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A few weeks ago I took off for a couple of days camping in the desert. I spent the first night with a friend and a buddy of his at an old mine site looking east, down into the Panamint Valley.

If you fit Death Valley into your mental map, Panamint is one valley to the west. A lot of old dirt roads and they mostly lead to old mines.

Not to mention great views...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This area of eastern California is popular with Navel aviators who spend quite a lot of time practicing low over the desert... 

 

 

 

This photo was taken with a 24mm lens (for non-photographers, that's a pretty wide angel lens). The guy definitely ruffled my hair.

 

 

 

The next morning I worked my way north to the Saline Valley. Sand dunes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

True to it's name, the Saline valley was once a big producer of table salt. This is what's left of the works...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a look back at the Panamint Valley from 6,100 feet...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lake in the Saline Valley was still as can be in the early evening...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This region is inhabited by a local variant of the Agave, called a Joshua Tree. They grow in some dramatic places...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a view overlooking the Saline Valley, east over the successive hills that lead to Death Valley. Imagine crossing Death Valley, with relief, only to find yourself and your wagons here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again, this photographer falls prey to a "Road goes on forever..." shot. Just can't help it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes one image grabs your imagination. Then you turn 180 degrees and something else leaps out at you.

Talk about a "Heart of Stone"...

Very old lava...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good night Joshua.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It feels very good to be back into the world of Black & White photography.

Thanks for having a look, I hope you enjoyed the images.