Bonnie Rannald's Photo-Explorations in focus with nature. : January 2018

Monday, January 22, 2018

Convict Lake, June Lake Loop on a Winter Photo Retreat

No snow but the lakes are showing their winter majesty!

Hoping to catch some snow on the mountains at Convict Lake, I took a drive over in late December. With the temperatures being so mild after the last cold spell, there was no snow on the ground at the higher elevation of 7,850 ft (2,393 m). Just a faint dusting accented the rugged terrain at Laurel Mountain which rises in the foreground at Convict Lake.

On this mild afternoon, the lake was just beginning to freeze on the north side.

Since the day was still young, I decided to go back and follow the June Lake Loop that is usually closed during the winter months. Passing through the village which was also bare of snow, I came upon someone descending from a climb on an icefall. A stop for a quick photo and I began to feel like the day was going to get more interesting.

Following the scenic road, my next photo stop was at Silver Lake. By this time the sun had dropped behind the Sierra Nevada Mountains but the lighting on the freezing lake was looking pretty awesome.

The photographic Carson Peak rises 10,909’ (3,325m) in the background of Silver Lake. During the summer months this area is alive with activity but on this late winter afternoon, it seems that I am alone with the serenity that only nature can provide.

Continuing on along the Loop, the long rays of sunlight create interesting reflections of the rugged hillside in the mirror smooth areas of the lake.

The last photo stop before departing the Loop was the 3 mile long 1,100 acre Grant Lake. The setting sun warms its banks as layers of ice start to form in the shadowy, still side of the lake.

I leave wondering at what point will these high altitude lakes continue to freeze and will there be adequate moisture during the remaining winter to cover their banks with snow.

What a pleasure this day has been. I am always filled with amazement when I follow my hunch and it takes me to unexpected adventures that I could never plan for or anticipate.

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.

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.

"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Winter Retreat at Weber Reservoir

Egret, Night Heron and Sun Dogs all on an afternoon photo-adventure!

An interesting winter afternoon at Weber Reservoir finds the water level down from its all time summer high.

Even with the water level lower, there is still a tremendous amount rushing through the spillway.

The water that is fed in to Weber Reservoir comes from the Walker River which drains from the Sierra Nevada and eventually terminates at Walker Lake.

As my eyes wander across the flooded drainage basin a patch of white catches my attention.

Moving in for a closer look and I realize this is a snowy-white egret.

Then a different bird came in to focus on the same tree with the egret. Later, I came to identify this bird as a Black-crowned night heron. This heron is stockier than the long-limbed Grey heron. Most active at night or dusk, this bird spends its daylight time on limbs near the water’s edge.

Two empty oriole nests hang overhead from the branches of a cottonwood tree. By the warm days of summer, a mated pair will be busy raising their young in one of these nests.

I look along the mud eroded cliffs encompassing the lake. On closer observation, I see the nesting holes that are home for birds. I’m thinking that a return visit in spring might be interesting to see what birds are using these recesses.

The afternoon light begins to fade and I make my departure from this winter retreat. Suddenly as I am turning on the highway the setting sun shines straight ahead. To my surprise I see that Sun Dogs have formed on either side. I hurry to catch this rare weather phenomenon before it fades away.

As I look up in the sky overhead I also see a halo has also formed from the ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.