The salt crusted Bad Water Basin in Death Valley is the lowest point in the US. It is also the hottest with the record standing at 134F (which is 56.7C for my European friends). It is an awesome location to shoot, simply “out of this world”.

The best time to shoot is when the sun is low, so early morning or early evening, because the salt ridges will stand out thanks to the shadows.

The area is quite large and there are many places where you can walk out onto the flats. I found one of the best to be just a mile or two south of the main car park. The ridges seem to be larger there and more refined. This photo shows some water, but don’t expect that to always be the case. This was taken in March and I was luck as there had been a spring rain earlier that morning.

February/March is a perfect time to visit Death Valley by the way, as the temperatures are very comfortable (even slightly chilly if you go out early for sunrise). You are also likely to get clouds, which will provide more interest and better chances for colorful sunsets and sunrises.