Best ideas . . .

Ken Burns' best idea yet - the new PBS series, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." On most PBS stations, starting this Sunday September 27 - check local listings.

Along those lines, another good idea . . . There is still a great opportunity to photograph at night with The Nocturnes, in the California desert, coming up, October 30, 31 and November 1, 2009. This workshop will be held in the spectacular, surreal, extreme landscape of Death Valley National Park.

Badwater, Study 1, Death Valley by Tim Baskerville - from the Dream Dates series

Death Valley, at more than 3 million acres, is the largest National Park in the contiguous United States. From Telescope Peak (11,049 foot) on the west to Dante's View on the east (5,475 foot and offering a vista of nearly all of Death Valley), the park features spectacular desert scenery, unusual wildlife, and is an area of great geological, historical, and cultural interest to many. Badwater is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere (282 feet below sea level). The average high temperature during the day in November is a very mild 76 degrees, followed by cooler nights at around 50 degrees!

This is the dramatic landscape we will find ourselves visiting this November, during the Full "Frost" Moon - to photograph the nocturnal beauty of Death Valley! We will photograph around Furnace Creek Ranch, and such sites as the Ghost town of Rhyolite, Zabriskie Point under the light of the full moon, and the majestic Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells, near the north end of the Park.

Absolute drop-deadline to register with us AND reserve accomodations down at Furance Creek is September 30th - more info here with a registration form here.

From The [not so] Daily Nocturne