Kurt M Lawson Photography »

Masthead header

10 Favorites of 2016

It’s that time of the year again. It’s the time of year when we like to collectively examine what has transpired within this unit of time measure of a year. Our collective demarcation of an Earth solar orbit is a significant time scale for us humans, and thus I will attempt to decide on this year’s “10 Best” within that framework as I have been doing for several years now. If nothing else this exercise is great for forcing me to look back on where I’ve been and what I’ve seen and to prioritize images that stick out for one reason or another. For many years I have been largely captivated by Death Valley. I do truly love that park, but by far the dominant National Park for me was Yosemite. But before we get to Yosemite, we start far closer to home in Venice where a stroll to the beach after a storm produced this moment.

Sunset Between El Niño Storms

Sunset Between El Niño Storms

It had rained for several hours until finally, just at sunset, this winter storm back on January 6 broke and the sun shone through in warm sunset tones. The basketball courts of Venice Beach were covered in a thin layer of water that acted as a mirror, broken up by the subtle relief in the court surface as the water drains away. A couple of sea gulls also provide extra breakup.

Dawn Under The Pier

Dawn Under The Pier

Next up we have a return for me to a familiar favorite place: Manhattan Beach Pier. I have loved this pier since the moment I laid eyes on it for the first time in 1996. One day, a number of years ago, I discovered how interesting it can be at night. This time, I arrived just before dawn. The pre-dawn light lifted the sky out of darkness while the odd mixture of lights on the pier provided a colorful palette.

< Horsetail Falls

< Horsetail Falls

My first trip to Yosemite for the year was a trek to the “fire falls” of Horsetail Falls in February. With this annual event, the sun shines through a small gap to the west to light up Horsetail Falls off the side of El Capitan. This event requires certain wet conditions to be met as the falls only flows after relatively recent storms. I tried to get a perspective away from the hordes of photographers in the valley. While I didn’t quite get to the spot I really wanted, I did watch this < formation drift up the face of El Capitan until it reached this alignment. Ultimately I found this more interesting than any of the fire falls photos I made this trip and it remains one of my favorites of the year.

Steam Dream

Steam Dream

If you follow my photography you might find the regular landscapes are on occasion interrupted by my love of steam trains. The San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society earlier this year had a night photography session during the brief time that they had their magnificent locomotive, Santa Fe 3751, at the Fullerton Railroad Days event. I wasn’t really expecting a show but wow did they put one on! They lit the fire back on this oil burning locomotive and spent some steam through the cylinder cocks (out the sides) and the dynamos on top and of course out the smokestack. Some flash photography was coordinated but by far my favorite shot I’ve yet taken of a steam locomotive is this one with no flash but just a long exposure.

The Cable Route of Half Dome at Night

The Cable Route of Half Dome at Night

The Cable Route of Half Dome at Night, Wide Edition

The Cable Route of Half Dome at Night, Wide Edition

What can I say about these next two. Yosemite! Like my 97 Switchbacks At Night, these two images feature a well known trail traced by light at night. Unlike that project, this one is done digitally. These images are a shared copyright with friends Sean Goebel and Wade Meade. Spearheaded by Sean, we hauled a ton of gear up to the top of Mount Watkins while Wade scaled Half Dome alone in the dark. Filmed from across the valley with a variety of cameras and lenses, these two images are my versions of the stills, one wide and one closeup. Processing was labor intensive to minimize noise and to remove dozens of airplane trails, but the results were worth it. Check out the time lapse video too. The views of Yosemite Valley from up there were incredible.

Into the Sunset

Into the Sunset

This next image is one of the most remarkable sunsets I’ve ever seen in my time in southern California. I was fortunate enough to escape the day job for a few moments to run down to the beach. Just as the sunset was peaking a surfer walked up and started to head into the waves in the fading but spectacular light.

Super Moonset

Super Moonset

The so-called “super moon” sets over the waters of the Pacific Ocean at dawn in this surreal image. I was down at Manhattan Beach Pier and had almost given up on shooting for the morning when I saw how strange the moon looked just as it was setting on the horizon line. On a Sony a6300 at 400mm, the 600mm equivalent view shows the bizarrely distorted shapes of the moon and the equally strange colors of the ocean reflecting the morning pastel colors of a newly rising sun. It’s just so weird and thus it has remained one of my favorites this year.

