Nightscapes

Hot Creek by Moonlight

I love the Eastern Sierra and have been to this area numerous times including just a few weeks before with friends. We went to shoot the sunrise here, but the conditions were not what I wanted so I stayed in the car taking a cat nap. I’m really good at naps, especially on very chilly mornings with boring blue skies. Forget the coffee, just give me back my blanket. I was on my way to Death Valley and knew I would stop here again hoping to take advantage of the moonlight. All the elements played out for me...the moonlight, stars, clouds, snow on the peaks, and steam from the hot springs rising in the cool night air. Even the cloud shadows dancing across the hills and mountains added an unexpected depth to the scene. This image reminds me to trust my vision and going it alone is often what works best for me, especially in the solitude of the wilderness. OK, maybe not so much wilderness here with a Starbucks about 5 miles away!

CaliforniaFallHot CreekHot SpringsLandscapeMammoth Lakescloudscolorcreekmoonlightmountainsnightsnowstarssteamthermalwaterautumnjean dayjean day photographymistusaeastern sierra nevadasierra nevadacanyonpentax