#death-valley — Public Fediverse posts

“Aeolian Bedforms” — Wind-caused ripples in desert sand dunes, Death Valley.

This is probably the classic notion of what a desert looks like — fields of wind-formed sand dunes stretching into the distance. In truth, such dunes typically cover only a very small fraction of the desert landscape. That’s certainly true in Death Valley National Park, where large, impressive dunes are only found in a handful of locations. We visited one of them on the final morning of our late February trip…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/12/aeolian_bedforms/

#deathvalley #sand #dunes #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Southern Death Valley” — Desert gold wildflowers, dark hills with ancient Lake Manly shoreline terraces.

There is something. a little unusual about this post. I didn’t pick this photograph so much for aesthetic reasons as for its inclusion of some fascinating features in this part of Death Valley. Let’s start with the obvious. There are desert gold wildflowers in the foreground, but if you look closely you can see many more of them across this broad Vally on the dark hillside. Keep reading to learn something about that hillside…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/05/southern-death-valley/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Lake Manly, Morning Clouds, Reflection” — Panamint Range and morning clouds reflected in Lake Manly, Death Valley.

This season I took advantage of the rare opportunity to photograph reflections of desert mountains in Death Valley. We were there just before Christmas 2025 and then again near the end of February 2026. The Lake Manly was there both times, though it had visibly diminished on the second visit. But from up close its surface still reflected the surrounding mountains and sky…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/05/03/manly-lake-morning-clouds-reflection/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Desert Mountains and Reflection, Morning” — Panamint Range mountains, clouds and morning light, reflected in Lake Manly.
Here is another morning photograph on Manly Lake. I know — that is a LOT of photographs of this feature! But I had several beautiful mornings there this season, and each produced quite a haul of pictures portraying different moods and surroundings. At the moment I made this one, a band of light was striking a ridge descending toward the lake, while the foreground and more distant shadows were in muted light…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/29/desert-mountains-and-reflection-morning/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Morning Reflections, Lake Manly Shoreline” — Morning clouds and desert mountains reflected in Lake Manly.

By now, those of you who follow my posts have figured out that I made quite a few photographs of Lake Manly on this partly cloudy morning. I hope you’ll forgive me, but the appearance of this lake is not an everyday event, and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. (Not only did I photograph it a lot on this trip, but I also photographed it two months earlier at the end of December.)…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/27/morning-reflections-lake-manly-shoreline/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

I know I've been showing (and enjoying!) some lush vibes, but I start to also miss that stark minimalist purity that only the deepest deserts can provide. Maybe soon I'll go back and experience "A Moonlit Night at Badwater"...captured by yours truly one December evening.

#art #photography #desert #sky #skyscape #nightsky #sublimelandscape #stars #landscape #California #DeathValley #DesertSouthwest #AmericanWest

“Stick in the Mud” — Dead branches on a bed of dried and fractured mud, Death Valley.

As always, cracked desert mud turns out to be an irresistible subject. I photographed this little patch in the northern portion of Death Valley. We arrived as broken clouds were developing, and that gave us varied light as shadows moved across the landscape. I made this photograph in the “in between” light — not full sun, but strong enough to be directional. The mud patterns are interrupted by the pieces of old wood, but that’s not all to notice in this little scene. Look closely and you’ll see a variety of spring plants beginning to grow in this seemingly-barren terrain…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/23/stick-in-the-mud/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

Corkscrew Peak and Desert Hills” — Corkscrew Peak and rugged, eroded desert hills at sunser.

This is not the first time that I have photographed this same subject, more or less, in evening light. Corkscrew Peak stands out in this scene of rugged, furrowed desert mountains. Because the location is on the eastern side of Death Valley, late light angles across the landscape just before the sun drops behinds mountains far to the west, and this light emphasizes the textures of the eroded landscape…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/21/corkscrew-peak-and-desert-hills/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

In Search Of All The Gold Underground

Not a job for tall people.

Eureka Mine - Death Valley National Park

#California #mines #NPS #NationalPark #DeathValley

Death Valley landscape, 2026

#travel #NationalPark #DeathValley #photography #California #USA

Rusting stove and oven at Eureka Mine in Death Valley National Park.