Warp Speed at Tunnel View (Black and White Edition)

Warp Speed at Tunnel View (Black and White Edition)

In my final trip to Yosemite of the year, I headed in knowing that an incoming storm was likely. After watching a very nice sunset at Tunnel View, I stayed to try to capture the rapid movement of the clouds above. I ended up utilizing a 10-stop neutral density filter to elongate the exposure to a little over two minutes. This allowed the clouds to streak across the sky in the direction of their movement. After first processing this in color I later switched to black and white and love this version quite a bit more.

Sunrise at the Gates of the Valley

Sunrise at the Gates of the Valley

And finally, we have sunrise the next morning at the place I always think of as “Gates of the Valley” due to the photo by that name of the most famous of landscape photographers. Getting up at 4:30am was worth it. Hope had not been great for this particular morning, but a break in the clouds to the East made for a few minutes of color explosion across the sky. I’ve been staring at this photo as my desktop for weeks and have really grown fond of it.

So there you have it. As of this moment anyway, there are 10 favorites for 2016. I hope you have enjoyed them and I can’t wait to share more images with you in the future. Happy new year!

2016 Epson International Pano Awards

Earlier this year, I entered 5 panoramas into the 2016 Epson International Pano Awards. I entered a couple of panoramas last year and did not win anything. I set my expectations low. Life has been busy, and with everything going on in the world I didn’t have a chance until now to do a little write up. The Epson International Pano Awards have two competitions: Open and Amateur. They are judged separately. Since I do not make my living through my photography, I entered each of my 5 entries into the Nature / Landscape category of both competitions. The result? I won a silver award and 6 bronze awards! Check out the photos below. One of my panoramas did not earn an award, but I had considered that one a long shot.

Textural Landscape, Silver Amateur Award, Bronze Open Award

Textural Landscape, Silver Amateur Award, Bronze Open Award

View Textural Landscape on Flickr

Sierra Crest Sunrise, Bronze in Open and Amateur Awards

Sierra Crest Sunrise, Bronze in Open and Amateur Awards

View Sierra Crest Sunrise on Flickr

Sneffels Sunset, Bronze in Open and Amateur Awards

Sneffels Sunset, Bronze in Open and Amateur Awards

View Sneffels Sunset on Flickr

Aguerberry Dawn, Bronze in Amateur Awards

Aguerberry Dawn, Bronze in Amateur Awards

View Aguerberry Dawn on Flickr

Vandalism at the Racetrack, Death Valley National Park

Edit:
Hello, Internet! If you want to keep up with my photography, follow me on Flickr, Facebook, 500px, check out my other blog posts or even visit my portfolios. Cheers.

I haven’t done a blog post in awhile. I’ve been extremely busy. It’s not that there hasn’t been things to write about, but rather that all of my photographic efforts have been exhausted outside of the day job and it just hasn’t left me with anything left to devote to writing here. However, a trip last weekend to the Racetrack has left me with a burning need to write, and unfortunately it is because of the worst kind of people.

My mission was to capture some specific images of the Racetrack for a project. I made haste to get there as soon as I could before it got too hot. It is after all summer, and I wanted to get up to 3700ft before the main valley hit 110. It was in the upper 90’s when I finally started upon Racetrack Road. Oh Racetrack Road, you are still as bad as ever. Those 27 miles are always a relief when they are over. Finally, the Racetrack came into view. I was blissfully ignorant of what horrors were hidden from view at this distance. What follows is a mix of iPhone and Sony shots taken between 9/11/16 afternoon and 9/12/16 morning.

The Racetrack Playa finally in view

The Racetrack Playa finally in view

The Racetrack is a very special place. There are only two known places on the Earth where rocks move on their own across a lake bed. How they move was a mystery until 2014 when a couple of researchers finally witnessed it. The conditions have to be perfect, and those conditions might not happen for years between events. This is because of course Death Valley is a very dry place, which leads us to why the Racetrack itself is so fragile. When wet, footprints can last for years before conditions reach the point where the surface can reset. This is why signs say not to walk out on the lake bed when it is wet. Well, you are also not supposed to drive on it. This is regardless of whether it’s wet or dry. Unfortunately, when I drove up to the first of the three parking spaces, I found this.

Car tracks at the Grandstand

Car tracks at the Grandstand

It seems the worst kind of people have recently visited the Racetrack. The worst kind of people.

