Posted by Reno DiTullio on August 24, 2009 at 9:07 PM
...another trip to the Sonora Pass with Preston, can't have enough of those. Nothing fancy here, early evening about 7:45, sun already over the horizon, just some beautiful scenery on the Pass, and as Preston would say, and did, lots of geologic stuff going on here; those are my words, his were a lot more informative. This is on the steep switchback section of the grade just above the Chipmunk campground for those that have been there. The 12x18 print has lots of detail.
D700
24-70
Minor PS stuff.
Yep, this looks to be above them there tree lines as it were. Some very wide open territory up on the pass from the looks of this scene. Thanks for sharing this one, Reno.
Posted by Lon Overacker on August 25, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Reno,
Glad to hear you were able to make it up there this year. It only seems like yesterday I was looking at this scene. I know there have been some smaller scenes carved out of this larger one, but I really like this viewpoint. I'm even enjoying the light knowing the sun had just gone down as well. I really like this Reno. Gives me ideas for next year... :-)
I'll bet that print is fine indeed. Maybe we'll see you around Lee Vining the beginning of October?
So that's what you were doing while I was conversing with the Italian tourists. I like it!
The soft light and detail in this are very nice.
Since you brought up geology :-)...I did some research, so here's a little about what is shown in the photograph:
The highly eroded, darker rock in the upper part, and the lavender colored rock at the bottom, are Pleistocene volcanic material that over-rode the lighter granitic rocks (in the middle of the frame) probably within the last 1 million years. The granitic rocks probably date from the Triassic Period 245 to 208 Million years ago. The association of the granitic rocks and the volcanic rocks in the area is known as an 'unconformity'; a contact between two rock units in which the upper unit is usually much younger than the lower unit.
The beauty of our world, its origins, and continual change is always fascinating, isn't it.
I can't wait to see the print, Reno! Nice work!
-P
Posted by Robert Dayton on August 25, 2009 at 9:05 AM
I really like the foreground diagonal lines plus the trees on the left, particularly
the tall reddish-brown one.
I like the way my eye zigzags up through the many layers. Looks like a great place to explore and have someone around to explain it all is even better. Nice work!
Posted by Steve Sieren on August 25, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Nice work Reno. It looks like some of the Lassen NP images. Almost other worldly, the plants on the right resemble some kind of green dusting.
Posted by Paul Duval on August 29, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Oh well, no contact metamorphics, and no gneiss or schist. Just what we take for granite and Pleistocene magmatics. Please excuse the geologic ramblings but Preston's dissertation inspired me. I've always wondered what Sonora Pass looked like ever since I've been going to the Owens valley regularly and I see the Pass signs with the flashing 'open" or "closed" message on my way there. Looks like a neat place with some interesting photo opportunities.
Off topic Paul, but years ago I found esonite garnets in schist in the Hall Natural Area below Saddlebag Lake. If you head south from the Sawmill CG, go across the creek and meadow, skirt around the Carnegie Reseach Station and then head up the talus fields above, you'll see some nice contact metamorphics and schists. I believe this is part of the ancient roof pendant that can bee seen at the summits of many of the higher Sierra Peaks.
-P.
Posted by Paul Duval on August 29, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Thanks Reno,
I do appreciate the photo, which I assume is near the treeline which exposes the geology.
and Thanks Preston,
Always keeping an eye out for those contact zones whether it's rocks or light. Tactites formed on the edges of rock contact zones have great mineral specimens in them, and being in the mountains is where they are exposed there's always great scenery as well.
Discussion
9 repliesD700
24-70
Minor PS stuff.
Glad to hear you were able to make it up there this year. It only seems like yesterday I was looking at this scene. I know there have been some smaller scenes carved out of this larger one, but I really like this viewpoint. I'm even enjoying the light knowing the sun had just gone down as well. I really like this Reno. Gives me ideas for next year... :-)
I'll bet that print is fine indeed. Maybe we'll see you around Lee Vining the beginning of October?
Lon
The soft light and detail in this are very nice.
Since you brought up geology :-)...I did some research, so here's a little about what is shown in the photograph:
The highly eroded, darker rock in the upper part, and the lavender colored rock at the bottom, are Pleistocene volcanic material that over-rode the lighter granitic rocks (in the middle of the frame) probably within the last 1 million years. The granitic rocks probably date from the Triassic Period 245 to 208 Million years ago. The association of the granitic rocks and the volcanic rocks in the area is known as an 'unconformity'; a contact between two rock units in which the upper unit is usually much younger than the lower unit.
The beauty of our world, its origins, and continual change is always fascinating, isn't it.
I can't wait to see the print, Reno! Nice work!
-P
the tall reddish-brown one.
-P.
I do appreciate the photo, which I assume is near the treeline which exposes the geology.
and Thanks Preston,
Always keeping an eye out for those contact zones whether it's rocks or light. Tactites formed on the edges of rock contact zones have great mineral specimens in them, and being in the mountains is where they are exposed there's always great scenery as well.