Death Valley
The sun had not yet risen. It would be a good hour or so before the sun would rise over the mountain tops and fill the badlands below me with its warm light. I drove into the park from Pahrump, a city in Nevada about a hour away. I may have gotten there a bit too early. It was cold and quiet. I could hear ringing in my ears. Tinnitus perhaps? It sounded like all of those concerts and music festivals had finally caught up to me.
This was one of my very first trips to Death Valley National park back in 2018. I was still fresh in discovering who I was as a photographer (still am) and hadn’t yet lurched myself into the world of camping. I didn’t know it then but this park would become a yearly place I visited in the winter. I have since visited the park countless times and have yet to even scratch the surface of what this beautiful place has to offer. I have visited with my friends, girlfriend, family and all by my lonesome. It has seen me at my lowest and is has seen me at my highest. I have encountered tiny surprises and big surprises. Both inside and out. It has become a place that I truly admire and hope to continue to admire as I keep exploring the vast landscapes the park has to offer.
The light finally comes over the mountain tops and floods the crevices and shapes and land below me. Is it time to photograph?
