Gypsum Point ~ Lake Mead NRA

Flickr album link: Gypsum Point

Gypsum Point is located on a dirt side road near the Lake Mead Boulevard entrance gate and an average passenger car can get to this scenic overlook. The Gypsum Wash overlooks are right next door and Gypsum Point is where the big dry wash bends toward the lake on a gentle downhill slope. This unique Mojave Desert landscape is mesmerizing to see and it is one of the best spots for viewing sunrise or sunset. Gypsum Point is also one of the best places to listen to singing coyotes and kit foxes shortly after dark, since these animals tend to make dens along the soft craggy walls of the dry wash ravine. 

On a personal note, I recently purchased a new camera and Gypsum Point was where I first tested out the new Nikon Z6 II. Carrying two specialized cameras is what I have done in the past, but going this route is a cumbersome proposition. The high speed Nikon D7500 DSLR that I used for snapshots, birding and wildlife requires its own lens set and the same goes for the Nikon Z5 Full Frame Mirrorless Stills Camera that I used for tripod work in the past.  This all adds up to a lot of bulk and excess weight to carry in the field, so getting one camera that can do it all is the ergonomic way to go. 

The photo examples in this article are jpeg files straight out of the Z6 II camera body with no post processing. I used single point focus, ISO 100 and 5000 kelvin settings while snapping photos in manual mode. The jpeg image filter control was set to basic landscape. The resulting rendition and color cast was actually more accurate than using Aurora HDR computer software to process the RAW image files, which definitely is a real time saver when doing hand held content photography. The mirrorless blackout time was greatly reduced as well, when compared to the original model of this camera, which is a real plus. The 24 megapixel image size range is also easy for an average computer to handle. Overall, the switch to something new was worth it. 

Some folks like to retain every piece of photography equipment they ever owned as a collection, while others take a more utilitarian approach. Selling old camera gear is easier than ever and trade-in events offer even better deals. Used photography equipment in top condition actually is the best value for beginners, so selling rather than letting the old stuff collect dust will open the door of opportunity for others. This is something to consider when shopping for new gear and since all of the top brands command a fair used price, the overall cost of a new camera can be offset.