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Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Field trip with West Valley College’s Photography Dept. to Death Valley National Park.

You wouldn’t know it to look at this photo,but it was so windy and cold here on this morning. I wanted to shoot out at the end of that little hill in front of Zabriskie Point, but it was so exposed there I would have been blown over. I moved to the wall of the viewing platform which was above me. It didn’t offer that much more protection really.
I kept my lens cap on only removing it when the light changed, or the clouds changed patterns.
I used my body as a shield to protect my tripod from the winds, and fine sand that blew around me.

I have to say it worth getting up at 4am, and standing out in the cold and wind. The view here is breathtaking, and sunrise was beautiful.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35mm @17mm| f8| 0.3 sec| ISO 125| Manual Mode| Tripod| Self Timer

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Indigenous
Field trip with West Valley College’s Photography Dept. to Death Valley National Park.

They are a lot smaller and better looking than Warner Bros. led me to believe.
They are however very quick!
This little guy led us all through the Ranch to get his photo. I know how Wile E. Coyote felt!
He’s on the move here. I got some nice motion blur on the legs.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 70-300mmm @ 300mm| f8| 1/160 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Field trip with West Valley College’s Photography Dept. to Death Valley National Park.
Our first sunrise shoot with the class was supposed to be the on Sat. the 26th at Zabriskie Point. So rising at 4AM to meet the group and have plenty of time to set up for sunrise we left our lodging in Beatty, NV at 5AM.
We plugged in the coordinates to the GPS system to Zabriskie Pt. and it promptly rejected them. Downhill Dali had written down 2 sets of coordinates so we plugged in the second set which took and off we went. One hour and 15 minutes later we were climbing up to Dante’s View! Which was the second shooting location on this morning. With no time to make it over to Zabriskie Pt before sunrise we opted to stay at Dante’s View and make up the sunrise at Zabriskie Pt on Weds. the day we would be on our own.
This is Zabriskie Pt. looking toward Twenty Mule Team Canyon. It was really cold and windy here on this morning. This is after sunrise I had finished taking all the shots I wanted and was walking down the tarmac hill to the parking lot when the light on these ridges caught my eye. I love the colors, and the way the ridges fan out through this canyon.

NIkon D700| Nikkor 17-35mm @35mm| f8| 1/125sec| ISO 125| Manual Mode| Tripod| Self Timer

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Field trip with West Valley College’s Photography Dept. to Death Valley National Park.

Before driving into Titus Canyon our fearless leader Brian gave us a talk about being safe while driving on this road. It was narrow, steep, and really rutted in places. A 4×4 or high clearance vehicle was recommended. He didn’t tell us about the really narrow part being really high with no guard rails! That freaked out a few people.
I want to go back and park at the turn out just before that and take photographs of the view. It was awesome, but we couldn’t stop, and it was far too bumpy, and dusty to get a clean shot from the moving car shooting out the window.

This red Jeep was brand new! She wanted to break it in she said.

A mile to mile and half before we exited the canyon the Drivers let the passengers get out to hike out the rest of the way. Then the drivers parked outside the canyon and hiked back in…if they wanted to. I was a passenger and you know I hiked out. I got a few neat photos from here.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35mm @35mm| f8| 1/200 sec| ISO 160| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Click the photo to view it large.

I saw, and heard this little bird in Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California last week while there for a Photography Field Studies Class.
I wish I was as brave as this little bird who landed on this cushioned seating in the courtyard at the Ranch. Without a care in the world he found his Center Stage.

Me, I have Stage Fright so bad I dropped out of Toastmasters 9 talks into it. I got hives preparing the 10th and final talk, and I dread having to introduce myself at events or classes. My palms get sweaty, my brain goes blank…my face gets red, my eyes glaze over, and get hot…yes, my eyes get hot! I’m a wreck inside. Somehow I manage to get through, but wish I were this comfortable, and as brave as this little bird who sang his heart out in the public square.

I’m going to remember this little bird the next time I have to introduce myself or face a room full of people. I won’t sing my heart out, but with luck I won’t glaze over or stumble over my own name.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 70-300mm VR| f8| 1/160 sec| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Does anyone know what this bird is? Is it a Thrasher? Thanks for any help with Identifying it!

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I couldn’t resist stopping for a photo of this field of California Goldfields, Phacelia, and I think Brittlebush. The dead branch is full of holes the woodpeckers use to store their goodies in.

Searles Valley, California, Hwy 178, Desert;

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35mm@ 19mm| f8| 1/1000 sec| ISO 125| Manual Mode| Tripod| Self Timer

Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I went on a field trip with West Valley College’s Photography Dept. to Death Valley National Park. On the second evening of the field studies class we hiked the Mesquite Sand Dunes. I hiked out about mile with a few friends for sunset. The contours, light, and shadows were awesome!

I took about 1000 photos in 5 days. You’ll probably get bored with my Death Valley trip long before I do.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35mm @24mm| f11| 1/30 sec| ISO 200| Manual Mode| On a Tripod| Cable Release