Badwater Basin at Death Valley National Park, is a landscape of extremes. Extreme temperatures, extreme elevation changes and extreme dryness. Because the basin is at an elevation of 282 feet below sea level, the average high temperature in July is 116 degrees F. The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 degrees at Death Valley in 1913. Little wonder that I and most others visit during the winter months.
Badwater is surrounded by soaring peaks and eroded sandstone formations. Snow-covered Telescope Peak, standing at 11,049 feet, is quite a contrast to the salt flats at Badwater Basin. The salt flats are approximately 200 square miles in area and are formed when rain flushes minerals from the nearby hills and mountains to the flats of Badwater. The high heat and dryness ( DV only receives 2 inches of moisture annually) evaporates everything except the salt.
You wonder how this lone coyote survives in this environment.
My favorite images from 2016. I enjoyed the adventure of capturing them all for my website Dawn2Dawn Photography Looking forward to a great 2017. Happy New Years everyone. Watch in HD at full screen. Music is “Stranger Still” by Vetiver and can be purchased at iTunes
It was getting dark out and I was in my vehicle when I noticed some movement out the passenger side window. I picked up the camera and shot as quickly as possible as a jackrabbit was chasing another. They were moving really fast! Thus the blurriness.
A few months ago I captured the massive California Condors in flight in the post http://wp.me/p1XNt4-1rR. This month I caught them relaxing, barely budging. They knew they were being photographed. Looks like #4 has a keen interest in the other one. These birds are about 4 feet in length so they stand pretty tall.
All of these images and many more are available for purchase as prints at dawn2dawn photography. Use promo code Prints25 for a 25% discount. Click on first image below to start slideshow.
A full moon rises above a snow-covered Monument Valley, Arizona
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Big Sur
Ice plant, in its fall colors, grows along the Pacific Ocean Coastline in Central California
A California Condor flies along the Central Califonia Coastline near Big Sur
Lightning strikes near a small town in Northern Arizona
Four-Wheeling near Zion National Park, Utah
A storm approaches Zion National Park through Eagle Crags in Southern Utah
A storm approaches Zion National Park through The Watchman in Southern Utah
Dark clouds hover over Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Lightning strikes The Watchman at Zion National Park, Utah
Fresh snow has fallen during autumn at Zion National Park
The Virgin River cuts through The Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah
The Virgin River cuts through The Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah
The Virgin River cuts through The Narrows at Zion National Park, Utah
The landscape is reflected in the still waters of the potholes on the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
The landscape is reflected in the still waters of the potholes on the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
Reflecting pot hole along the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
The full moon rises at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Kolob Terrace near Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Kolob Terrace near Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Echo Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Angel’s Landing at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived along the Virgin River in Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
Fall colors have arrived at Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
A monsoonal storm approaches Zion National Park, Utah
Heavy rains produce waterfalls at Emerald Pools at Zion National Park, Utah
Passing storms bring rain and fog to the Eagle Crags just outside Zion National Park, Utah
Colorful sandstone rock formations formed through erosion are seen at Cave Valley at the Kolob Terrace section of Zion National Park, Utah
A seasonal waterfall appears out of nowhere at The Temple of Sinawava at Zion National Park, Utah
The sun sets on the sandstone walls of Zion Canyon at Zion National Park, Utah
At Wahweap Hoodoos in Southern Utah
Wildflowers come alive during spring at Wahweap Creek near Big Water, Utah
Wind turbines are numerous and always spinning at Tahachapi California
Lightning strikes near a small town in Northern Arizona
Wildflowers are blooming at South Coyote Buttes at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
Fresh snow cover the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California
Fresh snow cover the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California
Fall colors have arrived in the Sierra Nevada Mountains along Lee Vining Creek, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains along Bishop Creek adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Fall colors have arrived to the Sierra Nevada Mountains adjacent to Owens Valley, California
Giant Sequoia Trees dominate the landscape at Giant Forest at Sequoia National Park, California
Wildflowers are blooming at South Coyote Buttes at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
The setting sun fires up the clouds and landscape near Glen Canyon, Arizona
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
The sun sets along the California Pacific Coastline
A passing storm drops fresh snow on the Sierras Nevadas at Owens Valley in Eastern California
A passing storm drops fresh snow on the Sierras Nevadas at Owens Valley in Eastern California
The moon rises over a campfire at Alabama Hills in the Owens Valley of California
Fall colors have arrived at Owens Valley in California
A passing storm produces fog and clouds over the Alabama Hills and the Sierras Nevadas in the Owens Valley of California
Passing clouds are reflected in the still waters of Kolob Reservoir near Zion National Park, Utah
Mother Mallard Duck and her ducklings at Kolob Reservoir near Zion National Park, Utah
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Chipmunk at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
The sun sets on the badlands of Ha Ho No Geh Canyon on the Hopi Indian Reservation, Arizona
Thunderstorms pass through the Grand Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A rainbow appears during a monsoonal thunderstorm near the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona
A monsoonal storm cell passes through the Northern Arizona landscape near The Grand Canyon.
