Photographing Death Valley, Winter 2022: Episode 4

[@NigelDanson]

I loved that last image Ben. I really liked the area in the bottom RHS that gave it some breathing room.

[@thomaspopple2291]

I had to laugh when you rushed under that outcropping. I could see that crack. I would have raced under as well. Always enjoy your videos Sir. Thanks for all the work you do to give us inspiration and entertainment. Good cup of coffee, inspiring video, then time to go shooting.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Thomas! Yeah, that boulder was quite intimidating to say the last! Seeing that crack makes me wonder if it will fall during my lifetime. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it does. That area isn’t the most seismically active, but a jolt from an earthquake could be all it takes. Who knows though, maybe it’ll be like that for another 10,000 years. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@scottternan105]

I agree the last image is fantastic ! It could almost be ancient pottery on the ground.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Scott! It sure had that look to it. Thanks for watching!

[@wildaustraliaphotography-m2099]

It never ceases to amaze me how you are able to capture images that turn simple things like mud cracks into stunning works of art. Just brilliant

[@BenHorne]

Thanks! That’s the fun thing about photography, somehow dirt water and time can amount to something so much more. It was a wonderful scene to find, and I’m glad I was able to put a composition on it. Hopefully some of that mud sticks around next year and there will additional compositions to be found there. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@duringthemeanwhilst]

that did look quite the scramble!!! the cracked mud image is an absolute beauty. can I thank you for these videos and your hard work putting them together. Due to a blood cancer which caused a fractured spine, my photography isn't very adventurous these days, and watching you helps me get my outdoor "fix" taking me back to the days when I scrambled over rocks and down muddy banks at the extremes of the day all in the name of art! thank you :-)

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Nick! It certainly was quite the scramble, and I’m glad you were able to tag along for the ride. Thankfully as you know there are so many fantastic opportunities that are quite accessible. I enjoyed checking out your website and your KZbin channel!

[@larrylindell1027]

Another enjoyable video. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, I really enjoy the “process” portions of your videos where you show us your set up and actually taking the photograph including the mistakes. That last photograph of the cracked mud was incredible. Keep up the good work.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Larry! I’ve changed my approach a bit more with the videos so you’ll see a lot more of the process stuff now. In the past I left some of that out because I felt it would be juggling too much, but as it turns out, it’s not too bad really. Thanks as always for watching and commenting Larry!

[@xijiang2728]

The last image of mud is FANTASTIC!! Amazing work!

[@BenHorne]

Thank you so much! It was such a wonderful scene to find. I walked past it several times before noticing it. I love how that works.

[@mitchellmysliwiecphotography]

The outcropping looked like the Derp. It's fantastic that you can go to a place for years and still find new exciting and inspiring places to fire up your soul.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Mitch! It does indeed look like little Derpy. That’s funny! Speaking of which, he’s letting me know he’s ready for his dinner, so I should probably get to that. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@darrenleigh201]

The canyon shot @11:10 looks like something out of a Raiders of the Lost Ark movie. Gorgeous location. Thanks for sharing!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Darren! It sure had a very “handmade” feel to the place. Something about the way the walls were carved by wind and water. Lots of big boulders too, though thankfully not as round. :-) Thanks as always for watching and commenting Darren!

[@Andrew.J.R.Simpson]

When you went down with your bag then went to go back for the camera did you think,,, ah, I did that one last week 🤣 Maybe the sky cut in but I was seeing portrait on that for the golden wall but you know best. Looks like you enjoyed it as you said last week so I'm looking forward to see what you get. The mud tiles look great and very porcelain as you mention with that light. A joy to watch as always 👍

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Andrew! The sky was indeed just outside the composition, but perhaps there are some other options with a slightly longer or wider lens. I’ll definitely be returning to that canyon next year to see if I can find a way to capture it. The light sure was nice. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@IanTurner78]

that last image is I think, your best piece in a while. its absolutely stunning, and pretty different also to what is a relatively common subject. finding such startling originality is a true gift. great job.

[@BenHorne]

Thank you so much Ian! It sure was a wonderful find, and I sure am glad I decided to spend some time out on the mud flats that morning. It really amazed me how much different that area was from past visits. It’ll be interesting to see how that area is next winter.

