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What Death Valley Taught Us This Winter
Published 1 day ago • 6 min read
Hi Reader,
Happy New Year! December felt like a much-needed reset for us. We spent most of the month in one of our favorite places, Death Valley National Park. It was an unusual winter, with recent flooding closing many roads throughout the park, but that didn’t slow us down. Our Intimate Landscapes workshop was an incredible success, thanks to a fantastic group of participants who made the week truly memorable. In our downtime, we explored new mud flows and canyons, a constant reminder of just how dynamic this place can be.
With all the rain the desert has received this winter, we’re starting to get excited about the possibility of superblooms in both Death Valley and Anza-Borrego. Those same storms that reshaped the landscape may set the stage for an exceptional spring. Two spots have just opened for our Anza-Borrego workshop in March, which typically lines up with peak wildflower season. We’re also excited to be offering a new Death Valley workshop in February in collaboration with the Death Valley Natural History Association. If you’ve been considering joining us, this could be a special year to experience the desert in transition.
We’ve also started a bit of a tradition of photographing the Geminids meteor shower while we’re in Death Valley. This year, the location choice was an easy one. With the return of Lake Manly at Badwater, we knew we wanted to try for a bright fireball reflecting in the water. We carried chairs and backpacking meals out to a quiet corner of the lake and spent much of the night watching the sky until clouds eventually rolled in. We were lucky to catch plenty of meteors, but one fireball in particular stole the show.
We spent the holidays quietly back in Denver, where we’ll be for a bit before heading to Yellowstone later this month for another winter expedition. Right now, we’re deep in the process of producing a brand new version ofNature Vision Magazine, one that more closely reflects our vision and where we want to take it. Jennifer is also working on a book she plans to release later this year, so keep an eye out for that. I spent much of the holidays processing images and wrapped up 100 photographs in the process. I’m now sharing one a day over on my Photostream.
With all the rains in the desert this winter, we're getting excited for the possibility of superblooms happening in Death Valley and Anza-Borrego. Two spots just opened for our wildly popular Anza-Borrego workshop in March, what is typically peak wildflower season, we hope you can join us!
We hope 2026 is a rewarding and inspiring photographic year for you.
Warmly, David Kingham and Jennifer Renwick
Creative Insights
Seeing Opportunity When Conditions Are Not Ideal
We often hear the sentiment that there’s nothing to photograph on blue sky days, sometimes even from professional photographers. It’s an unfortunate idea, and one that I believe is completely false. It usually just means we need to open our minds a bit.
Classic, iconic landscapes can certainly feel less inspiring under clear skies, but those conditions are a perfect invitation to think differently. Instead of chasing the icons, explore new areas. Spend time getting to know a place, and you’ll inevitably start noticing the quieter details that make it truly interesting. Along the way, you’ll often discover lesser-photographed locations that feel more personal, simply because you found them through curiosity and exploration.
Crashing Mud Waves Experiment by David
Exploring unfamiliar terrain forces us to look differently and try things we might otherwise overlook. While wandering through a wash in Death Valley, I came across a series of curled mud cracks. When approached extremely close with an ultra-wide lens, they suddenly transformed into what felt like crashing waves in the desert. By photographing them during twilight, I was able to highlight their delicate beauty. A dramatic sky would have completely overpowered what drew me to the scene in the first place.
I encourage you to rely less on the weather and more on what’s actually in front of you. Embrace the conditions you have, get out there, and make the most of them. Creative constraints aren’t limitations, they’re often the very thing that pushes us to see more clearly and grow as artists.
Reflections on 2025
As a new year begins, we always find ourselves looking back, not just at what we photographed, but at what stayed with us. This year felt especially reflective, so we wanted to share a few end-of-year collections from ourselves and photographers we admire.
by David duChemin This one really pushes back on the vague advice to “add more mood.” David digs into why that doesn’t actually help, and instead offers a more intentional way to think about the emotions you’re trying to evoke in your images. It’s a solid nudge away from the purely technical and toward something more poetic and meaningful.
by Michael Frye A great reminder that planning matters, but flexibility matters just as much. Michael shares stories from Yosemite and Death Valley that show how some of his best images came from starting with a plan, then responding to what the landscape offered in the moment.
by Murray Livingston A nice reminder that creativity moves in cycles. Murray talks about the balance between actively making work and stepping back to reflect, daydream, or recharge. Sometimes the most important part of the process is giving yourself permission to slow down and let ideas form on their own.
Workshop Opportunities
A huge thank-you to everyone who has joined our 2026 workshops, the response has been incredible! Only a few spots remain for the entire year, so if you’re hoping to join us, now’s the time.
December was all about Death Valley. Many would have seen the conditions as a challenge, with road closures from recent flooding and plenty of blue skies. But our participants didn’t just have fun, they thrived. With our guidance, they learned to look beyond the obvious and start noticing the quieter details. That shift in seeing is at the heart of our Intimate Landscape workshops.
Here’s what our participants shared from the field:
Image by Gary R Hook
Expectations exceeded.
“This Death Valley workshop far exceeded my expectations. Even when weather shifted plans, every location delivered incredible photographic opportunities. David and Jennifer were constantly engaged in the field, helping us see differently and encouraging exploration. The days were full, the group energy was fantastic, and I came home with images I’m truly excited about. Being introduced to the Rethink toolkit was a game changer for my processing and creative approach. This experience had a lasting impact on how I see and make photographs.” —Gary
Image by Kristen Eder
Outstanding Intimate Lanscape Workshop
“David Kingham and Jennifer Renwick’s intimate workshop in Death Valley was one of the best I’ve ever attended. Their deep expertise and knowledge of the area made the experience outstanding. More than just a photo tour, this was a true photography workshop focused on developing both artistic vision and Lightroom post-processing skills. I highly recommend this workshop and their approach to intimate landscapes.” —John
A fun image by Coco Sly
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