Mono Lake's tufa towers with the snowy Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance, March 2016

This is the view from Mono Lake looking westward toward the peaks in Yosemite National Park. This image was recorded in the spring of 2016 while there was still snow on the Sierra Nevada crest and eastern face. The entire scene was well-lit by the morning sun rising in the east behind us. Rick wanted to create an image that had depth, so he included in this image the closer water, the line of tufa towers, two rolling hills at two different distances, and the higher hills before reaching the crest of the mountains. The tufa towers formed underwater when calcium-rich spring water flowed up into the lake with its carbonate-rich water. The calcium carbonate that results from the reaction of these basic components yields a solid tower. The calcium carbonate compound is the same material that makes up sea shells.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

A Mono Lake Tufa Tower "Pinching" the Moon

On our return from a trip to Death Valley, we camped south of Mono Lake, on the east side of the Sierra. Mono Lake is famous for its tufa towers, calcium carbonate structures that formed underwater, now exposed due to Los Angeles diverting 4 of the 5 fresh water streams that flow into the salty lake causing the lake level to drop. We were up early enough to get sunrise shots and while taking pictures of the tufa towers reflected in the water, we noticed that the moon was setting. Rick positioned himself near this tower that had two peaks that appeared to have a pinching action, so it would appear that the two peaks are pinching the moon between them.

The image was taken before 8 AM on March 27th, 2016 as the sun was rising to light the tower's east face and the moon was setting in the west. The camera settings were f22, 1/30 second, and ISO 100, with the camera set on a tripod and using the timer function to allow the camera to be still.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!