So, if there's moving water, we want it.
Artist's Drive, Death Valley NP, California
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Artist's Palate...
In rainy, subdued light, a mocha colored course of rainwater moves out of the Palate's volcanic, oxidizing, multi-hued hills - Black Mountains, Eastern Death Valley, California. A two exposure HDR set
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Like Mocha Frappuccino...
Looking like a natural Mocha Frappuccino, rainwater stained by volcanic rock flows gently out of the hills in the Artist's Palate... Death Valley National Park, California.
Three Exposure HDR Set.
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Life ~ In Death Valley...
Rain darkens scorched earth in this volcanic, lunar-like landscape, bringing much needed sustenance to the 'Death Valley Sage' plant. Death Valley Sage is unique and indigenous to the valley and dots the landscape in all but the most hostile areas of the park.
Western Slopes of the Funeral Mountains - Badwater Drive, Death Valley National Park, California
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Rain, Dunes, Dusk...
Rain etches normally soft sand at Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California
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Water of Life...
At dawn, a shallow pool of rainwater spreads across the hardpan floor of Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park.
In 1929, 1953 and 1989 no rain was recorded for the whole year in Death Valley! As much as I'd have liked to shoot sunny weather in the Valley, I was actually glad to be challenged to find what only rain and soft light brings to an otherwise harsh environment during my two days here in December of 2014.
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Circle of Sand...
After the storm ~ Mesquite Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California
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Lonely Tree...
A Juniper springs from desert hardpan floor among the dunes, where shifting sands could, in just hours, completely obscure. Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park.
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Cool Hues of Morning...
Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park.
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Buried Alive...
Shifting desert sands all but obscure a small Juniper Tree on an stormy Death Valley morning - Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park, California. A three exposure HDR Set.
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After the rain...
The sun breaks through thick clouds to illuminate the eastern slopes of Tucki Mountain in central Death Valley National Park. From Highway 190 across Devils Cornfield.
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King of the World...
Isn't it amazing how our spirit soars when we're close to nature?
A dune climber spreads his arms for his photographer/accomplice, while afar, I wait for the perfect moment. Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park, California.
Three Exposure HDR Set
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Death Valley Dunes...
Daylight softly filters through full cloud cover to illuminate Death Valley's Mesquite Dunes. The Grapevine Range sets the mood behind... It rained the entire day before. Stovepipe Wells - Day Two - Death Valley National Park, California
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Desert Garden ~ Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park.
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Mesmerized...
The Slots of Mosaic Canyon ~ Tucki Mountain, Death Valley National Park
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Mosaic Canyon, Tucki Mountain, Death Valley, National Park
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The Ruins of Cook Bank ~ Rhyolite, Nevada
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Ghost Town Caboose...
Rhyolite, Nevada.
The LA to Salt Lake Line of the Union Pacific Railroad served Rhyolite, Nevada during it's short life as a mining town near the eastern boundary of Death Valley. Unlike the estimated 5000 people who built Rhyolite and then disappeared between 1905 and 1921, this caboose remained when the last train pulled out in 1916. Converted to a gas station, then gift shop, then totally abandoned, the relic is rapidly returning to the elements as are all the Ghosts... Single Exposure - Tone Mapping and Adobe Paper Textures.
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Ghost Shanty ~ Rhyolite, Nevada
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Death Valley Sage springs from the jagged rocky landscape. The Black Mountains to the left and Badwater Basin on the horizon - Death Valley National Park, California.
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Desert Storm...
Death Vally, California
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Howard Brown Photographic©

Formerly LouisAnnImage©

Beneath an Angry Sky - Death Valley