I will be in Los Angeles at an engineering firm during the first couple weeks of March, and I'll have one full day (I hope) to take off, and I want to go to Death Valley. I will probably take my 5d mkII, but I want to keep the lenses to a minimum, since this is primarily a business trip and the company laptop is something I will definitely have to carry on the plane.
So what couple of lenses would be good? 24-105? And a 70-200? 1.4x? That's my plan so far.
Any specific places to go?
Posted by Fred Stearns on February 9, 2013 at 9:20 PM
One lens? I would go with a 24-105 or something in that area.
It is a very long drive to Death Valley from LA. Unless you go sleepless, which I don't recommend, you will likely miss the good light, and it will be a very long day. If you would like to do desert landscape photography, there is the Mojave Desert Preserve and Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, which are much closer.
The lenses you wrote about will be a nice spread. There are opportunities for wide angle and telephoto.
If your time is really limited, you might also consider some of the coastal areas. I know ithey are not the desert, or Death Valley, but you'll spend less time driving and more time doing photograhy.
Genny, I totally agree with Preston's comment about the distance issue. Travel in CA is difficult within the entire LA basin area. Once you've cleared it's confines it's a heck of a long way out to DVNP. It's way too far for a round trip one day event leaving no photo time. I would go with the suggestion of taking in JTNP it's much closer, but even that would be a challenge from LAX area out to JTNP for a one day round trip. If you could squeeze in a layover night JTNP would still be the better choice distance wise.
p.s. Another thought I had Genny was if you're using a rental car and your photo outing was a last day event in your trip, you might try to change your return flight out of Palm Springs or even Ontario airport. That way you could return the car to one of those locations and fly out from a closer airport instead of LAX. Just a thought.
Posted by Rick Everstine on February 10, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Check out two books-
Dan Suzio- Death Valley Photographer's Guide and
Shellye Poster- Photographer's Guide to Death Valley.
Those two books will allow you to chose wisely with such limited time. Death Valley is enormous once you get there.
I agree on the distance Genny. Wish you could make it (we'll be there then), but I'd hate to see you risk fatigued driving in CA traffic for such a long round trip, and STILL miss the good light. And in my experience DV is all about good light.
I'll point out an exception to the good light coming early and late in the day. If there's a storm approaching or departing, the big clouds and patchy light turns DV into a wonderland any time of day. If the weather forecast promises stormy skies, I'd rearrange your travel schedule at any cost and be there. My couple of dozen favorite shots from DV all came in storm light.
If being there means an overnight, let's stay in touch. Our travel trailer has a couch that folds down to a single bed, and the dinette drops to a really comfortable full. We'd love to have you join us for a night or two. If you try the day trip routine and decide you're too tired to drive back in the evening, keep your eyes peeled for a white 2012 Dodge 4wd Ram with matching canopy. In the campground look for a Lance 2285 travel trailer. Alaska plates on both, of course!
Posted by Genny K. on February 11, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Sorry, I better give more details. First, I'm in the Pasadena area so I'm closer to the east end of the LA basin (hey, I consider it ALL the LA area!) If I do go, I will have my husband with me, and I will have also have at least the night before and probably the night after. I was planning on going at least part way that first evening, as I can leave work early. Yes it would be nice to be there at good light but this is as much a get away from the crowded places as it is photography.
I will have to look at the distances and other possibilities. I may be able to take the whole second day, which would change things, but at least I will have one or the other of the nights.
Discussion
6 repliesSo what couple of lenses would be good? 24-105? And a 70-200? 1.4x? That's my plan so far.
Any specific places to go?
It is a very long drive to Death Valley from LA. Unless you go sleepless, which I don't recommend, you will likely miss the good light, and it will be a very long day. If you would like to do desert landscape photography, there is the Mojave Desert Preserve and Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, which are much closer.
The lenses you wrote about will be a nice spread. There are opportunities for wide angle and telephoto.
If your time is really limited, you might also consider some of the coastal areas. I know ithey are not the desert, or Death Valley, but you'll spend less time driving and more time doing photograhy.
Just my .02,
--P
p.s. Another thought I had Genny was if you're using a rental car and your photo outing was a last day event in your trip, you might try to change your return flight out of Palm Springs or even Ontario airport. That way you could return the car to one of those locations and fly out from a closer airport instead of LAX. Just a thought.
Dan Suzio- Death Valley Photographer's Guide and
Shellye Poster- Photographer's Guide to Death Valley.
Those two books will allow you to chose wisely with such limited time. Death Valley is enormous once you get there.
Rick Everstine
I'll point out an exception to the good light coming early and late in the day. If there's a storm approaching or departing, the big clouds and patchy light turns DV into a wonderland any time of day. If the weather forecast promises stormy skies, I'd rearrange your travel schedule at any cost and be there. My couple of dozen favorite shots from DV all came in storm light.
If being there means an overnight, let's stay in touch. Our travel trailer has a couch that folds down to a single bed, and the dinette drops to a really comfortable full. We'd love to have you join us for a night or two. If you try the day trip routine and decide you're too tired to drive back in the evening, keep your eyes peeled for a white 2012 Dodge 4wd Ram with matching canopy. In the campground look for a Lance 2285 travel trailer. Alaska plates on both, of course!
I will have to look at the distances and other possibilities. I may be able to take the whole second day, which would change things, but at least I will have one or the other of the nights.