Death Valley with Marc Muench Workshop

dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
edited July 18, 2010 in Journeys
I was born and raised in California and have never gone to Death Valley. I was one of those ignorant people that assumed that Death Valley was all sand dunes with no color and more importantly nothing exciting to take pictures of. Was I wrong, very wrong. My experience with Death Valley during this workshop has opened my eyes to brilliant colors and beauty that Death Valley has to offer. In the few days that I visited the Desert National Park, I only witnessed a fraction of what Death Valley has to offer.

Day 1:
The whole group met at Stove Pipe Wells where we would call home for the next few days. That evening, we went to the Dunes to take some late day to dusk pictures. Anytime I go on a photo trip, I tend to take a day or so to become acclimated to my surroundings in order to see shoots. Usually the first day I am just scrambling to take shots but not really paying attention to details or composition.

Here are a few attempts to capture desert lines and the very cool line patterns of the dunes.
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My only color shot of the day
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I saw a few lizards running along the sand leaving behind a few tracks that broke the wavy patterns of the dunes
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This is my attempt at a self portrait
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Day 2:
We started this day early. Up by 5:00 a.m. and out the door by 5:30 am to catch the van to this morning's shoot...Bad Water and Artists Palette. Mother Nature just did not cooperate today but I still took a few shots. The light was a little flat and bad water hadn't dried up enough to make the edges of the geometric-shapes curl up. I heard the edges of these shapes can curl up to 2 feet. Maybe next time.

Bad Water
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Artists Palette
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After breakfast and a short break, we went out to shoot some of the wild flowers that are in bloom during this part of the year.
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There was not much wild life to speak of but I did however see these little red bugs. They were so small, at first I did not notice them. Once I laid down on the ground to capture the flowers, I saw these little buggers everywhere.
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This is my one attempt at IR with plant life.
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Later in the afternoon, we went out to capture the sunset. I do not remember the exact location where these pics were taken but Andy and Marc found this spot on their last trip. This was the only water I saw on the trip and with the heavy amounts of salt, it looked like icy waters. A very cool Desert trick.
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Jamie modeling a chunk of salt crystal. Please do not fret or send me emails, I did put the salt back ;-)






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Day 3 "the finale"
By far, day 3 was the best day of any workshop i have been on. It was just a very fun day hanging out with the other photographers and witnessing a phoneme that no one has explained with confidence.....We went to the "Race Track"


On the way to the Race Track, we stopped to take a few quick snap shots of a very beautiful place. The ground was covered in volcanic pebbles with bright purple flowers carpeting the ground.
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Back into the van and off to the Race Track. On the way we saw a great sign that is very famous.

The Tea Kettle Junction Sign
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When we arrived at Race Track Playa, we first took some pictures on the north end of the Playa which is slightly elevated over the southern end by a mountain that is slowly pushy itself up and out of the Playa.

Like an iceburg, we only can see the tip.
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We had a lot of fun on this little mountain on the Playa. Here is Marc doing is famous pose.
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I am just happy I made it to the top. To celebrate I took off my shirt and enjoyed the cool breeze blowing at gusts of 40mph. A few others in our group got down to their bare essentials but since this is a "G" rated site, I won't post those :-D
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Once we got the the southern part of the Playa, the fun didn't stop. We had to burn a few hours before the light was good. So what better to do than take a short nap.
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Scott taking a quick snooze
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Once the sun was low on the horizon and the shadows were long, shooting commenced.
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What a great trip, with great people and a fantastic place to shoot. I will end this thread with a picture of the dunes that I always thought was the only subject Death Valley had to offer of any interest. I am so glad I has proven so wrong.
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My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
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Comments

  • Marc MuenchMarc Muench Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    thumb.gifthumbthumb.gif

    Could it be that new computerheadscratch.gif

    Or, do you really know how to work that Nikondeal.gif
    Great post Dan.
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    thumb.gifthumbthumb.gif

    Could it be that new computerheadscratch.gif

    Or, do you really know how to work that Nikondeal.gif
    Great post Dan.
    15524779-Ti.gif Super post clap.gif
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    thumb.gifthumbthumb.gif

    Could it be that new computerheadscratch.gif

    Or, do you really know how to work that Nikondeal.gif
    Great post Dan.