#NationalPark #rust #decay #DeathValley

Sunrise on Telescope Peak and Lake Manly in Death Valley National Park.

#NPS #DeathValley #sunrise #NationalPark

“Mud And Stones” — Dark stones embedded in dry, cracked mud, Death Valley.

This little geological vignette intrigued me. While exploring an area in Death Valley featuring very dark, fine gravel that almost has the appearance of shallow dunes, I came across low flat areas where water has obviously collected in the past. Now there was a surface of old mud, cracked into separate pieces as it dried, a familiar desert sight. But here this surface was pockmarked with small black stones…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/17/mud-and-stones/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

"The only job available in Darwin is at the post office, and after the last postmaster died a few years ago, that position’s no longer even held by a town resident."

Tessa McLean for SF Gate: https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/darwin-ghost-town-21281656.php

#Longreads #California #SmallTown #GhostTown #DeathValley #Desert

“Desert Gold and Mountains” — Rugged desert mountains tower above gravel fans filled with blooming desert gold flowers, Death Valley.

I have been sharing a lot of photographs from this year’s spectacular wildflower bloom in Death Valley National Park — and I’m not quite done yet! In dry years one may have to go off searching (sometimes in vain) for landscape-carpeting flowers like these. But this year, after a previous season of good rainfall the flowers were easy to find…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/15/desert-gold-and-mountains/

#deathvalley #wildflowers #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Desert Plants and Dried Mud” — Small desert plants sprout on dry and cracked mud.

When spring (or late winter, actually) arrives in Death Valley National Park after a wet season, a striking show of wildflower can appear. It seems incongruous in this arid landscape, and it can be spectacular. Uncountable colorful wildflowers cover normally-dry gravel slopes. A closer look reveals even more plants underfoot, where tiny sprouts suddenly appear in many areas in the park…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/13/desert-plants-and-dried-mud/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #naTure

The topography of California has always fascinated me, specifically the deserts (mostly the Mojave) of the east. Originally, I believed the Eureka Valley wasn't part of Death Valley, but was pleasantly suprised to learn it's simply an isolated park of the park. (1/2)

#deathvalley #deathvalleynp #nationalpark #california #easterncalifornia #sanddunes #desert #sand #aeolian #eurekavalley #unitedstatesofamerica #geomorphology #valley #hiking

Racetrack Grandstand Mirage

If you don't like your car too much, take a drive down to the Racetrack in Death Valley National Park. It's a dry lakebed that sometimes has mysterious rocks roving the playa.

Out in the middle(ish) is a rock outcropp

https://thecareyadventures.com/blog/racetrack-grandstand-mirage/

#California #NationalPark #NorthAmerica #OddInterestingAwesome #PhotoOfTheDay #USA #California #DeathValley #mountains #NationalPark #PhotoOfTheDay #Racetrack #travel #USA

“Desert Gold and Desert Five-Spot” — Desert gold and desert five-spot flowers, Death Valley.

This photograph features two rather different Death Valley flowers. The bright yellow desert gold flowers cover gravel benches and fans after wet winter seasons. They were all over the place when we visited in late February this year. The desert five-sot is not an uncommon flower, though it isn’t seen in anything close to the numbers of the desert gold. It is also less obvious due to its smaller blossoms and darker color…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/12/desert-gold-and-desert-five-spot/

#deathvalley #wildflowers #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Badwater Basin to Telescope Peak” — Telescope Peak and the Panamint Range, seen from the shoreline of Lake Manly in Badwater Basin.
There are a few unusual things in this Death Valley photograph featuring Telescope Peak. Superficially, snow at Death Valley might seem unusual, but while it is at lower elevations that usual, these peaks are often snow-capped in winter. More unusual is the band of water at the bottom of the frame — that’s Lake Manly, which may temporarily form in Badwater Basin during wet years. The photograph includes the lowest elevation in the park (Badwater Basin) and its highest (Telescope Peak.)…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/11/badwater-basin-to-telescope-peak/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Fields of Desert Gold” — Fields of desert gold flowers and desert mountains, Death Valley.

