Sunrise at Convict Lake

Carol Freshley May 16, 2018

Convict Lake is a lake in the Sherwin Range of the Sierra Nevada in California, United States. It is known for its fishing and the dramatic mountains that surround the lake. Its surface lies at an elevation of 7,850. It is one of the deepest lakes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is surrounded, in places, by rock more than half a billion years old! Its interesting name comes from an incident here a group of convicts escaped from a prison in Carson City and took refuge near the head of Convict Creek. One posse member was killed in an effort to 'round them up'. The 1951 film The Secret of Convict Lake was based mostly on the events that occurred during the conflict between the escaped convicts and the agents seeking the capture them. In addition to its reputation as a magnificent and dramatic mountain, the area is highly prized by anglers for its Rainbow and German Brown Trout (it is stocked weekly during the summer).

We arrived before dawn and spent a bit of time searching for just the right spot to capture a sunrise. We found it at the end of the road, right along the lake in a Day Use section of the park. Once that sun starts to color the mountain I just stayed put! In retrospect, I wish I had thought of photographing the whole process to create a time-lapse. May just have to go back!

Sunrise

Carol Freshley December 11, 2016

"Want to get up and check out the sunrise?" I was not enthusiastic. Not this morning. I slept in. Tom got up to check it out. It was cold, but he did not have to go far, just a few miles west on Highway 82.

I enjoyed my extra sleep in a warm bed. Nice to have a personal photographer who can let me sleep in and still not miss a nice sunrise!

Sunrise on Lake Cumeendorff

Carol Freshley October 16, 2015

We got up early to get another sunrise shot. We were back in familiar territory but it looked so very different in the different light.

A blue hour shot.  Finally, peace on the pond.  The wind slept in.  Our challenge, compositionally was to find 'balance' in the shot. — A blue hour shot. Finally, peace on the pond. The wind slept in. Our challenge, compositionally was to find 'balance' in the shot.

Daragh suggested stepping back and getting the 'curve' in the rock.  One important part of this composition was to be sure that the rock on the left did not encroach on the reflection.  That is a big 'no no'!  I think the composition … — Daragh suggested stepping back and getting the 'curve' in the rock. One important part of this composition was to be sure that the rock on the left did not encroach on the reflection. That is a big 'no no'! I think the composition was better from other angles (taken by other participants). I did like the balance of the green framing the blue lake.

This ended up being my favorite.  I even left in the itty bitty tree growing on the front rock. — This ended up being my favorite. I even left in the itty bitty tree growing on the front rock.

The fog was lowering and the sun was rising.  Blues are gone!  Plus, it was getting warmer and that was good. — The fog was lowering and the sun was rising. Blues are gone! Plus, it was getting warmer and that was good.

Oh, the fog just made art everywhere.  Compositionally the question was do we add the foreground (not a bad one).  Daragh  would not suggest the idea of just cropping it out.  You can see here what would happen if I had stayed ba… — Oh, the fog just made art everywhere. Compositionally the question was do we add the foreground (not a bad one). Daragh would not suggest the idea of just cropping it out. You can see here what would happen if I had stayed back with the idea of cropping it out later. So, if I am a foreground person I need to make sure that it works at treat it like it is there to stay.

Down the road and not far away.  My first shot got in more sheep and an old house.  Daragh asked me what my subject was.  The boats!  "Then make that apparent", was his reply.  Bold and present.  Got it. — Down the road and not far away. My first shot got in more sheep and an old house. Daragh asked me what my subject was. The boats! "Then make that apparent", was his reply. Bold and present. Got it.

Up the road and around the bend.  White out on the sky! — Up the road and around the bend. White out on the sky!

If you take a tumble in the bog you might roll over and look at this.  Yes, I fell again.  I think at this point my tally was 9 tumbles.  Still no damage to the camera.  Only my pride was pouting. — If you take a tumble in the bog you might roll over and look at this. Yes, I fell again. I think at this point my tally was 9 tumbles. Still no damage to the camera. Only my pride was pouting.

We were at the north end of the Gap of Dunloe.  Mother Nature has a way of playing with your mind.  Lovely Irish fog in the Gap.  That was OK.  We would go back. — We were at the north end of the Gap of Dunloe. Mother Nature has a way of playing with your mind. Lovely Irish fog in the Gap. That was OK. We would go back.

A full day! We went back to our hotel and dined like the Kings and Queens we were! Hard to get to bed early when your got back late and dine on three courses. So nice to have each of you along.