Desert Waves
Desert Waves
Death Valley NP, CA
Mesquite Dunes are the most popular and easily accessible dunes in Death Valley. This magical place is great to explore and offers photographers endless opportunities for landscapes and abstract images.
However, the dunes' easy access and popularity attract many visitors who leave footprints in the sand. For photographers, this can be frustrating when trying to find a great composition without spending hours editing out distracting prints. Unless you visit the dunes after a major windstorm, an excellent alternative is to photograph the dunes from above.
The shot above was taken from 1.5 miles away and about 300 feet above the dunes. This elevated viewpoint not only allows for fewer visitors and less foot traffic but also offers a unique angle to capture these incredible Desert Waves.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the most difficult. This shot is located along a gravel road leading to Grotto Canyon, just north of the Mesquite Dunes parking lot. The road is a maintained gravel path, and although it can be rough, a standard SUV can drive on it without needing a 4x4 vehicle.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
270 Ft. Elevation
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the location of this shot.
From Stovepipe Wells - drive 2.2 miles east on HWY 190 until you come up to an easy to miss unmarked gravel road on your right (this is about 0.4 miles past the Mesquite Dunes parking area). Travel up this gravel road for about half a mile (I parked under the electrical poles).
From Furnace Creek - drive northwest on HWY 190E 22.3 miles. On your left, you will come to an easy to miss unmarked gravel road (if you reach the Mesquite Dunes parking lot, you have gone about 0.4 miles too far). Travel up this gravel road for about half a mile (I parked under the electrical poles).
The shot was taken from the road.
Photography Tips
Mesquite Dunes is one of my favorite locations in Death Valley to photograph. It is the easiest dune field to access, which also means it tends to be the busiest, attracting many visitors and leaving behind plenty of footprints. The shot shown here was taken from nearly 300 feet above the dunes, capturing a section of Mesquite Dunes that receives less foot traffic. This vantage point helps to minimize the number of visitors and their footprints.
The Grotto Canyon road is about a mile long, going from sea level to around 490 feet, depending on how far up the road you travel. As you go higher, the view becomes flatter, and a longer lens may be needed. The image above was taken about halfway up the road, near the electrical poles. From this vantage point, you can overlook the entire dune field. However, the best compositions are to the right (east), where the sand dunes appear more wave-like and less cluttered with bushes, shrubs, and visitor footprints. This is a personal preference, and there are countless compositions to choose from.
This vantage point is great at sunrise and sunset during the winter months and even better during the blue hour. If you are photographing the sunset here, don’t stop when the sun goes down; the best light occurs 20 to 30 minutes AFTER sunset. Your eye won’t detect the pink hue on the dunes, but your camera will.
Below is a series of shots taken at different times. The dunes' colors are just as you see them (RAW files), and they change based on the sky's reflective hues.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 700 mm (500 mm with 1.4 extender)
Exposure – 2 sec @ f 9.5
ISO – 400
Date – Jan 17th
Time – 5:20 pm (about 23 minutes after sunset)
Best Time of Day to Shoot
When photographing the Mesquite Dunes along Grotto Canyon Road, you can capture great images during the following times:
In the late afternoon, you can take advantage of good side light, which lasts for about 30 minutes after sunset, perfect for capturing the blue hour.
Early in the morning, the best time is approximately 30 minutes before sunrise (when the sky displays an alpine glow) up to about 30 minutes after sunrise, providing excellent side light.
Both early morning and after sunset are fantastic times to photograph the dunes.
Best Time of Year
I've found that the best times to photograph Mesquite Dunes are in late fall, winter, and early spring when the temperatures are more moderate. The summer months can be extremely hot, so I would recommend avoiding them. However, pleasant weather tends to attract more tourists and photographers, and if you’ve ever visited Mesquite Dunes, you know that increased foot traffic can mean more footprints in the sand. Another benefit of shooting at Mesquite Dunes in winter is that the sun is lower in the sky, which creates long shadows during the hours after sunrise and before sunset..
The image above was taken on January 17th
Lens(es) Needed
The location of this shot is approximately 1.5 miles from the dunes, and is taken from about 300 feet above the dunes. The dunes themselves are situated roughly 35 feet below sea level, while this vantage point is about 270 feet above sea level. At this distance, a very long lens is needed. I used a 100-500 mm zoom lens @ 500 mm, with a 1.4x extender. The image is created from a two-shot panorama, using the full frame without any cropping. Although you can shoot from this location with a shorter lens, you will need to crop the image. The image above was captured at 700 mm.
The image above was taken @ 700 mm.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
Mesquite Dunes are located in Death Valley National Park. An entrance fee of $35, valid for 7 days, is required and can be purchased at the visitor center. Once inside the park, no additional permits are necessary.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is north at around 17°.
Equipment Needed
As mentioned, the shot above was taken from over a mile away, which required a long telephoto lens (500 mm with a 1.4 extender, resulting in 700 mm). When shooting with such a long lens, especially in the early morning or late evening with a long shutter speed, it is essential to have a steady tripod and a reliable ball head. Any movement at all can lead to camera shake.
One of the first photography investments I made 20 years ago was a high-quality tripod (Gitzo), and although it was not cheap, it has never failed me after countless photo trips. Recently, I also invested in a geared ball head from Arca-Swiss (the D4 model), which was also on the expensive side, but it is impressively sturdy and precise.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
At sunrise (or sunset), you will most likely be the only person at this location..
Weather
The weather in Death Valley is relatively mild during the spring and fall. Winters are pleasant during the day, but nighttime temperatures can drop into the 20s. If you are hiking, it's important to be aware that temperatures can decrease significantly after sunset.
Cell Service
Cell service in Death Valley can be quite frustrating. At times, you may have cell service, while at other times, you might not. If you're lucky enough to get a signal, it will likely only be 3G, which is primarily good for texting.
Area Guides and Workshops
None