Forgive me for sharing yet another photograph featuring fields of desert gold flowers, but they appeared in impressive numbers in Death Valley in late February. This is usually a dry and generally beige landscape (with some exceptions) but these flowers turned gravel fans and some hills yellow all over the valley…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/10/fields-of-desert-gold/

#deathvalley #wildflowers #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Salt Creek, Sunrise” — Salt Creek flows past low hills and toward salt flats, Death VAlley.

Salt Creek is a remarkable place, a perpetually flowing creek in the middle of the hottest place on earth and the home to thousands of endangered pupfish. But I’ve also found it to be a pretty difficult place to photograph. Light is challenging, especially late in the day, when tall mountains block the light. But I return and keep working at it!…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/08/salt-creek-sunrise/

#deathvalley #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

“Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks” — Desert Gold flowers bloom with snow-capped desert mountains in the distance.

This photograph epitomizes the extraordinary diversity of Death Valley National Park. It includes two subjects that might surprise those unfamiliar with the place — wildflowers and snow. Because it is known as the place registering the world’s highest recorded temperature, many imagine it to be a place of sand dunes and barren salt playas. Those are part to its landscape, but they are far from the “all of it.”…https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/07/desert-gold-snow-capped-peaks/

#deathvalley #wildflowers #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

So close you can reach out and touch them, those points of light that show the way, to "Where We're Going".

Captured one winter's night at Badwater Basin.

#art #photography #stars #nightsky #skyscape #sky #BadwaterBasin #DeathValley #desert #AmericanWest #California #DesertSouthwest #space

“Desert Gold Field” — Late afternoon light on field of desert gold wildflowers in southern Death Valley.

A day or two ago I thought that I was finished with the photographs from our late-February visit to Death Valley. But I decided to make another pass at the raw files from the trip, and I found a few more photographs that I think help fill out the story of this trip. (Update: Since I wrote that I have found even more!) The highlights — and my primary photographic targets — were the exceptional wildflower bloom and Lake Manly. Here’s another of the wildflower photographs, one which illustrates the extent of some of the larger fields of color…more: https://gdanmitchell.com/2026/04/06/desert-gold-field/

#deathvalley #wildflowers #photo #photography #photoOfTheDay #lensCulture #landscapePhotography #photographyLovers #naturePhotography #fineArtPhotography #nature

Ripple marks in Death Valley.
Furnace Creek formation. Golden Canyon just below Manly Beacon.

How did this form?

1) About 9 million years ago during the Miocene-Pliocene, there was a big deep lake here. It was dry, but mot as dry as current Death Valley.

2) Muds, silts, sands, and volcanic tuffs were deposited in the lake building up a thick sequence of layers.

3) Nearby rhyolite got altered by hrdrothermal activity.

And then...

#Geology
#DeathValley

A #botanist searches for the #seeds of the rare #DeathValleySage

April 2, 2026

"For more than 15 years, botanist Naomi Fraga of the #CaliforniaBotanicGarden has been trying to collect seeds from the rare Death Valley sage, for safekeeping in a vault of native California seeds. Each time, she's come home empty handed. But this year, with the desert in the midst of a big bloom, she's trying again.

" 'It's a little bit of a gamble,' she says. 'But, you know, the plant's having a really good year. I feel hopeful.' "

Read more:
https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5749446/botanist-search-seeds-rare-death-valley-sage

#SolarPunkSunday #California #RarePlants #SeedVaults #SeedSaving #RareSeeds #DesertBloom #DeathValley #SuperBloom #PlantPreservation

The most uninhabitable shirt-sleeve environment in the solar system...and you don't have to go as far as Artemis II to visit it. In fact, it's within a day's drive of Los Angeles. But beware: you might not come out the same as you went in.

Taken where the vibes begin, in the Panamint Valley: "Leave Behind Life".

#art #photography #landscape #sublimelandscape #DeathValley #AmericanWest #desert #California #road #roadway #highway #roadtrip

Geology trip participants at Artists Drive.

#geology
#DeathValley

I repeat:

Naomi Fraga is a hero.

#deathvalley
#botany
#limiteddistribution
#salvia

https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2026/04/01/nx-s1-5749446/botanist-search-seeds-rare-death-valley-sage