Finding Myself in Death Valley

“The only journey is the one within.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

In February, I took my second trip to Death Valley.

My first trip to Death Valley

was in 2019.  I signed up for a photography workshop, anticipated that workshop for a year, found a substitute to cover my first-grade class while I was away, and prepared a week’s worth of lesson plans and all the materials needed.  I flew to Las Vegas, got my rental car, and began my drive to Death Valley.  On the way to my hotel, it became apparent that I needed to return home.  I checked into my hotel and made arrangements to fly back the next day.  On my way to the airport, I stopped at Zabriskie Point.  That was my first experience with Death Valley.

I wasn’t sure I would ever return to Death Valley until a dear friend asked if I was interested in going there.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share another photography adventure trip with my great friends Athena and Tony.  Our mutual friend, Tommy White, was leading a workshop in Death Valley.  I have enjoyed many workshops with Tommy through the years.  He is fabulous for getting photographers in the right places at the right times.  I highly recommend Tommy’s workshops and am so grateful for his part in my journey as a photographer.

Everything was coming together for a chance to reframe my Death Valley experience.  I packed for the trip.  As sometimes is the case, some emotional baggage went along with me.  I was determined to let that go.

My initial outings in Death Valley with my camera were more challenging for me than I anticipated.  I am sure that much of that had to do with the internal noise that I was wrestling with from the past.  Additionally, I am so drawn to bright, vibrant colors and while Death Valley offers many visual delights, color is not something easy to find.  I also wanted to attempt to photograph Death Valley in my own way, as this is a place so often photographed.

After that first day, my friend, Athena, assured me I would find my way.  Thankfully, I was able to do just that while surrounded with both old and new friends.

Of course, the splash of red I encountered made me feel right at home.  It was as if an old friend also stopped by to encourage me.

What I felt lacking in Death Valley were the trees and colors I love so much.  This scene spoke to me and seemed to open the floodgates for my finding images that resonated with me while there.

I took my fisheye lens with me to add a sense of play.  I enjoyed seeing in this different way.  Once home, I couldn’t resist compositing Artist Palette into one of my fisheye compositions.

Dante’s View is a breathtaking panoramic overlook that we visited one morning.  After soaking in the spectacular views at every turn, I found my image looking down at the gathered rocks in the parking lot.

Once I was feeling great and surrounded by wonderful people, I felt free to step aside and create what may be the final image for my Legacy series.  You can find more about the Legacy series here for part one and here for part two.

One evening we went to an area Tommy found for photographing the mud cracks.  My love for trees kept me in this spot searching for my image.  Shortly after the sun dipped below the mountains, I found it.

My favorite photograph from the trip is one I took on our last morning together.  We went to Zabriskie Point, the only place I  saw on my first trip to Death Valley.  While I was working to see this often-photographed location in my own way, I stopped in my tracks when I saw her, just like this, wearing that, enjoying the beauty before her.

I will forever be grateful for the people I was with who helped me reframe my Death Valley experience!