Alkalai Winds, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

Many people asked how I got the pastel colors in the photo of the hay rake taken from Mono Inn at sunset. I suspect the pastel color can be explained by this photo.

As we approached Mono Lake on that tempestuous Friday, the lake appeared to be steaming. Further investigation, revealed that the wind was blowing clouds of the dried alkalai powder from the shores. Many come to Mono Lake to take pretty pictures and don't realize the magnitude of this environmental disaster!! Please read Peter's critique for more details.

When I look at the Sierras from the Eastern side, I often think of the people crossing a wide merciless desert only to be confonted by the Sierras. It's an 8000'/2500 m climb to the lowest pass. The clouds of alkalai remind me of a song about these pioneers.

Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Bestsy from Pike?

She crossed the wide desert with her husband Ike, with two yoke of cattle and one spotted hog, a tall Shanghai rooster and an old yaller dog.

The alkalai desert was burning and bare
and Ike cried in fear, "We are lost I declare!! My dear old Pike County, I'll come back to you,

Said Betsy, "You'll go by yourself if you do."

I don't think Mono Lake was an alkalai desert in the 1800s. However, as I arrive in air-conditioned comfort; I look up the very steep, but nicely paved highway of Tioga Pass and I think of those pioneers.

My biggest challenge was climbing on top of the pop-top camper roof to shoot the photo. I even had Larry hand the camera with its big lens up to me. In the WS, I've posted a photo that shows the dust clouds more clearly; I prefer the exposure and framing here.

luiscar, pboehringer, kmarscher, jwmunro, Cormac, gunbud, ribeiroantonio, xuaxo, feather, nwoehnl, vincz, ruisc_pt, kiks has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

luiscar (3286) 2007-06-10 10:38

hello Pat, buena composiciom muy bien elegido el formato vertical de la imagen, tengo gusto del POv dando prioridad al cielo, buena gama de colores.
gran trabajo felicidades.

pboehringer (770) 2007-06-10 10:42

Pat, excellent documentary for a huge environmental issue! The Owen Valley with it's Owen Lake had a perfect balanced ecosystem until L.A. arrived and bought all water rights and dried the lake out. Now, believe it or not, the dried Lake Owen is the biggest air polluter in the US!!! The winds blows the remaining dried alkali and other particles in to the air and travels hundreds of miles ... Activists got a favorable law suit to get L.A. to fill the Owen Lake and the Mono Lake to a level that this won't be possible anymore. Hurrah!!!!
Bravo for this shot! Knowing all the background it gets a special dimension, right?
HJL, Peter

[3] +

kmarscher (2887) 2007-06-10 10:55

Very dramatic view of the alkalai powder billowing across the scene! A lesson on ecosystems, a catchy tune, and an engaging photo--nice!

jwmunro (286) 2007-06-10 12:48

Hello Pat -

I am at a loss as to what to say on these two images. Photographically this image lacks something and I suspect it is a strong FG element but journalisticly it really tells a story about what indiscriminate use of water can do. I like the blue look and the stormy clouds. I you recall these clouds produced a fire just above Lundy Canyon that evening. The WS image I like much better. The composition portrays the subject much better than the posted image, again IMO. The workshop image has a sharpening artifact along the ridge line that needs to be resolved. Well done!

Thank you for sharing

John

Cormac (26565) 2007-06-10 19:38

Very interesting note and shot. This explains a lot, although now I'm a lot less happy to see the beautiful pastel colours. The photo is a little lacking in interest, but it has a minimalist charm to it. Well done!

gunbud (34066) 2007-06-10 19:55

Hi Pat & Larry,
A picture is worth a 1,000 words how true in this case. Your photo shows clear evidence of the pollution created by the drying of the beautiful lake. The are fantastic and dreamy with a very dramatic sky. Yours and Peter's note are most informative.

Regards, Tom

capthaddock (28790) 2007-06-10 22:21

Hi Pat - wow, the weather from what I remember was so boring that weekend in SF, the clouds are indeed dramatic, and overwhelm the lake, which is not a bad thing at all. I am aware of the Owen Lake issue (and of what can potentially happen here), unfortunately people seem to like living in the desert and have the privilege to take 20 minute long showers.

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2007-06-11 0:03

A very interesting photo with a dramatic bluish background from the water level to the mountains and sky. The note is also very informative and interesting. What is that circle just in the center of the sky area? Well done.
Antonio

darrasin (2860) 2007-06-11 1:35

Hello Pat! It's very much a "decisive moment" shot capturing the winds sweeping across the basin. I like how you also featured that interesting sky and ridge giving nearly 3/4 of the frame to it. Well done!

-Doug

xuaxo (6854) 2007-06-11 4:26

Olб Amigos,
Interesting note and event, including Peter's critique.
I prefer the WS; we see better what's going on.
F

feather (51130) 2007-06-11 6:12

Very interesting post in all respects, of something new to me. Although as John says you lack some sort of focal point in the photo, but you know my feelings on the learning aspect of this site. Anyway you got a great and dramatic sky which you rightly gave a big share to, and the blowing powder makes us all wonder. Thank you
Kath

nwoehnl (122) 2007-06-11 10:53

Hi Pat. This is a very good shot and actually a quite dramatic illustration of the phenomenon described in your note as well as in Peter's critique. Good use of the vertical format to accentuate the setting with the enraged clouds and the wind across the lake surface. Good inclusion of the simple and somewhat barren foreground vegetation all of which adds to the fine documentary that is contained in this photo.

toto (0) 2007-06-11 15:32

Belle photo qui recouvre bien toute la page, le prйs, ensuite l' eau, ensuite les montagnes en parties cachйe par de la vapeur d' eau, puis les nuages. Amitiйs Thomas

vincz (19113) 2007-06-12 4:39

Excellent note letting us know about an environmental issue I was not aware about. Your picture is excellent with perfect natural colours and a wonderful sky. I love all the sapce you left for the sky. A great one.

ahmetgedikli (25609) 2007-06-13 20:43

Hi Pat,
Beautiful scenery! Superb dark colors, light and very good point of view.
Best wishes.
Ahmet

Angshu (56760) 2007-10-03 2:30

Hi Pat
The dramatic sky occupies about 1/3 of the frame...very bold capture, but why not? The swirling dust looks like a big splash of a wave. Your bonus shot also with the dust swirling like waves is very dramatic. I wish there was something of interest in the FG. But your note makes compelling reading & touches a very pertinent issue.
Regards
Angshu

ruisc_pt (11584) 2008-01-07 13:52

Hi Pat
what a composition.
After reeading your note I've no words to describe my surprise..
Great image
TFS
It worthed...

kiks (12805) 2008-11-24 6:46

LOvely shot but even more important a away of getting attention for envirommental issues and that i found very good. About the photo i love your choice including such an amount of sky making teh scene even more moody.
Best regards
KIKs