Eastern CA and Death Valley

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Saturday 9 November 2024 - Due to the late night, Ryan did not plan a sunrise adventure allowing us to sleep in until 0900. We would then have a class on photo editing.

I decided to jump in my truck and head out to Mesquite Dunes for sunrise.

I went to the same roadside I used twice previously and hiked over familiar ground to reach the dunes.

deathvalley2024 — The light before sunrise is so peaceful.

deathvalley2024 — The colors are so soft before the sun rises.

deathvalley2024 — Soft mountains of sand - hard to walk through. I would try to stay off the top and walk just below the crest.

deathvalley2024 — Shadow and light even before full sun.

deathvalley2024 — Pillowy sand waves.

deathvalley2024 — A nice composition with wall after wall of sand.

deathvalley2024 — The sun begins to hit the surrounding mountains.

I am scampering about looking for lines and curves.

deathvalley2024 — The sun begins to touch the sand. Now is the time to look for shadows.

deathvalley2024 — A pretty dune in the spotlight.

deathvalley2024 — The sunny side of a dune.

deathvalley2024 — Larger dunes in the distance.

deathvalley2024 — The sun is so low it only lights one side of a dune.

deathvalley2024 — Dramatic light on the dune also actuates the ripples in the sand.

deathvalley2024 — Two beetle paths cross on a dune slope.

deathvalley2024 — A beetle walked along a sand dune slope. After passing, the movement triggered a small avalanche of sand.

deathvalley2024 — Golden light on the waves of sand.

deathvalley2024 — Setting up the shot. Often I notice my shadow - a few times almost in my photographs.

deathvalley2024 — Another dramatic composition of light and shadow.

deathvalley2024 — The sun is higher, so it is time to head back.

I arrived back at the hotel around 0800 and got ready for the class at 0900.

deathvalley2024 — In the afternoon the class heads out to Mesquite Dunes - Ryan parks at the same place I have been parking. I know exactly where to go - near the front I steer the group to the right of where I was tromping about in the morning.

We enter the dunes in a place without footprints.

deathvalley2024 — Beautiful shapes in the setting sun.

deathvalley2024 — The shadows begin to get longer - which is good.

deathvalley2024 — Unfortunately, the leader of our group, looking for an easy way into the dunes, moves to the left and discovers my footprints from the morning.

deathvalley2024 — Shadows taking form.

I have not told anyone that I went out in the morning. As we walk in my footprints, Ryan says that the person must be a photographer as they set their bag down often.

deathvalley2024 — This looks like a body of water full of waves.

deathvalley2024 — Beautiful curves to the sand.

deathvalley2024 — The sand rising in front of the mountains.

deathvalley2024 — Huge dunes that look as if they were made by giant hands.

deathvalley2024 — Lines on the top of sand dunes as the sun skips across.

deathvalley2024 — Beautiful light - as the sun sets.

deathvalley2024 — The sun is down and the colors begin to change on the dunes.

deathvalley2024 — Lines of sand.

deathvalley2024 — Sunset on the dunes and the mountains. No clouds so a rather boring sky.

deathvalley2024 — A last look at the dunes and then we hike out.

A great day in the dunes from sunup till sundown.

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