This is kind of off topic, but I want to make sure to note that Death Valley is more than just heat! It's one of my favorite places to visit so I can't resist soapboxing a little when it comes up. I've only ever visited in the colder season, which is what most people do.
When I first visited Racetrack Playa there I laughed the whole time because it's so amazing and strange. (It's the place with rocks that leave zigzagging trails through the desert which were unexplained until pretty recently.) You can also hike the canyon where R2D2 is kidnapped in the original Star Wars, visit abandoned mining towns, climb the sand dunes, look over the valley from mountains that stay much cooler than the lower parts of the park... The variety is incredible! Highly recommend if you ever find yourself nearby when it's not too hot.
I agree; I've noticed that with art like this a big part of the experience is being able to take in a lot of different angles and decide how to view it. I never thought Jackson Pollock paintings were interesting in photos, but when I got to see one in person the texture and depth from different angles made it a totally different experience.