High Sierra Topix

I am very particular about what I shoot and when my camera comes from its bag. I usually head to the Sierra during inclement weather, which, in my experience, produces that magical Range of Light that I seek.

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.

Great shot, I love the leading lines of the shadows pointing to the mountain. These front lit shots are tricky as ones own shadow can spoil the shot but using the tree shadow to hide your own shadow took care of that

X2! Your creative use of the tree shadows creates a fascinating image.... along with all of the other components. Those active clouds are very nice too; and you must've been temporarily happy for them. But the next long wet day??? We remember it well.

Kudos on that capture, which is more a "creation" than just a capture. Harlen.

Gracias gentlemen. I don't particularly like to post pieces on the web since their power and beauty cannot be conveyed in such a tiny format; it doesn't do them justice.

That was a difficult day, but it built comradery, Ian.

Fine, well balanced element geometry with even light composition. Good to see your strenuous effort up to Orchid was well rewarded at an optimal time of meadow flowers at that elevation.

Agree that most large images on the small web format, lose impact and eliminate fine detail, often essential for aesthetic value. Especially all your intricate foreground flowers and turf. But then some day we will have large 8k pc monitors instead of just large TVs, that will change that.

Thanks, Dave.

But then someday we will have large 8k pc monitors instead of just large TVs, that will change that.

Wonderful light. Reminds me of a Thomas Moran painting.