California Photo Scout

Mobius Arch from Dusk till Dawn

Once Hollywood’s favorite western location, the Alabama Hills Recreation Area provides a playground for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. Twisted knobby rocks, arches, and the spectacular backdrop of the Sierra Nevada and the Inyo Mountains create a spectacular wonderland of strange alien shapes.

Located at the foothills of California’s tallest mountain, Mt. Whitney, the round granite rocks of the Alabama Hills contradict the jagged mountainous backdrop.

Many tourists have never heard of the Bureau of Land Management controlled park. You do not need to fight for space, even on a busy holiday weekend. The Alabama Hills are therefore the perfect getaway for stressed photographers. Plan an extra day during your next Death Valley tour and visit the Alabama Hills. You will not regret it!

How to get there

My car in front of Mt. Whitney

On the intersection of US-395 and CA-136 in Lone Pine, you will find a regional visitor center. Here you can pick up information regarding the Alabama Hills and many other fascinating places. The rangers are not always fully up to speed or motivated. You need to ask specific questions to get answers, but you can pick up a few printed pages showing the roads and some of the most prominent features.

Take Whitney Portal Road west from Lone Pine (traffic light intersection). Follow it about 2.7 miles to Movie Flat Road, which turns right. It becomes a dirt road after a short while, but you should have little problems with a passenger sedan in dry weather.

GPS position

Movie Flat Road Turnoff:

• 36°35’44.01″N 118° 6’31.72″W

Mobius Arch:

• 36°36’48.757″N 118° 7’32.541″W

Lathe Arch:

• 36°36’48.128″N 118° 7’33.248″W

Heart Arch:

• 36°36’43.206″N 118° 7’26.01″W

Eye of Alabama:

• 36°36’57.59″N 118° 7’0.54″W

Cyclops:

• 36°37′ 48″ N 118°08′ 07″ W

Charred Arch:

• 36°37’14.527″N 118° 6’36.275″W

How to photograph the Alabama Hills

Mobius Arch backlit

The picture at the beginning of the Article shows Mobius Arch during sunset, at night, and during sunrise. The light is very different for each of the photographs, yet each has its own special appeal. The top left shot is a sunset shot with the Inyo Mountains in the background. I took this picture about 45 minutes before sunset. Since the Sierra Nevada blocks the sun, you need to arrive at least one hour before sunset if you want light on the arch.

I took the top right photograph a couple of hours later, about 40 minutes after sunset. I combined several individual photographs, to deal with the high dynamic range of the scene.

The next two photographs are one hour further into the night. The shape of one snow capped mountain in the background is still visible. I used a powerful flashlight and painted the rocks with it. Both photographs are roughly from the same point of view. I moved with the flashlight. It helps to have a friend help you operate the shutter, especially when you are on the opposite side of the rock. A wireless remote control may work too.

I took the next photograph at dawn, as the first light hit the mountains. In this photograph, I framed Mt. Whitney using the arch. This required me to lay almost flat with the tripod legs bent nearly 180 degrees.

The last photograph of the collection shows the arch just as the first rays of the rising sun hit it. The deep red light on the Sierra Nevada has already started to fade, as the new day is now nearly one hour young.

Alabama Hills Wash HDR

During the day, the landscape looks flat. The warm hues of sunset and sunrise bring out the color in the rocks and the nearly horizontal vertical angle adds a three dimensional quality. The reddish hues of the stones contrast favorably with the blue sky.

Pay attention to the light and you can create good photographs even during the day. In the image of Charred Arch below, I used its strong shadows to frame the hills in the background. Look for shadows and think about ways to use them to your advantage! Sometimes an object casts a shadow onto a canvas that looks even more interesting due to the form of the canvas.

Go where there are no people! An entire bus of tourists visited Mobius Arch during my second night. Instead of competing for space, I decided to get a closer view of Heart Arch (below) and take advantage of the low angle of the sun. On my way back, I discovered the fascinating light and shadows in a small wash (image above). I used a white angle lens to create the star like form of the sun. Then I set up my camera on a tripod to create several exposures. This allowed me to keep sufficient detail in the shadows and highlights. I used HDR Photostudio to create this image.

I would not have discovered this place if I had not wandered around. If you have time, it is always a good idea to stray from the beaten path. An early arrival gives you the best chance to scout out good locations and alternatives. Make mental notes of locations and keep them in the back of your mind in case your primary location does not work out.

Charred Arch

Over 400 undocumented arches and features hide in those wonderful hills. Many of them are very hard to find, like Charred Arch (above). The arch is barely visible against the rocks. To take a photograph, you have to wedge yourself between the arch and the rocks and lean back as far as possible.

Nevertheless, you can use these features to create beautiful images. If you follow the GPS coordinates above, you will get to exactly the same places I stood when I created some of the images here. To see more images, follow the gallery link below, where you will also find a link to a site with 400 coordinates.

Heart Arch

Add the Alabama Hills to your list of must-see places and visit this spectacular landscape. You will be rewarded with a uniquely fascinating shooting opportunity.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Sunrise offers the best light. The Sierra Nevada will still have a snow crown in late spring and early summer. Summer months are hot.

Time required

You can spend one hour for a quick tour or up to two days, exploring the hills in depth. I recommend at least half a day. More is better.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Zoom lens
• Tripod and cable release
• CP filter
• Split ND filter
• Warming filter
• Flashlight
• Headlamp
• Duster and camera cleaning equipment
• Water (lots of it)
• Knee pads or a small pillow

Fees

There is no entrance fee.

Close Locations

• Cerro Gordo
• Darwin
• McGee Canyon
• Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
• Trona Pinnacles
• Ballarat Ghost Town
• Darwin Falls
• Aguereberry Point
• Saline Valley
• Harrisburg Ghost Town
• Red Rock Canyon State Park
• Randsburg Ghost Town
• Silver City Ghost Town

Useful Resources

• AH on Bureau of Land Management Site
• Extensive List of Arches in Alabama Hills
• Alabama Hills Gallery

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