FUJIFILM X-T1 (99.8mm, f/9, 1/600 sec, ISO200)

Where do go during a heatwave in the South West? To Death Valley of course!

We have been here before many times and it was very warm but this time it was hot. Extremely hot. In June 2016 the South West of the USA experienced a heat wave with extreme temperatures in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. And in Death Valley we almost reached the all time heat record. More about that later.

FUJIFILM X-T1 (128mm, f/9, 1/480 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (104.9mm, f/9, 1/340 sec, ISO200)

It was already very hot when we entered Death Valley but I had to walk down to the dead trees to see what caught the attention of the tourists in the image above.

I hoped for a rattle snake but it was only a lizard. A very attractive one though.

FUJIFILM X-T1 (200mm, f/9, 1/280 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (200mm, f/4.8, 1/680 sec, ISO200)

A desert iguana to be more specific. I don’t know such things of course I just googled it for this blog post. When the tourists were back to their car I went down with the camera and the little fellow posed for me and showed me his beautiful, long tail.

I shot with the Fuji XF 55-200 OIS wide open to isolate the lizard from its busy background. I had little hope because this lens is not very fast but was surprised how good it worked. Of course the XF 50-140/2.8 OIS would have done an even better job. Maybe next time!

FUJIFILM X-T1 (200mm, f/10, 1/320 sec, ISO200)