The Basin
Badwater Basin - Lowest Spot in Lower 48 States
Today, I’d like to introduce you to the Badwater Basin, part of Death Valley National Park.
The Badwater Basin is the lowest spot in the lower 48 United States at 282 feet below sea level.
Levi and Dad just before the Air Force Adventure would begin
It’s an extreme place to visit. It’s also one of my favorite spots to do sunrise and sunset photography as well as milky way photography.
It would seem that the area used to be the bottom of some kind of deep lake. It’s flat and very vast in it’s total expanse.
When atop Dante’s View, you look directly down into the Basin, as you do atop Telescope Peak. Dante’s View sits at 5,575 feet above the Basin. Telescope Peak sits at 11,049 feet above sea level.
Sun Rises at Dante’s View Overlooking the Basin, Telescope Peak, Snow Covered in the Distance
Dante’s View is a favorite spot for sunrise and sunset photography for many as it’s an easy drive to the lookout point. Telescope peak, on the other hand, requires not only a significant drive down some pretty rough terrain to the trail head, it’s a long, very difficult hike.
Most, I believe, will choose the Dante’s View vista for their epic view of the Basin.
I have been to the Badwater Basin on 4 different occasions, all of which have provided me varying views and photographic opportunity.
Sun Sets over the Basin
There have been some epic sunsets, some not so epic sunrises, a bit of portrait work with my son, Levi “The Dogman” and now, reflection photography and Milky Way photography.
Levi Studies the Vast Expanse of Badwater Basin
I have been privileged to photograph some amazing sunsets in the basin as the skies turned awesome shades of magentas, purples, reds, and oranges; so bright it tinted the stark white salt formations to a light pink.
Now, thanks to 2 awesome rain storms, the basin was filled to, at it’s highest point, 6 inches of water or even more.
Badwater Basin Filled with Water and the Panamint Range in the Background
By the time I arrived at the beginning of April, the basin had dried some from the last major rain which happened in February. However, there was more than enough water for some wonderful, calm, early morning, lake reflection photography of the Panamint mountain range, the range which houses Telescope Peak. Truly a once in a lifetime event.
Two Different Looks of the Same Location
And finally, what would a trip to Death Valley be for me, Robert Anthony, that does not include some attempts at photographing the Milky Way in all it’s glory.
Death Valley is so far away from any lights it’s a very dark sky.
This quote from darksky.org defines it well
“The skies there are affected by only the smallest amounts of light pollution classifying it at the highest level of IDA designation and star-filled skies, the “Gold Tier”. Astronomical objects seen there are available only to some of the darkest locations across the globe.”
Panorama of the Milky Way at Badwater Basin over Dante’s View
This is why I love it here so much for night sky photography. It’s stunning and breathtaking when standing out in the star filled ink black night in the middle of the park. If one travels the long, 19 mile road from Furnace Creek to the Badwater Basin, he will be treated to one of the absolutely darkest locations on the planet.
It’s here I chose to finish my time at Death Valley National Park doing some Milky Way photography over the Badwater Basin with Dante’s View in the background.
Death Valley is a wonderous location to visit for hiking, but more specifically photography. It’s a large park so nothing is quick to access. Photography requires planning and often times hiking, but in the end, it’s all so worth it.
A Vertical Shot of the Milky Way as it reflects in the Badwater Basin
If you plan to visit the park for photography, you will need at least 4 days.
Best time in my view to visit weather wise is
Mid November through Mid March.
Milky Way photography ( if you want to photograph the galactic center) can be expected until approximately the 3rd week of November and beginning again the middle of February.
I hope this little Death Valley photography update has been informative and helpful to you.
rob out
