Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: dgberg on March 24, 2010, 03:40:42 pm

Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: dgberg on March 24, 2010, 03:40:42 pm
Had a 3 day trip to Las Vegas and was out of town in 15 minutes headed north west to Death Valley. (Sorry Vegas fans)  In March it is a really nice place to visit and in the mid 70's both days.
6:30 sunrise from the lookout.
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: francois on March 25, 2010, 06:48:15 am
Quote from: Dan Berg
Had a 3 day trip to Las Vegas and was out of town in 15 minutes headed north west to Death Valley. (Sorry Vegas fans)  In March it is a really nice place to visit and in the mid 70's both days.
6:30 sunrise from the lookout.
Very nice vista with soft tonalities and an interesting sky...
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: dgberg on March 25, 2010, 07:00:17 am
Thank you Francois,
I forgot to mention it was a 5 shot HDR processed in Photomatix Pro. If you see that processed HDR look thats why. I prefer HDR landscapes more towards a natural look rather then too much on the surreal side. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't!
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: francois on March 25, 2010, 09:39:10 am
Dan,
Thanks for the additional info. It's true that the illumination is a bit uncommon but HDR had not crossed my mind at all.
I find your image very pleasant.
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: dbell on March 25, 2010, 02:54:25 pm
I was there in February of 07. Great weather for most of the week. I can't imagine going there to shoot during the summer. Zabriskie point is a classic sunrise location, and off-season, it's not jammed with photographers .
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: nigelrudyard on March 29, 2010, 06:48:12 pm
Quote from: Dan Berg
Had a 3 day trip to Las Vegas and was out of town in 15 minutes headed north west to Death Valley. (Sorry Vegas fans)  In March it is a really nice place to visit and in the mid 70's both days.
6:30 sunrise from the lookout.

Beautiful shot, Dan. Fantastic tones.
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: dgberg on March 30, 2010, 08:57:27 pm
Thank you. It is one beautiful place.
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: framah on April 02, 2010, 06:05:30 pm
I have to ask... how far do you have to hike to get to this spot?
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: vandevanterSH on April 02, 2010, 07:22:07 pm
Quote from: framah
I have to ask... how far do you have to hike to get to this spot?

 I'll take a guess based on similar shots that I have.  It is a short walk up from the parking lot to the "overlook".  50(?) yards up a walk way.

Steve
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: francois on April 03, 2010, 03:25:08 am
Quote from: vandevanterSH
I'll take a guess based on similar shots that I have.  It is a short walk up from the parking lot to the "overlook".  50(?) yards up a walk way.

Steve
That's my guess too. See the attached image, taken from the promontory with the parking lot…
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: Paul Sumi on April 03, 2010, 11:06:00 am
Quote from: vandevanterSH
I'll take a guess based on similar shots that I have.  It is a short walk up from the parking lot to the "overlook".  50(?) yards up a walk way.
Steve

It's a very short walk, as others have mentioned, but seems longer to me than 150".

While one can photograph from the "official" viewing platform, many people hike around to the bluff in front of it.

As others have mentioned, it's an iconic location.  On weekends particularly, arrive well before dawn in order to get a good spot.  I was there last weekend and it got very crowded around sunrise.

Paul
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: Rajan Parrikar on April 03, 2010, 10:47:30 pm
This past Wednesday (March 31), I headed out to Zabriskie Point before sunrise expecting the usual gaggle of photogs jousting for space on the bluff.  To begin with, I overshot the turnout by a mile before I realized I had to make a U-turn.  The reason I missed it (other than the darkness) was that there was not a single car in the parking lot.  I set up my tripod and waited.  5-7 minutes before the first rays lit up the top rim of the Panamints, one guy showed up.  It was just the two of us on the bluff - this in what is supposed to be among the busiest weeks in Death Valley.  Later that afternoon, we had a marvelous rainstorm.
Title: Death Valley-Zabriskie
Post by: Jason Denning on May 22, 2010, 01:19:53 pm
I went to death valley a month ago, and didn't even bother going here, why does anyone see the point if it's always so crowded? Why get the same shot thousands of others have? Does anyone really think they can get the 'best' one. I find it really funny when I see a bunch of photographers in the same spot, that's when I leave and find usually end up finding something better.

Jason

Quote from: Paul Sumi
It's a very short walk, as others have mentioned, but seems longer to me than 150".

While one can photograph from the "official" viewing platform, many people hike around to the bluff in front of it.

As others have mentioned, it's an iconic location.  On weekends particularly, arrive well before dawn in order to get a good spot.  I was there last weekend and it got very crowded around sunrise.

Paul