A rainbow appears during a monsoonal thunderstorm near the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona
Thunderstorms pass through the Grand Canyon at Point Sublime at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The sun sets on the Grand Canyon at Point Imperial
The settting sun forms shadows on the Grand Canyon at Point Imperial
Fog lifts from the bottom of The Grand Canyon from Point Imperial at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Passing clouds produce shadows at Marble Canyon at Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The sun sets behind the pine tree forests of Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Wildflowers thrive in the summer at Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fall colors have arrived by way of the Aspen Trees at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fall colors have arrived by way of the Aspen Trees at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Fall colors have arrived by way of the Aspen Trees at Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
A campfire brings warmth to a camper overlooking Grand Canyon National Park from Kaibab National Forest, Arizona
Cactus wildflowers are blooming at South Coyote Buttes at Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
An Elephant Seal at play along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline
The sun sets on the moving rocks at Racetrack Playa at Death Valley National Park
Joshua Trees at Death Valley National Park, California
Storm clouds threaten Eureka Valley at Death Valley National Park, California
The sagebrush and desert landscape at Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Shifting patterns and lines of sand at the Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Storm clouds pass over Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Storm clouds pass over two hikers on Eureka Dunes at Death Valley National Park, California
Bright colors and tall rock formations make up the landscape at Coal Mine Canyon on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Northern Arizona
The Canyon Tree Frog at the Many Pools Trail at Zion National Park, Utah
Waves crash upon the rocky California Coastline
McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Beach along the California Coastline near Big Sur
Flowers bloom along the California Coastline near Big Sur
Flowers bloom along the California Coastline near San Simeon
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Carmel
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Big Sur
Ice plant, in its fall colors, grows along the Pacific Ocean Coastline in Central California
A passing storm produces high surf along California’s Pacific Ocean Coastline near Big Sur
The sun sets over the Pacific Ocean near Big Sur, California
They were all photographed last week along California’s Central Coast. I was thrilled to see the Condors as they hovered along the steep cliffs just south of Big Sur. The Zebras were grazing at Hearst Ranch near San Simeon and the Elephant Seals were chillin just a bit north of San Simeon.
They use the sand as a sun blocker. Looks like an SPF 30
Must have a headache.
A California Condor flies along the Central California Coastline near Big Sur
They have a wingspan up to 10 feet. Average lifespan is 60 years old!
Most of these were tagged. This one is number 70. As you probably know, Condors are on the Endangered Species List. There are approximately 425 left in the world although at one time there were only 27. Conservation efforts by Ventana Wildlife Society amongst other groups made these images possible. There are 75 along the Big Sur Coastline.
Zebras graze along the California Coastline at Hearst Ranch near Hearst Castle at San Simeon. You don’t have a real castle if you don’t have a herd of Zebras.
My friend decided to camp with me in the Kaibab National Forest near The Grand Canyon. The Kaibab is about 20 degrees cooler than where I live near Zion NP and is a welcome relief from the heat. More pics coming from a tremendous lightning storm, a full moon rising, a time-lapse video from Marble Canyon.
They use the sand as a sun blocker. Looks like an SPF 30
