ModelMayhem.com - SoCal Desert Location

Forums > General Industry > SoCal Desert Location

Search

Photographer

By Any Other Name

Posts: 92

Chino Hills, California, US

Who knows of a really great barren location?

Jul 27 09 04:27 pm Link

Photographer

C h a r l e s D

Posts: 9312

Los Angeles, California, US

With sand? Creosote bushes? What type desert landscape are you looking for? And, how far are you willing to drive?

Remember, it's 115 degrees in the desert right now, hotter in the low deserts.

If you just want barren, any dirt road outside Victorville will give you barren.

If you want sand, go to Pisgah Crater for sand between black volcanic rocks. Or Kelso, for LOADS O' SAND.

For rolling hills, drive southeast of Barstow.

Jul 27 09 04:30 pm Link

Photographer

MartinImages

Posts: 3872

Los Angeles, California, US

Salton Sea is great. And vast. Lunar and surreal

But far. 2-3 hours out of L.A.

And very very hot this time of year. And smells funny.

But so beautiful.

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2428/3763195501_4db31bd530.jpg

Jul 27 09 04:46 pm Link

Photographer

glamour pics

Posts: 6095

Los Angeles, California, US

By Any Other Name wrote:
Who knows of a really great barren location?

What sort of terrain, and features?

Probably the closest really barren terrain would be the Antelope Valley or East toward Palm Spgs. Salton Sea is very interesting, horrendously hot this time of year, though. If you go there, a very interesting and scenic drive is to cross the hills from Temecula across the hills down to the Salton Sea.

And if you do go out into the boonies, please take lots of water, emergency supplies, map, gps, and maybe even rent a satellite phone. The western deserts are fearsome country if you screw up.

Jul 27 09 04:51 pm Link

Photographer

Boho Hobo

Posts: 25351

Santa Barbara, California, US

By Any Other Name wrote:
Who knows of a really great barren location?

abandoned housing tracts in the inland empire.

Jul 27 09 04:52 pm Link

Photographer

photoguy35

Posts: 1040

Goodyear, Arizona, US

Some pretty well know areas are:

El Mirage Dry Lake
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/mirage.html

Vasquez Rocks
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/VasquezRocks_4472.asp
http://santaclaritaguide.com/VasquezRocks.html

Kelso Dunes
http://digital-desert.com/kelso-dunes/

Jul 27 09 09:07 pm Link

Photographer

Kevin Connery

Posts: 17824

El Segundo, California, US

The Good Places to shoot in LA thread lists around 50 recommended locations around Los Angeles, a dozen or more of which are deserted/barren. There's also a half-dozen threads about LA desert locations listed there as well.

Jul 28 09 06:15 am Link

Photographer

Jerry Nemeth

Posts: 33355

Dearborn, Michigan, US

Death Valley!
Be prepared for temperatures up to 130 degrees!!

Jul 28 09 06:22 am Link

Photographer

Evocative Images

Posts: 508

Minneapolis, Minnesota, US

glamour pics wrote:

What sort of terrain, and features?

Probably the closest really barren terrain would be the Antelope Valley or East toward Palm Spgs. Salton Sea is very interesting, horrendously hot this time of year, though. If you go there, a very interesting and scenic drive is to cross the hills from Temecula across the hills down to the Salton Sea.

And if you do go out into the boonies, please take lots of water, emergency supplies, map, gps, and maybe even rent a satellite phone. The western deserts are fearsome country if you screw up.

Add four wheel drive if you are thinking about leaving a paved road (and you will). Those other items will become a matter of life and death otherwise.

Jul 28 09 06:25 am Link

Photographer

silverystars

Posts: 2524

Allentown, Pennsylvania, US

Joshua Tree National Park. its HUGE and has varied landscapes from cactus gardens, to rocks (BIG rocks), to dessert.

Jul 28 09 02:06 pm Link

Photographer

JL Sigart

Posts: 353

Upland, California, US

Evocative Images wrote:

Add four wheel drive if you are thinking about leaving a paved road (and you will). Those other items will become a matter of life and death otherwise.

LOL.

Jul 28 09 06:05 pm Link