Posted Aug 01, 2010
By Robert Pearce

Sometimes, all the elements come together as you dream. This was taken in March of 2010 at Badwater Basin, Death Valley (lowest point in North America at 282' below sea level). In years of good rainfall, Badwater Basin will flood with all the collected runoff rainfall from the surrounding hills. The polygon crust formations in the foreground are from the repeated freeze–thaw and evaporation cycles that gradually push the thin salt crust into the honeycomb shapes. On this trip, I was lucky enough to catch the formations with water still pooled in between to reflect the sunset. This image was made after a three hour wait in mid 90° temperatures under the sparse shade of my truck, waiting for sunset to come, and every bit worth the wait. Without pre-visualization of this shot, I doubt I would have been patient enough to wait.