North Lake

North Lake is located close to Bishop, CA. It is one of the most popular places among photographers in the fall when the aspen turn bright gold and small shrubs turn orange. The road from the highway into the lake area is a two mile, one way, steep (with no barriers) scary ride!! We visited North Lake in May, well before the aspen even leafed out. We returned often in the fall to check on the trees as they slowly progress to their ‘peak color’. The best day of all . . . well it rained!! Enjoy this collection of our many trips.

Taken in the spring when there was still ice on the lake.

There are not many places to stand for getting a good photograph. By and large, photographers were courteous to share that meager three square feet.

We knew that these would be gorgeous in the fall.

Sunrise.

Color was starting.

From the creek that drains the lake.

From the road or parking lot (I can’t really tell).

From the road.

This was our view as we parked.

Taken from the passenger seat, this is across the valley as we headed up the steep road to the lake.

I suspect it is possible to get tired of these photos of just the one lake from essentially the one spot!!! We never tired of photographing it, however. LOL

A small creek just at the start of the uphill drive.

If you were brave, you could set up your tripod on top if this big rock.

Looking down the road on the way back.

We had come down from the mountain and were headed back towards Bishop. I looked to the side and this was my view!!!

Looking back towards the turn for North Lake.

Do we really want to go home? Not really.

Upper Virginia Lake

This lake is part of a basin of lakes found in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is accessed by turning off Highway 395 at Conway Summit about halfway between Bridgeport and Lee Vining. There are two lakes within the basin, the Little or Lower Virginia Lake and this one which is also referred to as the Big Virginia Lake. We photographed here several times last spring and then again this fall.

The lake is popular with anglers, hikers and campers. There is a trailhead near the lake that serves as one of several gateways into Yosemite National Park and other great hikes in the Sierra Nevada, including the Pacific Crest and John Muir Trails.

Located in the Virginia Lakes area are a resort,[2] pack station,[3] and small community. Virginia Lakes is popular with anglers, hikers, and campers. A trail beginning at Virginia Lakes serves as a gateway to the Sierra backcountry and Yosemite National Park.[4]

This is the Virginia Creek which flows through a number of lakes in the basin, including both Virginia Lakes, Turnbull, Red, Blue, Cooney, Moat and Frog Lakes.

We returned to Virginia Lake this fall when the view from the Highway suggested that fall color was developing.

Ah so!! This lake is so clear! Fall is here!

Fall color here is due more to shrubs on the mountainside than any groves of aspen. That was OK with us. It is still a beautiful lake.

Mono Lake

Mono Lake is a large, shallow lake located in Mono County, CA.  Formed at least 760,000 years ago, it lacks a natural outlet, causing it to be highly saline.  Even with its desert environment and salinity, the lake has an important ecosystem based on brine shrimp.  The shrimp support a nesting habitat for nearly two million migratory birds and black flies, also known as alkali flies.  Tom, Diane and I made several trips to the lake, including both sunset and sunrise golden hours.  The photographs below are a compilation of all of our trips.

Mono Lake is known for having 'Tufas'.  These calcite formations are formed below the water's surface around underground fresh water springs. When the lake's water level fell (result of removing water to be sent to Los Angeles, the tufas were exposed.

Probably the most important part of the magic at Mono Lake is to capture reflections of tufas, mountains, and golden hour skies.

Mono Lake is one place I have photographed where the color of the water seemed to change by the hour as light played with sky reflections and even the calcite of the tufas.

We did not see many birds as the main migration was over.  But a few hung around to be photographed.

To the east of the main collection of tufas is an area called Navy Beach.  Here, the remnants of tufas, worn down by weather, offer a slightly different view of tufas.

Enjoy some 'big picture' representations of Mono Lake.

A common sight!!  Mono Lake is a very popular destination for photographers from all over the world.  There are groups that go there just for night photography, groups that show up in large busses, and kids from local schools that have a field trip.  You are never alone!