[@slavomirdzieciatkowski8811]

That glowing canyon looks breathtaking! Last image is stunning, but I do also like the other cracked mud one you shared. Nicely done Ben!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Slavomir! I'm really looking forward to returning to that canyon next year. There's so much potential back in there, and it felt like something from Indiana Jones. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@christina8433]

Can't wait to see your images from that second canyon! The light was absolutely breathtaking

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Christina! It sure was some wonderful light, and that canyon will definitely keep me busy for many years to come. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@arcticwanderer2000]

I went to Death Valley with my 4x5 a few decades ago and did some images of the dunes at night under the full moon. Surprising just how bright the moon is, made for some interesting images.

[@BenHorne]

Death Valley sure is well suited for large format, and I know what you mean about how bright those nights are with a full moon. I have fond memories of hiking through the dunes without a headlamp. I learned very quickly that a headlamp only makes things more difficult in those situations since you can no longer tell if the sand ahead of you is rolling upward or downward, leading to some surprises at times. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@CalebWeston_dubland]

Love the canyon you explored. Always fun discovering all the nooks and crannies in Death Valley. I know hiking with my mirrorless kit in some canyons can be challenging I can’t even imagine hauling your large format kit, impressive! Great video as always.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Caleb! It sure was a fun place to explore. Although there was certainly some scrambling involved, it was quite fun and quite doable with the 8x10. My lower body has become accustomed to it through the years, and sometimes it actually feels quite nice having the weight on my legs. Feels a bit like stretching. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@richardstollar4291]

Another great video and I agree with your assessment of the final shots - the cracked mud was indeed a great shot.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Richard! It sure was a fun subject to find, and I’m glad the wind was calm that morning. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@BryanDorr]

The images might not always work out, but it's fun to go out and explore the area. The overhanging boulder with crack at 9:40 looks like it might drop anytime soon.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks as always Bryan! Yeah, it’s all part of the process, and I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of trying to put a composition on a scene, even if the end result isn’t quite what I had hoped. Perhaps I’ll connect more with these images at some point later down the line though. We’ll see. That area with the overhanging boulder was definitely quite frightening. To see the crack like that, and when it does fall, several more quite like it will likely come tumbling down as well. Who knows if it’ll even be possible to access the rest of that canyon when the time comes. In any case, it’ll be interesting to check up on from year to year and to see how it changes.

[@markbray3038]

Hi Ben I am loving these Death Valley walks, those Mud images are stunning. So glad you stick around for them.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Mark! It sure is fun spending extended time in a place like Death Valley. There is so many interesting things to find out there. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@andrewherbert9938]

Ooh that cracked mud image , wow

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Andrew! It sure was a wonderful scene to find, and quite close to the road too. :-) Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@brianbeattyphotography]

Agree that the last image was the keeper of the day! I always find canyon scenes to be a challenge to compose. Looking forward to what you find on the next outing!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Brian! They sure can be chaotic at times, though I see them a bit as a puzzle. I know there’s a solution there somewhere, it’s just a matter of finding it.

[@renepirolt]

Really excellent series, Ben. The cracked mud shot turned out very nice.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Rene! It sure was a wonderful subject to find. I look forward to seeing how that area looks next year when I return. It changes so much from year to year. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@jaytayag810]

Great last image! That last canyon was amazing! Looking forward to the next episode.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Jay! It sure was a wonderful canyon, and in the coming episodes, I find one of my favorite photos from the trip in that canyon. I'm really looking forward to exploring it more when I return next winter.

[@ashvarma2486]

Absolutely love the last image Ben. Really looking forward to your next video and images from that amazing canyon and hope you managed to get in and out of there safely. BTW, in case you haven't seen Ken Burns great documentary on the National Parks then I would very highly recommend getting the DVD box set as it's totally awesome.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Ash! It sure was a wonderful canyon to explore, and I suspect it will keep me busy for several years to come. I haven’t seen the Ken Burns documentary on the National Parks, but I really should. I’ve heard nothing but great stuff about it.

[@LucBetbeder]

Ben thanks for another great video. Appreciate the storytelling and the slow B roll shots. Hope you make it to Australia one of these days to compare our red dirt to the Death Valley hues.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Luc! Perhaps some day! It’s definitely on my list. Thanks for watching!

