TThis collection of black and white photos is dedicated to Death Valley, a huge desert area located in the state of California.

The name was given in 1849 by a woman rescued from a convoy that had lost its way seeking a passage in this desert area. The pioneers survived for several months eating the oxen of the teams and burning the wood of the wagons.

It covers 13,600 square kilometers (5250 square miles). The Valley of Death is a very inhospitable region where only hotels welcoming tourists were built.

The lowest altitude of the United States is found in Badwater of Death Valley, whose lowest point is at -85.5 meters (-282 feet). To contrast, Mount Whitney, also in Death Valley, rises to 4400 meters (14,435 feet). But Death Valley is not just an area of extremely different altitudes. There are covered desert areas with fine sand dunes as well as snow-capped mountains in the Panamint Range. The fauna and flora are highly developed and adapt to difficult and arid conditions. The region holds the record heat record of 56.7 degrees Celsius (134 Fahrenheit) which occurred on September 13, 2012.

Yet for me as professional landscape photographer artist, I am passionate about the wonders of nature. This is an extraordinary region to photograph, as it has scenes that are unique from the rest of the world.

In Death Valley, I find the calm, serenity and tranquility that I am seeking in our daily lives. This is what I also seek to highlight in our artistic photographs.

What is amazing in Death Valley is the variety of landscapes. There are huge sand dunes that contrast with the surrounding mountains. There is also a dry lake that holds a treasure: the sailing stones. But it is possible to immerse myself in winding labyrinths of colored rocks.

The landscapes of Death Valley allow me to express strong emotions such as loneliness, tranquility. To immerse in the ethereal scenes of the Valley of Death is to make a real introspection. When I walk on stones or in the sand, I find sensations lost as if I was the first inhabitant of the earth. The most incredible is the absolute silence that reigns in this region. I can focus on the essentials, and rethink what is most important in life. These are the reasons that make me love this unique region of Death Valley.

For this collection, I chose the black and white which is perfectly adapted to highlight the shapes, the details and skies that are often overcast with clouds.

All proposed art photographs are part of our "Shades of Blacks and Whites" theme.