Moving rocks under star trails in Death Valley National Park, California

The Speed Of Life

Death Valley National Park, California

"The Death Valley trip was an exciting one for me. A place I have seen so much of, but had yet to actually experience with my own eyes (and lens). Having 4 full days allowed me to casually plan out places to capture depending on conditions. This flexibility meant leaving the Racetrack til last. The main reason being that I happened to visit during the coldest stretch of the season. Camping below freezing every night with daytime highs barely out of the 40s (til the last day). My thought process meant it would gradually warm up toward the end of the week and the Racetrack is at 3700ft, which means colder.

Arriving at the Racetrack is no easy feat. 26 miles of washboard road. 4wd and high clearance recommended. After rattling my way for an hour, the playa (dried ancient lake bed) appears as a white dish amongst the encompassing mountains. My heart beats a little faster and my right foot gets heavier. As I pull up to the parking area and hop out, the sun is warm but there is already a chill in the air. It's late afternoon and the best evening light is yet to come but it's about a mile from the car to the best rocks.


These rocks, the reason I made this bone-jarring drive, move. On their own. And no one's ever seen it. As they do, they leave patterns in the playa. It's speculated that a mix of wet playa and STRONG winds create this unique phenomenon (some rocks are upwards of 100lbs). So off I go, camera bag packed, extra clothes a must. Gloves, hats, long underwear.... As I trek across this overwhelming, unique landscape, I start to encounter the rocks. Different shapes, sizes, patterns.

I have a couple of shots in the back of my mind to try and capture, so finding the right rocks and patterns is essential. The first pair of rocks that catch my eye has me put a note in my head...ok...this is the shot.

And I continue.

Not 10 minutes later, as I explore further, I come across the rocks you see here. Ah ha! Not the first one...THIS was my shot. Ok. Note. Off I go to keep shooting.

The sun setting lower, about to disappear below the mountains for the evening. A group of 3 who was out in the corner packs up as the sun goes and they're gone in to the twilight.

I'm alone. Very very alone. It's quiet. More quiet than one could possibly imagine. So quiet in fact that my ears are ringing. I find this quite confusing with my only explanation being that with modern life we have so much entering our ears constantly that the absence of which creates its own noise. Pretty amazing.

I head back to the pair of rocks as the light is almost faded and the moonlight is taking over. Just a quarter moon but at a location like this, its bright enough to see without using my headlamp. As I set up the shot, I realize that the photograph would be much more powerful if the moon was a bit lower and casting a better shadow on the rocks.

Well, the decision was made. I set up the camera and tripod, took the battery out and kept it in my pocket (batteries hate cold weather) and went back to the car for dinner. Let the moon set a bit and then attempt the shot. Funny thing about leaving a black camera and tripod in the middle of a place like the Racetrack. Not so easy to find! Luckily my way points combined with my phone made the process not as scary as it could have been.

However, by the time I left the car the temperature was already in the upper 20's. 2 pairs of socks. 2 layers on the legs. 4 layers on the body. 2 hoods and a winter hat plus my gloves. Yes. I looked quite hilarious.

Now for the photograph. A 1-hour (yes, 60min) exposure of the sky. Calculating my settings and clicking the shutter I knew the only thing left was to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

I walked laps around the playa. Laid on my back and watched the stars (shooting and still). Played some card games. And finally....that comforting click.

I could pack up and finally warm up back at the car. With the current technology my camera processes the photograph for another hour, so I set my alarm to remind me, headed to warmth and waited. As soon as the beep went off I dove across the car to the trunk to pull out the camera and peep at the back.

Even with the moon out I nailed the exposure. This huge sigh of relief goes through the body that all that time and effort (and cold!) was not for waste. Of course, when the car read 14F the next morning I knew the sunrise shots were going to be just as cold..."

Limited Edition of 50.

Artist Proof of 5.

Photo © copyright by aFeinberg.

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Dye Infused Metal Print - Float Mount

The Speed Of Life print

New medium for a new age. Metal prints represent a new art medium for preserving photos by sublimating dyes directly into specially coated aluminum sheets. Because the image is infused onto the surface and not on it your images will take on an almost magical luminescence. Truly stunning detail and resolution giving a 3D or HD appearance to the photo. Standard option is the "float" mount which hangs the images on the wall appearing to float on it's own. Our metal prints come mounted on 2mm black Styrene and finished with a black Metal Inset Frame. ***Semi-gloss & Satin are available upon request. Please email after checkout if you would prefer this option!***

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Giclée - Museum Grade Canvas

The Speed Of Life print

Printed directly onto museum quality canvas material using quality archival inks. The canvas print is then wrapped around a stretcher frame so that the photo's edges are visible on the sides of the frame at 1.5" depths. A new classic option for a different and unique feel to dislpay your artwork.

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