[@ledesclos5321]

Love your work, your narration, your appreciation of the area and its beauty, and of course the images.

[@BenHorne]

Thank you so much! It sure is a beautiful place, and I gained an even greater sense of appreciation for the landscape after this year’s visit. I look forward to returning next winter.

[@TheHumesMusic]

Great episode. Some of your best cinematography.

[@BenHorne]

Thank you! Those canyons sure were a joy to explore. I look forward to heading back there again next year.

[@mikemcdonald2752]

Congratulations on the calm wind for a change! In my experience, it doesn't take much of a breeze to make the view camera a challenge to use. I was surprised the two canyon images were shot as landscapes. I would have used a portrait orientation to emphasize the vertical nature of the canyon. So why did you choose a landscape orientation if I can ask? The final mud flat image is stunning! Looking forward to seeing it in the end of year collection! I'm gaining an appreciation of that type of "abstract" landscape from your work. I'm looking forward to trying out some of your blue hour ideas later this month in White Sands National Park.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Mike! With either of those scenes, the sky was mere millimeters from the edge of the ground glass. It’s not that I’m completely against including the sky, but it would have stood out in a very distracting way. That being said, it actually looked kind of interesting in the video I filmed there and didn’t seem to be all that distracting. Perhaps an experiment for next time. The image of the cracked mud sure was fun to compose, and it will indeed be in this year’s box set. The proof print I made looks beautiful on the Baryta paper. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@Hirsutechin]

That last image of the cracked, twisted mud is really good. I'd be happy to have made it!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks! It sure was a nice subject to find, and it sure feels great to find those subjects hiding in plain sight. Thanks for watching!

[@JohnTomasella]

I can't wait to see the canyon shots. Just that short walk you showed I can tell you will come away with some portfolio images.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks John! It sure was a wonderful canyon to have all to myself, and it’s a canyon I’ll definitely be returning to for many years to come. There’s so much potential there, and I really need to see it during different times of day too. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@vishwasnagaraju8260]

Stunning image!

[@BenHorne]

Thank you as always Vishwas!

[@lfac]

That last canyon really seemed beautiful!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Luís! It sure was a wonderful canyon, and it will give me plenty to explore for many years to come. Thanks as alway for watching and commenting!

[@bobduff2648]

As others have said the last image a great one of cracked porcelain. That new second canyon you were exploring, I was yelling at you to stop and get that shot on a couple of places along the walk.🤪🙀😂. Looking forward the next installment.🤞🙌🙌

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Bob! That canyon is one that will keep me busy for many years to come. I look forward to heading there next year to explore it further, and see what else I can find. Thanks for watching!

[@sdkgodeacs]

Loved the doubling back footage to pick up the camera - and the cracked mud image!

[@BenHorne]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. :-) Thanks for watching!

[@RewDowns]

really amazing image with that cracked mud, well done!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks! It sure was a fun scene to compose. A bit of measured chaos.

[@RewDowns]

@@BenHorne That's a sign of a great photographer who can bring order to chaos :) Love your videos on composition, ordering your book now

[@Prashant.Khapane]

Superb outing. And a lovely image at the end. That canyon looks like a great place with possibilities. I'll wait for the next day outcome. I'm sure you will have a cracking image...

[@BenHorne]

Thank you as always! It sure was a wonderful scene to find! I’m still quite surprised to find such clean and light colored mud cracks. It was unlike anything I’ve seen there before. Thank you as always for watching and commenting!

[@AndreaLivieriPhoto]

The light in that canyon was breathtaking! Great episode as always, Ben. And the last image is just brilliant :) Ciao Ben

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Andrea! The light down in those canyons sure is a wonderful thing, and it lasts for hours and hours. Thanks as always for watching!

