November 2016. Landscape Photo Project in the Valley of Fire in Nevada
November 2016. We spent four days in the Valley of Fire in the state of Nevada. This extraordinary valley, named because of its glowing shapes and colors, is located one hour from the city of Las Vegas. The Valley of Fire is not well known because it is in a remote desert zone away from major roads.
When arriving at the edge of the valley, it is at the bend of a turn that one perceives a red area, while the rest of the area is gray. It is a real surprise, a great joy, for the photographers of landscapes. The Valley of Fire perfectly fits our artistic approach with calm, serene and often ethereal atmospheres.
At first, photographing the Valley of Fire is not as simple as it seems. During our first fortuitous visit a few years ago, we focused on photographing the reliefs from the road that crosses the valley. To the eye, the reliefs appear rugged and very colorful. When we developed our first photos, we realized that the reliefs were flat. We were unable to account for the volumes and textures present.
The following year, we journeyed back to take many dirty or pebbly paths to discover photograph opportunities. That is when we realized the photographic potential of the Valley of Fire. It is an incredible place with more eccentric shapes than other locations. Following this session, we made four photos for a collection of fine art prints. Since then, we return every year to this place, which we come to know a little more each time. The amazing thing is that we stay a little longer each year. This year, we spent four days to continue the collection "Lights and Colors of the Valley of Fire".
The best time to photograph the Valley of Fire is in the fall during the early morning lights, just as the sun rises. The middle of the afternoon is also excellent because the grazing lights allow to show the beauty of the reliefs. The main difficulty of the place is the management of the overcast shadows.
During our photographic strolls in the Valley of Fire, we are always surprised by the calm of the place. This is one of the spots where we are able to listen and savor the silence.
This session fits perfectly into our project devoted to the landscapes of the United States. The photographs we are going to develop following this session of November 2016 will reinforce our collections "Lights and Colors".
