Dancing in Death Valley (Patreon)

You guyyyys! It's finally spring and I couldn't be happier! I can hardly believe the winter is already behind us with April just around the corner. How are we already so deep into 2023? How are your goals for the year holding up? Well, I hope! Mine are okay; slugging along, but along nonetheless.

Anyway, to celebrate the longer days filled with sunshine and sweat, here's a throwback to last year's very last minute trip out west. Lauren and I created so much artwork and content while we were out there that it kind of got away from us; there's still a good amount of work from both of our cameras that need editing and attending to. A few days ago, Lauren sent me a new folder from a set she hadn't yet touched, and one of those included our quick little shoot on the side of the road in the infamous Death Valley!

We were unfortunately pressed for time on a lot of this trip; each time I go somewhere new, I find that between work and play, there just isn't enough time to explore all the necessary scenes and secretive cubby holes hiding along the streets of each unique town unless you stay for an extended period of time. For us and Death Valley, we only had a few hours, but we'd make it work.

Navigating Death Valley was an absolute nightmare and I now totally understand how people get lost and stranded out there. Along the way, our phones quickly lost service and we had to utilize an old-school map that I had luckily picked up at one of the disgusting yet convenient bathrooms that are placed sporadically along the sides of the road in the desert. Can't say we were super well versed in map reading, but I think we did pretty okay for ourselves, though it got pretty difficult when the sun went down. We did manage to get lost, which was temporarily terrifying as I'd just listened to one of Mr. Ballen's episodes that covered a true story of someone going missing and dying in the very desert we were driving aimlessly in. Basically, if you're ever in Death Valley, don't slack on the essentials; bring lots of food, lots of water, come with a full tank of gas, and just in case, bring some warm clothes and a flashlight. You never know what can happen out there.

Before that terror happened, we checked out a few of the scenic spots listed which included driving up this large hill that overlooked so much of the valley, including the Badlands down below (that I soooo wanted to visit, but time escaped us). I hope I never forget the view.

On the way back down, we decided that we'd better get a shoot in soon if we wanted to have sunlight. It was descending faster than we'd expected, so as soon as we saw a half-way interesting pull off alone the decline, we parked, changed our clothes, grabbed our cameras, and walked a little ways off trail. I didn't have a lick of makeup on, but I do like how these turned out. I don't think I've even edited her photos from this specific shoot either. Ugh! Always so much to do and somehow we are always itching for more.

I miss the west a lot. I wish I didn't have to travel alone so much. I don't always mind it, but I do like having a driving buddy to share the stress with on long journeys, especially to places I've never been. Maybe I can talk someone into coming with me again this year or next. I need to just suck it up and plan a tour out there and just go. But ugh! The fear!

Sometimes you just need to do it. Do the thing. Put yourself in a position where you can't back out and just do the thing!

...I'll think on it a bit more though, hahaha. I just miss my kitties so much when I'm gone. The uncertainty is scary and the loneliness can sometimes be a bit much. I wish I had more close friends that didn't have normal jobs so I could kidnap them to come along the road with me.

Anyway, the west rocks. Traveling rocks. The low humidty was incredible after living in this thick moist wall of the southern east coast all my life.

I'm itching to return and chase that setting sun.

LEM Photography
Death Valley, California 2022