[@kkuehne45]

Love this video. You are clearly having a great time, and it shows. I don't recall you doing much on the canyons at DV in the past, so it's really neat to see you doing a lot of work there now, and finding a lot of potential to tap. In fact, I don't even think of canyons when I think of DV. It's pretty clear to me that big things are going to happen, not only during the remainder of this trip, but in future visits as well.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Ken! On past trips, I was often distracted by beautiful cloud-filled skies or clearing storms. This year was nothing but blue skies, so it had me searching for canyons, and I’m glad I did. Now I’ll have a plan for future trips when the skies are conducive for grand landscapes. I know that canyon alone will keep me busy for years to come. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@apdeshpande]

Thank you for such awesome videos. It would be also fun if you could add some of your camp time.

[@BenHorne]

Not a heck of a lot happens then, mostly just sitting around or loading film, but it’s definitely more interesting on my backpacking trips, and you’ll see more of that from my upcoming trip. Thanks for watching!

[@anniebooo]

Thanks, beautiful episode. Love the cracked mud photo. Best regards, Annie

[@BenHorne]

Thank you as always Annie! It sure was a wonderful scene to find!

[@brianmckeever5280]

Maybe a tiny drone in follow-me mode for the b-roll! Loved the final cracked mud image, like broken porcelain.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Brian! If they were legal in the places I visit, I would definitely have one. I can only imagine what perspectives I could get flying through those canyons. Some Star Wars vibes for sure. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@sander5086]

What a great adventure this day was!! But it must been hard work for you, carrying that heavy backpack up and down that canyon. That last image is boxset material, can't wait to look at that print!!!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Sander! That final image will indeed be in the box set. I’ve already made proofs of 7 different images, and we’ll see what kind of subjects I can find during the spring and fall. I suspect this year’s portfolio will consist entirely of intimate landscapes.

[@stefanpangratz]

Incredible! Really love your passion for exploring areas again and again! Regards Stefan

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Stefan! There is so much beauty hidden out there, and I love how things can change so much from one visit to the next. It gets me excited even thinking about heading back there again this winter. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@Beano_z]

5:02: sadly I can’t say I’m curious as the same happened to me about two weeks ago when I dragged out an exposed but undeveloped sheet of Velvia 100 which was left in a a bag of exposed film which I thought was empty. Lucky this happed to you on location so you had the chance of doing another shot……

[@BenHorne]

Ouch!! That sure is a bummer about that sheet of film! Made my stomach turn just hearing about that, especially if it was a photo you were very excited about.

[@Powerwashincrocs]

It hurt to watch you open the darkslide and take that sheet out, but made total sense. Beautiful work, Ben

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Dan! Yeah, it’s a bit of a bummer to lose a sheet of film like that, but it’s the best decision really. Thanks for watching!

[@thomas_dries]

9:46 I'm sure I would've been crushed trying to find a way to photograph that rock... 😅 I didn't even notice the crack until I saw the other Thomas mention it in his comment! Excellent video Ben! I appreciate the hard work you put into these.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Thomas! That rock sure was scary. I wouldn’t be surprised if I return to that canyon in the next year or two and see a fresh pile of boulders there. I just hope there will be a way around them to access the upper portions of the canyon.

[@fbraakman]

Nice episode and images, Ben. I have been to DV in my digital days, but would love to return with my new (old) 8x10. Curious as to how you load your 8x10 film on the road. I have the Harrison pup tent for 4x5, but I find it's too small to change and load 8x10. Lovely last image.

[@BenHorne]

Death Valley really lends itself to shooting large format. Those Harrison film changing tents are made in three different sizes, the smallest being for 4x5, the middle for 8x10, and the largest can handle 11x14. I use the middle sized one, which fits very nicely on top of some cases in the back of my 4Runner at just the right height. I’m able to load film while under the shade of the rear hatch while listening to satellite radio. It’s quite comfortable really. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@trevorsneath4665]

10' of rope might have helped to lower that pack down Ben. Living dangerously mate :-)

[@BenHorne]

I’ve actually brought rope when photographing a scene in Zion that had a very sketchy descent. As it turns out though, scrambling with the pack was just fine. Knowing my luck though, If I try to lower it with a rope, it’ll just scrape on the rocks and tear it to pieces. Better than than me I suppose. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@trevorsneath4665]

@@BenHorne Mate, I love you vids. And your voice is so relaxing :-) But I guess doing big camera photography isn't for the fast among us. The only other channel that has that effect is Baumgartner Restorations. Julian has a voice i could listen to all day too.

