Landscape Photography Magazine, Issue 130, Assignment: Lakes
It was the middle of October and the leaves had started to turn yellow. Winter was in the air, yet a calm atmosphere and a fresh breeze hovered over the lake. A few patches of snow adorned the tops of Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. In the evening I could hear the howling of the coyotes somewhere in the distance warning everyone this was their territory.
I arrived at Mono Lake early afternoon to do some extra scouting. There were so many things to photograph. Tufa are geological formations that resemble stalagmites. One tufa formation looked like a palace, another like a medieval tower, some resembled elves, dragon spines, mushrooms, columns, or mythological creatures. Walking around the southern part of the lake was enchanting and felt like a true discovery trip.
I was hoping for less people to be around but that evening was a special full moon, an event that attracted a lot of photographers and non-photographers. All of a sudden it became very hard to find a good spot for the tripod on the south shore of the lake. I had to negotiate with two other fellows the spot that I had found long before the crowds started to arrive.
December 2021Some smoke from the fires near Yosemite started to roll in. The wind picked up and brought in a few clouds.
Susanna Patras
Some smoke from the fires near Yosemite started to roll in. The wind picked up and brought in a few clouds. At first the sunset did not seem very promising. But as the sun neared the horizon, a soft golden light lit up the tufa. Everyone seemed to be waiting for the moonrise. I took this picture right before the sun set behind the mountains. Then I moved on as the light gradually turned pink-purple over the mountains on the other side.
Interior Decor – Mono Lake Sunset
