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California pics, part 3 - Mono Lake
in the US, this is a mecca for photographers. Sometimes dozens crowd the shores and jockey for the best positions. Luckily for me, there were only 4 others here on this morning. still a prime location was staked out by a guy with 2 tripods. he'd been there since 1am doing startrails.
Anyway, of all my envisioned images, these were the ones I was most worried about. One strike against me was being unfamiliar with the area, but as luck would have it the most dramatic tufa formations are all in one location and it is small. Another strike against me was the wind; it made the iconic crystal-clear reflections an impossibility and it rocked my lightweight travel tripod just slightly enough to cause some lack of clarity.
But I was able to roam around pretty freely with a couple other lady photographers in my wake. No fights or harsh words over gear were encountered (I'd heard stories) and overall I like what I was able to do in the very short time I was able to do it.
the alpenglow was amazing. I wish it lasted longer, but it faded and the sun crested as is the way of the universe.
The history of this glacial lake is fascinating and very sad. I curse Los Angeles and the robber-barons of its water department. In some ways though, they made these photographs possible. Before the Los Angeles water dept started diverting every stream in California (1941), the lake level was too high for the tufa formations to be visible. Even after many court cases and the higher water levels, the damage done to the surrounding ecosystem is still being felt and repaired. Only since 1981 has the regeneration of trees, flowers and other wildlife been possible.
I could go on, but you get the picture. The struggle for balance between us and them continues.
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