Death Valley 2020 on Film

[Travis Rhoads]

Just before Covid-19 took over the world, I made my annual trip to Death Valley. This year it was just my dad and I. Others had planned to go but as it got closer life got in the way for all of them. It meant I got to spend some good quality time with my dad in one of my favorite places in the country. What started out as an exploratory trip last year, has turned into what will be an annual thing. Like others before me, I have been sucked into that magical place. I want to explore the more remote parts next year. For this year, we hit the highlights and well-known places since my dad had not been there. This is my post of the images I captured on film. I took one roll of 36 exposures of Fuji Neopan 400 with an old Minolta SRT201. And as expected, only a couple of them turned out. Here are a few.

#1 Dad trying to make the most out of Artist's Pallete.

#2: MEsquite Sand Dunes at Sunrise

#3: My favorite film image, and a top 5 from the trip

#4: Frame 32, the last day when I forgot memory cards for the digital camera and had 6 exposures left on the film camera.

 

[AlanLichty]

Fun set. I like the last shot of the dunes with the side lighting. With that perspective they seem to go on forever.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great set and glad you had some good times with your dad.

 

[JimFox]

Really awesome Travis! Each of these has a very classic B&W look to them.

#4 is my favorite, I really like the endless feel of that view in it. And I think #1 would be my 2nd choice, perhaps cropping a bit more off the left side? But never the less there is really something compelling about that image.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

A nice set Travis. Like others I prefer #4.

 

[Beth]

really like the matte tones from the film.

 

[Dean]

Travis,
Sounds like a great trip.. the images look fantastic. Next time I go to DV I'm going bring some film. #3 is my favorite here I like the comp the best. Its great how the detail from the mountains plays off the dunes.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Very nice Travis. It brings back memories.

 

[Travis Rhoads]

Fun set. I like the last shot of the dunes with the side lighting. With that perspective they seem to go on forever.

Thanks Alan, we had a great trip and had some fun along the way. That last night way out there in the dunes was great, just wish I had been able to shoot them with the digital camera. The film camera just couldn't handle the way I usually like to shoot.

Great set and glad you had some good times with your dad.

Thank you Ben, yes, good times with my dad. You can't replace that.

Really awesome Travis! Each of these has a very classic B&W look to them.

#4 is my favorite, I really like the endless feel of that view in it. And I think #1 would be my 2nd choice, perhaps cropping a bit more off the left side? But never the less there is really something compelling about that image.

Thanks for the feedback Jim, #4 was my favorite from that evening...good thing too, it was the only one that came out

A nice set Travis. Like others I prefer #4.

Thank you Jameel.

really like the matte tones from the film.

Yes, this film did produce mush lower contrast images. I think it might be in part to very outdated film.

Travis,
Sounds like a great trip.. the images look fantastic. Next time I go to DV I'm going bring some film. #3 is my favorite here I like the comp the best. Its great how the detail from the mountains plays off the dunes.

Hey Dean, Thanks. I think film s a good way to slow down and be much more selective. #3 would be my pick of the bunch too, I just like that image.

Very nice Travis. It brings back memories.

Thank you, glad it could job the memory Douglas.