If only there was a sign that said "NO MOTOR VEHICLES"

If only there was a sign that said “NO MOTOR VEHICLES”

They did loops around the Grandstand :(

They did loops around the Grandstand 🙁

It doesn't have to be wet to get damaged by inconsiderate people

It doesn’t have to be wet to get damaged by inconsiderate people

The Racetrack Playa has three parking areas. The middle parking lot offered even greater horrors. Whoever did this, they really had zero consideration for anyone else.

What a mess

What a mess

The damage was so extensive by the middle parking lot I couldn’t even bring myself to walk out and get a closer look. By this point my heart was really filled with dread. “Oh God, surely they didn’t go to the rocks too!” I thought. I pressed on.

Yes, they went there.

Yes, they went there.

At least one track ventures all the way to the rocks. They were thorough in defacing one of the most unique places on Earth. Yes, that’s a track that curves between rocks before looping around. Photographic compositions here will be ruined for years. Experiences will be marred by tire tracks next to rock tracks. My planned shots around the Grandstand were ruined for this trip.

Horrors

Horrors

Yeah, the car tracks show up from afar too

Yeah, the car tracks show up from afar too

The worst people drove right over some tracks

The worst people drove right over some tracks

From the rocks area, car tracks tail off into the distance

From the rocks area, car tracks tail off into the distance

It appeared that these people drove out right from the Racetrack parking area.

Tracks right from the Racetrack parking

Tracks right from the Racetrack parking

I don’t recognize the type of tread. Anyone know what these are from? It seemed to be pretty recent. It can be quite windy and I would expect the wind to erase the soft prints in the sandy dirty here before long.

Treads of bad people

Treads of bad people

If I sound repetitive referring to these people as the worst, or bad, or terrible, or any number of other negative adjectives I’m not really sorry. This damage could last for years. The Racetrack is a special place. It’s not a place for cars to race, it’s a place for the Racing Rocks. Period. It’s a National Park. Be respectful. What I’m writing is incredibly tame compared to the thoughts that were racing through my mind as I came across this mess. This level of disrespectful, inconsiderate car track graffiti exceeded everything I previously thought possible. But unfortunately, the horrors would continue. 2016 has had abundant horrors.

Out at the rocks, some fainter trails of … something … crossed through some of the area. I don’t know what to make of them or how old they are, but they are just as abhorrent as the car tracks.

Human caused tracks of something crossing a rock trail

Human caused tracks of something crossing a rock trail

I don’t know what to make of this. At some other point on the playa there seemed to be bicycle tracks but the side-by-side nature here I find puzzling. This is minor compared to the final insult.

Chiseled into a rock, the initials of horrible people

Chiseled into a rock, the initials of truly horrible people

A few weeks back I had heard a rumor that I prayed was not true. The rumor was that people were carving initials into rocks at the Racetrack. It’s been bad enough over the years that people steal rocks and move them. But this, this really takes the cake. At least the damage to the playa surface will one day be undone by the weather, even though it could take decades. This though, this will last far longer. These people, “D” and “K” chiseled a 1/8″ deep graffiti gouge into the surface of a large rock on the playa.

How does one get it in their head that this is ok? How does one think “Oh, it’s the racetrack! Let’s drive on it!” How does one think “Let’s chisel our initials onto one of the special rocks!” How does one get to such a selfish place in life? I hope these people are caught. I know that hope is about as improbable as winning the Powerball lottery, but in a perfect world, these assholes would be brought to justice. Anyone with any information please contact Death Valley National park. Defacing the racetrack is a crime.

I wish that the entire racetrack could be surrounded with severe tire damage spikes, carefully camouflaged to blend in unnoticeable from the surrounding dirt. I imagine such a person as recently defaced this sacred place trying to drive upon the playa only to have all 4 tires shredded before they could damage much. This would necessitate a very, very expensive tow from Miller’s Towing out of Lone Pine. But such things are just thoughts. Please be respectful to our sacred and protected places. They belong to us, they don’t belong to just you. Please, if you know anything contact the National Park Service. Please don’t deface the Racetrack, drive on it, steal rocks, or chisel into the rocks.

