Negit Crater + RP
by D.A. Edwards
We often spend a night in the Mono Lake area on the way through the eastern Sierra or to the Mojave. For some reason I'm rarely drawn to the popular tufa areas and prefer photographing the lake's high desert environment. This photo was taken late one afternoon last March from the Black Point area on the lake's western shore, looking east. I liked the specks of sage on the volcanic rock and the compression provided by the 200mm telephoto, stacking the layers of landscape to culminate in the distant White Mountain range.
As I'm sure many here know, Negit Island is a volcanic cone less than 2000 years old, considered to be the northernmost of the Mono Craters. It is an important nesting ground for 1000s of migratory birds, particularly the California gull. At one time the fall of the lake level due to diversions created a land bridge to the island. The bridge permitted coyotes to raid the bird eggs there. However, since 1994, and thanks to the lake's human defenders, the lake level has been permitted to rise and the land bridge is currently submerged... but just barely as can be seen in this photo. Hopefully our El Nino winter will start reversing the shrinkage of the lake. I've never had to walk so long from this spot to get to the water's edge.
Comments
17 commentsLet me comment first to say this is a FANTASTIC - and I say on several different levels. First, just as a landscape image with no knowledge of Mono Lake, I really like this for the layers and depth created from those layers. The darkness of the island separated by the strip of water and the bright foreground, and with the craters and finally the mountain and sky. the light is excellent and I think colors are spot on.
Quick minor suggestion. This is more of an issue in the larger view, but personally I would burn down the salty areas among the yellow grasses. Perhaps a good chance to use Tony's Lights Triple play if you have a mind to use that. anyway, minor point, but the salty ground looks a little hot.
The second reason I think this is fantastic is because it's a view of Mono Lake not seen before (at least here.) I've been to Black Pt. and I know the walk you speak of. It's also a terrific spot for sunrise. At least when I was there years ago, there are small tufa formations in the water making for a great sunrise interest.
This also such a great view of the area and shows the Mono Craters beautifully! As a side note, which also got me selfishly excited, your image shows the area where I photographed the "Red Sage" image I posted a few weeks ago. If you look just above the ridge of the dark Negit island, you will see some faded red areas below the slopes of the craters. That red area is right along 120, the road that heads from 395 down to South Tufa. That's the same vegetation for the red in my image. Anyway, I just thought it was kinda neat to see some more context of the Mono Lake Basin.
Besides, I really like the image!
This is excellent. Very nice balance, beautiful light, layers and tonalities throughout. Agree with Lon on burning down the foreground which seems a bit hot.
PS: I often forget that the comment upload size is limited to 500kb, not the 1600 pixels/1MB maximum that is shown below the comment box. Would it be too much to ask to have that corrected??
Repost looks great.
Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI
Albert Darmo
Canada