Starting the New Year with an outing back in time.
After a very cold spell over the holidays, I was ready to stretch my legs and
get my photography finger clicking. My plan was to time my outing when the
temperature warmed just enough to produce freezing fog which would accent the
landscape with a surrealistic effect.
I headed over to Lee Vining, California
and Mono Lake where there is so much diversity in the terrain. Unfortunately I
was not in luck for any freezing fog dazzling the landscape this day, but the
clouds were putting on a bravo performance.
Of the many aspects that I love about nature photography, coming on an ordinary object that stands out with its own unique story is definitely my favorite. Such was the case when I took a turn on a dirt road just down from an interesting out-cropping of layered volcanic rocks.
Having just read a New Year's post from a friend regarding
happy gains and missed opportunities, these words kept running through my
thoughts as I started walking.
At the entrance to road 3N103 stands a monument to what remains of the Bodie and Benton Short Line Rail Road.
Over looking the
High Sierra's and Mono Basin, the narrow-gauge line ran between Mono Mills and
Benton.
Built in 1881, the 32 mile (54.49km) rail brings back reflections of a
past era. I could just envision the train loaded with ore traveling through
mountains and forests to reach the mining town of Bodie which stood at 8,500
feet (2950.8 m) elevation.
As a token of missed opportunities, tumbleweed grows in the desert sand between the railroad ties.
The rail
line was dismantled in 1918 due to the decline of mining in Bodie around the
1910's. Bodie now stands persevered with the California State Parks as a ghost
town.
Across from the railroad monument, the bare trunk of a cedar tree catches my eye. Since it is the only large tree in the area, I wonder what stories it could tell.
A glance at the clouds moving across the basin signaled that it was time to move on and explore other locations, plus as the sun rose higher so was the air temperature. Furthermore, I was very interested to find how far I could get toward Tioga Pass and the gateway to Yosemite. Stay tuned for the next leg of my outing and a detour to Virginia Lake.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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