    Thank you Marc...it was your teachings that help me the most. I am forever grateful bowdown.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    dlplumer wrote:
    15524779-Ti.gif Super post clap.gif

    Thank you Dan. After seeing your pics, I was very excited to see the beauty you captured so well.
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    Wow, just wow - amazing work. Dan, you found some great shots in a few places where I didn't even see any. Your purple field shot, blows me away. The whole set is just breathtaking, great BW conversions, the IR flower I love (got one very similar :D ).... and it truly was an honor to shoot with you again and share the desert experience.

    Great post.
  • SamSam Registered Users Posts: 7,419 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    This is a fantastic series! Great composition and processing.

    Good work!

    Sam
  • EclipsedEclipsed Registered Users Posts: 360 Major grins
    edited April 19, 2010
    Great post thumb.gif You guys are giving me a hankering for a workshop with Marc.rolleyes1.gif
  • Wicked_DarkWicked_Dark Registered Users Posts: 1,138 Major grins
    edited April 20, 2010
    Oh that was wonderful. DV is one of my favorite places on earth and I cannot wait to get back there. Your interpretation of the beauty it offers is spot on. I'm so jealous I couldn't go to this workshop.
  • johnmirelesjohnmireles Registered Users Posts: 24 Big grins
    edited April 20, 2010
    Great job! It's been years since I've been to Death Valley and your images have me itching to get back sooner rather than later.
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 20, 2010
    Andy wrote:
    Wow, just wow - amazing work. Dan, you found some great shots in a few places where I didn't even see any. Your purple field shot, blows me away. The whole set is just breathtaking, great BW conversions, the IR flower I love (got one very similar :D ).... and it truly was an honor to shoot with you again and share the desert experience.

    Great post.

    Andy, you are a big part of why these pictures came out as good as they did....thank you for your mentoring.bowdown.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 20, 2010
    Sam wrote:
    This is a fantastic series! Great composition and processing.

    Good work!

    Sam
    From you Sam, that is a big ego boost and compliment.wings.gif Thank you
    Eclipsed wrote:
    Great post thumb.gif You guys are giving me a hankering for a workshop with Marc.rolleyes1.gif

    I have been on four workshops now and I loved and learned on everyone of them. It is a great opportunity to take advantage of three generations of photography experience that Marc has stored in his head with the huge bonus to learn from Andy as well. You will not regret it, I promiseiloveyou.gif
    Oh that was wonderful. DV is one of my favorite places on earth and I cannot wait to get back there. Your interpretation of the beauty it offers is spot on. I'm so jealous I couldn't go to this workshop.

    Thank you for your kind comments. Death Valley is a gem and I will definitely go next year around the same time.

    Great job! It's been years since I've been to Death Valley and your images have me itching to get back sooner rather than later.

    Thank youiloveyou.gif If you go back. you will be reminded of its beauty.
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • The Curious CamelThe Curious Camel Registered Users Posts: 943 Major grins
    edited April 20, 2010
    Wow, every images is a masterpiece.

    Peace, gail
  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited April 20, 2010
    Your photos are amazing lovely conversion, makes me want to visit Death Valley. mwink.gif
    Thine is the beauty of light; mine is the song of fire. Thy beauty exalts the heart; my song inspires the soul. Allama Iqbal

    My Gallery
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 21, 2010
    Wow, every images is a masterpiece.

