I may often be in a location for several days, scouting out opportunities, only to not be gifted with the most essential component, the quality of light.
Some pieces have taken me revisiting a location for ten years before all the components were achieved, but when they do finally, it is very satisfying.
The Orchid Lake Pond area, what I call it, is a magical place with numerous subjects to offer, but one of the focal points is the view of the Seven Gables.
On this visit, a few days before the HST Meetup, the meadow below the pond was filled with wildflowers, reminding me of a scene from Sound of Music. The reds, whites, and yellows carpeted the meadow to the treeline. Wildflower scenes need more than a bunch of wildflowers in a meadow to be complete; I require a peak or other component that speaks to me. When I came upon this area, I tip-toed around to find a suitable location for later in the day, ensuring I did not step on these delicate beauties. When I returned, the tree shadows were almost perfect, pointing directly at Seven Gables Peak. The angles of rock on both sides of the piece also lead one's eye down and inward, and the clouds force one's eyes down towards the peak and meadow. Most importantly, the quality of light was just right, mellowed by the earlier thunderstorms, giving the scenery that majestic quality a photographer looks for.
Please keep your fellow HST photographers in mind as the holiday season approaches. Having one of our pieces on your living room wall, bedroom, or office will become conversational for your guests or clients and allow you to escape, in thought, to our beloved Sierra.
Contrast, colors, and luminance may differ on your screen, so it may not represent the piece correctly.
We remember it well.