[@jeffreyallen3461]

Ben - how many 8x10 sheets of film do you generally bring along on a trip like and how many do you think you use?

[@BenHorne]

Hi Jeffrey! In general, I expose around 30 sheets of film per trip, and I bring about double that amount of film with me. I carry 4 or 5 film holders with me when I’m out shooting, and I have another 8 or so back in my truck. I reload the film holders every 3 days or so.

[@CamBlakePhotography]

Hey Ben, another awesome episode. Reminded me of Star Wars - I was just waiting for a Sand Person to come and grab you... :) Hope you are well. Great video!

[@BenHorne]

Now you’re going to have me always looking over my shoulder when I head back there! Haha! Thanks for watching Cam!

[@hostynphoto]

I'm curious what images you'll walk away with from that canyon. Looks very promising.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Tijs! It sure was a wonderful canyon, and it’ll definitely keep me busy for several years to come. It sure was nice to have it all to myself too! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@chadroberts44]

That cracked mud photo is awesome! The canyon is very interesting. Was the floor just that flat gravel for a lot of the way? Also the uniformity of the walls was neat. I'm curious and someday when I get to go visit Death Valley I may try to find that canyon.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Chad! Yeah, that cracked mud sure was fun to find. It was almost therapeutic trying to find a composition, and thankfully the wind was calm. The floor of the canyon is indeed quite flat and uniform. There are several boulder obstacles, and each of them seems to hold back the sediment, resulting in a flat canyon floor upstream. It’s also a very course gravel mixture which has the added benefit of not showing footprints. If it was a sandy floor, I would have been paranoid about potentially walking through scenes I would later want to shoot.

[@chuckhaaser884]

Ben, what precautions have you taken should you be injured and unable to walk your way out of some of these remote canyons. Do you carry satellite communications with you? Would your wife know where to start a search if you didn't check in at an agreed upon time? Just curious how you handle this.

[@BenHorne]

Hi Chuck! First and foremost, I try not to get myself into situations that in any way seem dangerous. I listen to that voice in the back of my head that warns of danger. That being said, I do carry a Garmin InReach Mini satellite messenger with me. You’ll see it frequently clipped to one of my front belt loops. Using the Garmin, I’m able to send and receive text messages with my wife, and there’s a fun orange button that makes helicopters appear. :-)

[@chuckhaaser884]

@@BenHorne The movie "127 Hours" crossed my mind when watching you traverse those narrow canyons.

[@FlyFishVideo]

I was reading "Desert Images " by Muench and Abbey and came across this quote that made me think of you: " Life is gaunt and spare in the desert; that's what old time desert rats like best about it. They feel they cannot breath properly without at least a cubic mile of unshared space about them."

[@BenHorne]

That’s a fantastic quote indeed!

[@robertwhitemoto]

$20 a shot, + developing... I too would be very deliberate about what I shoot :) Wow what a beautiful place!

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Robert! Being deliberate is definitely key. Thanks as always for watching and commenting!

[@romiemiller7876]

The cost of 8x10" film & processing would stop the machinegunning by some digital photographers. I grew up with film, including large format, and old habits die hard. I'm still careful with exposures.

[@BenHorne]

It’s a very smart strategy. Even though we can store thousands of files, who wants to look at a bunch of photos that all look the same and somehow choose the best one? Sometimes having only a single photo makes the process much easier. Thanks for watching and commenting Romie!

[@davidewersphotography1013]

when you aee walking these canyons, are you basicaaly alone?

[@BenHorne]

Yup! I had those canyons completely to myself all day long. That’s one of the wonderful things about Death Valley.

[@charliefm826]

No one knows what unexposed film looks like. Could be rainbow or bright pink. But we will never know.

[@bcleste]

That really does look like porcelain.

[@BenHorne]

Thanks Brian! It sure was interesting to see the light colored mud like that. The top surface was very smooth, and the bottom is velvety, which makes for some interesting textures when viewed up close.

[@凡尘无雪]

Sorry, I'm not very familiar with youtube, I couldn't find your email address, can you send it to me? Thank you.

[@BenHorne]

If I mention it in the comments, I’ll probably get picked up by spammers, but go to my website and you’ll find all the info there. Thanks!