Ruined Brothel

Ruined Brothel

DEVA07D-55

March 30, 2007

So I got caught up in the spirit of the long weekend (aka doing as little as possible besides lab work), and completely missed the Monday posting.  My apologies.  Today's post comes to us from Death Valley National Park, or rather just outside in the town of Rhyolite.  This ghost town was, like many cities in the West, fueled by mining that didn't last.  Although it once had a population approaching 10,000, today it has a whopping populace of zero.  It is interesting to wander through the town and see the ruined buildings, and ghost towns always make for interesting photography.  This is a shot through the window of a ruined brothel.  Some of the color is still on the walls (surprising, a brothel that is painted red), and as you can see, some of the previous visitors have not been so kind to the walls.  Still, the rich light and contrast made it an interesting scene.  I liked this image, the angle looking through the doorway and window, with the side lighting.  And it did win the Champaign County Camera Club's spring 2009 contest Windows.

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: Nikon 18-35 f/3.5-4.5

Focal length:  18 mm

Exposure: 1/25 sec @ f/10, ISO 100

Post-processing: Saturation, curves adjustment in PS4 & LR1.4

Spring Morning Over the Valley of Death

Spring Morning Over the Valley of Death

DEVA07D-80

March 31, 2007

A friend of mine is planning a visit to Death Valley National Park, and that prompted me to go back through some photos of the time I was last there, just over four years ago.  The park is a strange concoction of barren austerity and the vibrance of life, how it struggles (and even flourishes) against all odds.  Death Valley regularly posts some of the hottest temperatures in the country, and among the highest in the world.  It is also the lowest point in North America.  But despite the sand, and the heat, wildflowers can about after a brief spring rainfall, and in the cool morning light, even the immense dunes take on a gentle, welcoming appearance. 

Technical notes:

Camera: Nikon D80

Lens: NIkon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5

Focal length:  105 mm

Exposure: 1/80 sec @ f/8, ISO 100

Post-processing: Minor curves adjustment in PS4