What better way to enjoy a soggy cold weekend then by digging into two new books recently released by the Dreamscapes team.
First out of the gate…Desert Paradise – The Landscape Photographer’s Guide to Death Valley National Park. It looks like Dreamscapes is building their travel photo guide offerings (their previous guide was Forever Light – A Guide to Iceland) and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Desert Paradise is written by Ron Coscorrosa and Sarah Marino who between the 2 of them have clocked thousands of miles over many trips to Death Valley.
Truth be told Death Valley National Park is on my photography bucket list so I was especially excited to start digging into this book. The amount of detailed information that the authors provide in this book is invaluable for the first time visitor, to this desolate yet beautiful location and to the return visitor.
Desert Paradise contains:
- Detailed information on seventeen locations, including classic Death Valley icons and places off the beaten path. Each location includes several photos, directions and, when applicable, GPS coordinates.
- Photography advice and techniques for Death Valley’s myriad different landscapes—tips on how to photograph salt flats, playas, sand dunes, badlands, abstracts, macros, in black and white, and wildflowers.
- Over 150 photos highlighting the diversity of Death Valley’s stunning landscapes. Technical information (including exposure settings) is included for every photograph presented.
- Basic travel information, including lodging and transportation, seasonal variations, weather, and hazards to help you in getting started in planning your trip.
- Features on an additional ten minor locations in the park are featured, as well as several other major locations located outside the park—including California’s Mono Lake, the Eastern Sierra, and Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada.
- Recommended gear and gear considerations.
- Maps highlighting every major location in the book.
- Suggested itineraries for both brief, short, and long trips (plans from one day to several weeks in duration.)
- A brief human and geologic history of the park.
As I was reading this book it quickly became apparent that there was so much that I didn’t know about Death Valley and its harsh landscape. The authors spared no detail when discussing the geographical terrain and all the photographic considerations that must come into play for this type of photography trip. The cherry on this sundae is that the photography is just so jaw-dropping gorgeous it’s going to want to make you pack your bags and hop on a plane. I am now officially inspired.
If you want to learn more you or pick up a copy for yourself check out the Dreamscapes store here.
The 2nd release is The Complete Guide to Gear for the Landscape Photographer by Justin Reznick.
If you follow this blog you may remember that I reviewed Justin’s, Photographing Waterfalls and Streams just last month. You can see that review here.
OK…so you’re reading the title of this book and you’re thinking to yourself…“why do I need a book about gear? I have what I need…what’s left to learn?” Well, quite a bit actually. There are reviews for everything from lenses to headlamps, backpacks, tripods and ballheads, clothing, camera protection, hand-held GPS devices, photo storage, and much more!
Justin provides an explanation on full-frame and APS-C cameras and what makes sense for different kinds of photography. Oh…and you’re going to love this…he discusses both Canon and Nikon bodies and lenses. I love it! He also covers off compact cameras including the beloved iPhone
Here’s what the Dreamscapes team had to say…
His recommendations make sense. He tells you that your camera is not the most important thing you can own, that iPhone cameras have their uses, and that rubber bands can save you thousands. And he avoids some of the battles that equipment nerds fight over, instead giving you practical, real-world recommendations.
While the latest and greatest gear won’t itself make your photographs shine, having an expert lead you through these decisions will go a long way.
Justin also includes interviews with 6 different professional landscape photographers who share their thoughts on equipment and what works and what doesn’t.
You can find Gear for the Landscape Photographer at the Dreamscapes store.
