Sunday Sunset in The Valley of Fire

[phyz]

I plan to light out for the Valley of Fire Sunday afternoon/evening for some sunset photography in the place where James Kirk unceremoniously assumed ambient temperature.

Don't know whether anyone else is interested in such a venture; just throwing it out there. Traveling with a photog is no fun if you're a casual sight-seer. One friend who insisted on accompanying me on a week in the desert called back to his wife and reported that he was "out at Dean's Boot Camp."

I'm no expert on VoF; I made a quick recon run through the place last year en route from LV to Zion. The first 11 photos here are from that jaunt. (http://phyz.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Arizona-New-Mexico/2009-08-Arizona/9937756_29aDS#678157884_XWkHA)

Let me know if you're up for chasing some light.

[UNLoVedRebel]

I'm glad to see people are interested in the natural history of the valley. You have my thumbs up.

But be very careful. It can get up 115 degrees in July. Bring lots of water (a big water jug frozen in the freezer over night is recommended. Don't worry it'll melt quickly.) But you might get lucky and visit during a monsoon.

[phyz]

The posted pics were taken Aug 1 last year. Late morning. So yeah, I don't leave the truck without water. Still though, I don't plan on being more than an hour away from the truck at any given time. Schlepping photo gear through loose sand focuses one's attention on the limitations of what's reasonable to attempt. I do hope for some relief as the sun's rays get more vertical, and I'm hoping the low specific heat of the desert land affords a cool-down that the city doesn't enjoy.

I would dance a jig if I got some monsoon activity! Thanks for the tips!

Here's some nice video (http://vimeo.com/11852082). Amazing what a steady-cam can do for the final cut.

[mumchup]

I'm not leaving until late Monday morning, I might be able to make this, it looks like a great place to go.

[rikzilla]

I plan to light out for the Valley of Fire Sunday afternoon/evening for some sunset photography in the place where James Kirk unceremoniously assumed ambient temperature.

Don't know whether anyone else is interested in such a venture; just throwing it out there. Traveling with a photog is no fun if you're a casual sight-seer. One friend who insisted on accompanying me on a week in the desert called back to his wife and reported that he was "out at Dean's Boot Camp."

I'm no expert on VoF; I made a quick recon run through the place last year en route from LV to Zion. The first 11 photos here are from that jaunt. (http://phyz.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Arizona-New-Mexico/2009-08-Arizona/9937756_29aDS#678157884_XWkHA)

Let me know if you're up for chasing some light.


Those pics are really beautiful. I wouldn't mind going with you...put me down as a very interested maybe.

-z

[HawaiiBigSis]

I would dance a jig if I got some monsoon activity!

I've been in Las Vegas during a monsoon. The town is not set up for water, and all the roads turn into raging rivers. Not a pretty place to be.

Although it could bring ambient temps down to reasonable, more likely it'll just turn it into a sauna...a very wet sauna.

Be careful what you wish for!

[phyz]

VoF has plenty of pavement on the roads, and the washes are obvious. And my high-clearance 4x4 has navigated rivers and dust bogs. (The dust bog was much scarier than the river.) But drama in the sky would be great. As long as I still get sun on the red rock.

We shall see.

[phyz]

The Phyzmo (Nissan Frontier 4x4) will be heading out for an afternoon/sunset exploration of Valley of Fire State Park at 5:30pm from the hotel registration area. Dress comfortably for blast furnace desert heat and bring a bottle of water. And a camera if you have one.

[strimmer]

How did this go Phyz?

[phyz]

I caught a few frames, but I discovered that the Valley of Fire lies on an east-facing slope. Between that and a thick cloud bank on the western horizon, the shooting conditions were not ideal. I'm guessing the scenes in ST: Generations were shot in the early AM hours.