We spent Christmas weekend on a whirlwind tour, first to Las Vegas and then through Death Valley on our way back home. I’ve been to Death Valley a couple of times before and I always enjoy it. It’s not necessarily my favorite place, but it’s a favorite place for photography. I think it’s because there are so many easily accessible locations that can easily produce a good photo.
Of course, you’re still depending on the weather to produce a great shot. The weather in Death Valley on Christmas Eve was a clear blue sky and moderate temperatures. While it was great for hiking, it wasn’t ideal for a sunset photo shoot. Undaunted, I made the trek out onto the salt flat at Badwater Basin to enjoy the sunset. As it turned out, there were were a few wispy clouds to the north that provided some nice pastel colors in the civil twilight period after sunset.