    Peace, gail

    thank you for such generous wordsiloveyou.gif

    Your photos are amazing lovely conversion, makes me want to visit Death Valley. mwink.gif

    thanks Awais :D
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited April 21, 2010
    Very cool stuff. Looks like a great trip!
    I like that you have a lot of different looks and processing in this set. thumb.gif
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

    Website:www.CapturingLightandEmotion.com
    Facebook: Capturing Light and Emotion
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,904 moderator
    edited April 22, 2010
    Death Valley is a place that lends itself well to black and white. Man, that's beautiful!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 22, 2010
    anwmn1 wrote:
    Very cool stuff. Looks like a great trip!
    I like that you have a lot of different looks and processing in this set. thumb.gif

    Thanks Aaron. I loved it. The group of photographers on this particular trip made the trip go from great to freakin' outstanding. wings.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 22, 2010
    ian408 wrote:
    Death Valley is a place that lends itself well to black and white. Man, that's beautiful!

    Are you patting yourself on the back for a great quoteheadscratch.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • aktseaktse Registered Users Posts: 1,928 Major grins
    edited April 26, 2010
    clap.gifclapclap.gifclap

    Well done! I knew that you would leave with some speculator images.
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,904 moderator
    edited April 26, 2010
    dadwtwins wrote:
    Are you patting yourself on the back for a great quoteheadscratch.gif

    Of course I am lol3.gif

    Ha ha. You know I mean the B&W aspect of the park :D
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • dogwooddogwood Registered Users Posts: 2,572 Major grins
    edited April 27, 2010
    Awesome, awesome, awesome post! thumb.gif

    Really great pics and narrative. But especially amazing pics! Beautiful work.

    Portland, Oregon Photographer Pete Springer
    website blog instagram facebook g+

  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited April 27, 2010
    dogwood wrote:
    Awesome, awesome, awesome post! thumb.gif

    Really great pics and narrative. But especially amazing pics! Beautiful work.

    Thank you thank you thank you:D
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • Doug SolisDoug Solis Registered Users Posts: 1,190 Major grins
    edited May 2, 2010
    Wonderful series! Might have to put Death Valley on the list. Love the racetrack shots, great use of B/W too.
  • tortillatorturetortillatorture Registered Users Posts: 194 Major grins
    edited May 3, 2010
    lovely work, i especially enjoy the bw's, really nice!
  • 8zil8zil Registered Users Posts: 63 Big grins
    edited May 5, 2010
    I say that work shop was completly worth it with those pictures you are showing us!!!! some really amazing stufff, specially those great black and whites, I love them all.
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2010
    8zil wrote: »
    I say that work shop was completely worth it with those pictures you are showing us!!!! some really amazing stuff, specially those great black and whites, I love them all.

    Marc's workshops are much more than someone just talking at you as if you are in a classroom while treating everyone as if they are all on the same skill level. Believe me, I have been on those workshops and they are NOT worth the money nor time.

    Marc and Andy (when he is able to attend) are able to cater to all skill levels of photographers and treat you is if you are the only student. My photography takes a big jump every time I go to one of these workshops and i am forever gratefuliloveyou.gif

    If I could, i would go to every workshop and absorb as much skills as I could from Marc and Andy. So far, I have seen no better bowdown.gif
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • dadwtwinsdadwtwins Registered Users Posts: 804 Major grins
    edited May 5, 2010
    Doug Solis wrote: »
    Wonderful series! Might have to put Death Valley on the list. Love the racetrack shots, great use of B/W too.

    The Playa Race Track is simply amazing to me. Now that the road has been grated, it is much easier to access. This is good for visitors but in My opinion, very bad for the protection of such examples of nature's anomalies.
    My Homepage :thumb-->http://dthorp.smugmug.com
    My Photo Blog -->http://dthorpphoto.blogspot.com/
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited May 6, 2010
    I know how you feel about compliments, but I feel bad that I missed this. Even though I've seen your harvest from this trip, looking at them never gets old. You're incredible in what you see in the world around you! :D
  • Marc MuenchMarc Muench Registered Users Posts: 1,420 Major grins
    edited May 6, 2010
  • jonconelljonconell Registered Users Posts: 1 Beginner grinner
    edited May 12, 2010
    let me make it clear, OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY GOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a espectacular composition!! Im new to the forum i hope we can share lots of great things
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