Edit, Tuesday 9/20:

Thank you to everyone who has responded to this post. I did not expect it to take off as much as it has. Seeing those recent tracks was infuriating but they are hardly the first ones I’ve seen there. They are the worst kind of people to visit the Racetrack. To be clear, if it wasn’t obvious, I’m not comparing them to all the other bad people or bad things that happen on the Earth

A few people have claimed that the car trails will not last years. I present you this shot from 2013 of vehicle tracks that you cross between the parking lot and the main moving rock zone. While I did not take a photo of these tracks on 9/11-12 of this year (2016), they are just as present now as they were then. It is plainly visible in Google Earth.

Old vehicle tracks seen in 2013 still visible in 2016

Old vehicle tracks seen in 2013 still visible in 2016

I hope that the awareness instilled by this post will encourage others to document and report anytime they see anyone driving out there or defacing or stealing stones or walking out on the playa when wet. I hope it will encourage people to be respectful of this uniquely amazing place. And finally I hope that Death Valley National Park can do a little more to discourage driving out there and stealing / defacing rocks. There is certainly room for improvement in signage and in obstacles to getting out there. I want us all to be able to respectfully enjoy this amazing spot in my favorite National Park. Please enjoy the unique natural beauty of the sailing stones of the Racetrack and leave no trace that you were there.

And finally I’ll add one of my photos from my first ever visit to Death Valley and the Racetrack back in 2008, when I fell in love with this incredible place.

Racing Rock, 2008

Racing Rock, 2008

Please leave no trace.

Edit: I was interviewed live on Facebook by the Weather Channel’s wonderful Domenica Davis to talk about the damage and what makes the place special.

September 20, 2016 - 11:05 am
September 21, 2016 - 8:25 am

The Racetrack Playa in Death Valley National Park marred by vandals: Digital Photography Review - […] he documented on his blog, landscape photographer Kurt Lawson was in the area scouting shooting locations for a project […]

10 Best of 2015

2015 has come to an end, and once again it’s time to look back and pick 10 favorite images from the year. After careful consideration this is the list I came up with. I hope you enjoy. If you feel I missed one, please tell me down in the comments.

Marathon in the Sky

Marathon in the Sky

This year started with a neat event in Los Angeles. To mark the anniversary of the Los Angeles Marathon, ASICS pointed 26 clusters of lights straight up to mark each mile of the course. I barely was able to complete this panorama before they turned out the lights.

Aguereberry Dawn

Aguereberry Dawn

On a cold morning, I woke to this gorgeous scene at Aguereberry Point high in the Panamint Mountains in Death Valley National Park back in March.

Seirra Crest Sunrise

Seirra Crest Sunrise

Rounding out my panoramas from the year is this beautiful sunrise from the base of the Sierras.

A Lady in Red

A Lady in Red

Continuing with my ongoing obsession with finding trees that stick out, I was ecstatic to find this spectacular red maple nestled among evergreens in Massachusetts this fall.

Tallest

Tallest

On a bright afternoon, stormy skies bustled around Mount Whitney, the tallest point in the Sierra Nevada and the rest of the 48 states.

Gondolas of Venice

Gondolas of Venice

This year I finally was able to go to Europe! I had an amazing trip, starting in London and going to Paris, Berlin, Munich, Venice, Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Rome. Here is one of my all time favorite photos from the trip, showing the famous gondolas of Venice.

A Venice Night

A Venice Night

In another view of Venice, this time at night, a man walks along the still waters of the canals.

Super Blood Moon Eclipse Over Obelisk - Single Exposure Edition

Super Blood Moon Eclipse Over Obelisk – Single Exposure Edition

After my trip was completely booked, I learned that a total lunar eclipse was happening during the “supermoon” closest approach of the Moon in its orbit. I originally envisioned a shot over the pyramid of the Louvre in Paris, but found the entire courtyard area closed off at 4am. With the eclipse starting, I set off in search of a different foreground and stumbled across this Egyptian obelisk.

Manhattan Beach Summer Sunset

Manhattan Beach Summer Sunset

Manhattan Beach Pier has always been a favorite photo spot for me ever since my first visit in 1996. For years I have hoped for a great sunset there and finally caught one there.

Light Show

Light Show

I love lightning photos. This is why I bought a lightning trigger. However in this case my lightning trigger was thousands of miles away while I was on vacation. While staying at hotel in South Carolina, I managed to luckily capture this strike during a 10 second exposure from an incredibly energetic thunderstorm.

January 6, 2016 - 11:54 pm
C o n n e c t
F l i c k r