Steve, the composition works perfectly here. The technical in overall exposure and post processing is right on, but I especially like the mixture of the scene and the overall comp.
Cool colors. I love the rocks in the water. Might also make a nice B&W. It would sacrifice those great blues, but might look good?
Minaret Lake is a beautiful spot. Did you get up to Cecile Lake? There is also a cool old mining spot over the ridge to the north of the outlet.
Posted by Steve Sieren on June 29, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Thanks Rob, I don't feel it's level but when I snapped the shutter it was level. This could one of those cases where a rotation does help the photograph.
Thanks Paul and Floris.
Harley, I try to play with that. I guess we try most of our stuff in BW too. Especially when there are so many people out there that only like bw. I didn't get a chance to make it up there to Cecil, I was sick in bed for most of the morning. Floris did make it up there and said it was frozen completely. I'll have to make it up again sometime.
Harley - as Steve mentioned Cecil was pretty much completely frozen over, pretty neat lake though, though I think the foreground opportunities at Minaret are better. We ran into some people that were aiming to hike to that mine, but we never saw the trail (granted, didn't look too hard).
The mine is a cross country venture. It is quite easy to find. Just after you come into the lake, head up to your right. There is a really nice pond up there, then keep going over the ridge a ways beyond the pond. In the valley on the other side, turn left and you can't miss it. The mine is on topos.
Thanks Harley - I may check it out next time I'm there (which is likely to be sooner rather than later!). My topo seems to have a trail to it marked out, but it's possible that it's vanished from disuse.
Posted by Steve Sieren on June 30, 2009 at 3:00 AM
Hey all here is a version with less of an angle on the water line and a black and white to follow.
Harley and Floris, you two are confusing me. From what Harley says it seems to be a different place than the trail on your topo Floris. Your topo had the mine trail that was a mile or 2 before the lake. Maybe there was 2 trails, one from the lake and one from the trail on your topo. Or maybe the mine goes all the way through the mountain?
Posted by Steve Sieren on June 30, 2009 at 3:01 AM
The angle correction helps for me, I much prefer the color - that blue is just too beautiful!
I'm pretty sure Harley is referring to the same mine - there's only one mine on my topo. The route he's describing will take you there with minimum elevation change from Minaret Lake, offtrail. The trail on the map has likely faded to non-existence from disuse, or we just missed it (if people make it all the way up to the junction.. they're gonna go to the lake!).
I prefer the latest/rotated version (color). One of the things, in addition to the comp, I like about this is the rich emerald color together with the darker tones, so I vote color. That is a killer spot, and I'm enjoying all these images you and Floris brought back.
If you take the mine trail in (assuming it is still there), it would start from below the lake. Unless you were day-hiking from the trailhead, you would not go that way. More likely, you would be camping at Minaret lake and would go cross country. Nice thing about the cross country venture is the chance to check out the tarn above the lake. Good photo potential. It is a scenic little hike.
I did make it by that lake - indeed a pretty spot, and still half snowy at the time There were way too many spots to shoot from for the two nights we had!
Posted by Debjit Ghosh on June 30, 2009 at 7:17 PM
nice one Steve and I can see the reason behind the title :-) no question about my preference for the color and tilt corrected but it does remind me of Vern Clevenger Precipice Lake shot...
Discussion
17 repliesIn case anyone was wondering I did get the idea from one of Ansel's and Vern Clevenger Precipice Lake.
feel that the pool is level?
Minaret Lake is a beautiful spot. Did you get up to Cecile Lake? There is also a cool old mining spot over the ridge to the north of the outlet.
Thanks Paul and Floris.
Harley, I try to play with that. I guess we try most of our stuff in BW too. Especially when there are so many people out there that only like bw. I didn't get a chance to make it up there to Cecil, I was sick in bed for most of the morning. Floris did make it up there and said it was frozen completely. I'll have to make it up again sometime.
Harley and Floris, you two are confusing me. From what Harley says it seems to be a different place than the trail on your topo Floris. Your topo had the mine trail that was a mile or 2 before the lake. Maybe there was 2 trails, one from the lake and one from the trail on your topo. Or maybe the mine goes all the way through the mountain?
I'm pretty sure Harley is referring to the same mine - there's only one mine on my topo. The route he's describing will take you there with minimum elevation change from Minaret Lake, offtrail. The trail on the map has likely faded to non-existence from disuse, or we just missed it (if people make it all the way up to the junction.. they're gonna go to the lake!).
Dan Ryan
Northern California