Storm on the Lake

Gallery: LandscapePosted November 30, 2016397 views16 comments

This is a 90-second exposure taken on a stormy morning on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, near Sand Harbor State Park. This location is often referred to as Bonsai Rock for obvious reasons. Many of you have probably seen images from this location before...some are quite stunning, but personally I think it's tough to create a compelling image here unless the weather cooperates and provides some drama.

I haven't posted in ages but thought I'd see what folks think about this one. I have a color image from the same morning hanging on the wall in my living room as a 32" x 48" canvas print. I had overlooked this file for the last two years, but the other night it struck me as a good candidate for a black and white conversion.

I look forward to your comments. It's good to see so many fine images posted in this forum right now.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on November 30, 2016 at 8:44 AM

Outstanding, Phil. The stormlight behind Bonsai Rock is amazing and dramatic. I looked in your gallery for the original color version, and did not see it, but I like this conversion a lot.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on November 30, 2016 at 11:40 AM

Thanks Scott. Just to clarify, I have not posted the color image on NPN. It's also not quite the same scene, but rather a shot from about 10 minutes later as the storm moved out over the lake.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on November 30, 2016 at 1:26 PM

I like this one more than the colored version in your gallery. The light behind the rock is amazing. I guess a storm was coming through with light penetrating the clouds? It's an unusual image.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on November 30, 2016 at 1:52 PM

Igor, I think that's exactly right. I don't have a clear recollection of the position of the sun at the time I took this image--it was about 10 a.m.--but the sun would have been on the left hand (east, of course) side of the frame, as the image was shot in a southwest direction across Lake Tahoe.

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on November 30, 2016 at 4:45 PM

Phil,

The large view is a Must See! For some reason these posts in the thread seem to come out darker. But wow, that large view is fantastic! The drama in the sky is great, but I also like the subtle detail in the lake itself; both submerged and the rocks above the surface. The long exposure really allowed that all to be exposed; I think makes a huge difference in how this came out.

No nits or suggestions what so ever. Processing is awesome. Great work and thanks for showing!

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on November 30, 2016 at 5:39 PM

Dont know the color but the b/w is rad. Great timing with the showers moving behind the rock. Conversion is on point too. Nice!

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on November 30, 2016 at 5:41 PM

Beautiful, moody and dramatic.This is sweet. No suggestions here.

As Lon pointed out, quite a difference between the small and large version. I have been seeing that in many of my posts. Who knows?

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Genny K. on December 1, 2016 at 1:35 AM

This is really different, and it sure works for me. That long exposure give it a whole different feel, and there are some real contrasts here between hard rocks and soft, smooth water. The shapes are fascinating, and the light accentuates them. Really neat.

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Harry Lichtman on December 1, 2016 at 9:21 AM

I really like the drama of the storm clouds and the rain that looks like that is falling in the distance. The light colored clouds perfectly make the tree and rock a focal point. Striking contrast, a beauty. I would think this would be great on an office wall somewhere in addition to your living room! devil

Registered on September 17, 2010, 304 Posts, 3507 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 1, 2016 at 11:38 AM

I have seen quite few images of the 'Bonsai Rock', and this one is particularly nice. There is a lot of power, here with the falling rain. The tonality looks great to me. Nicely done! It is good to see back!
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Phil Pogledich on December 1, 2016 at 2:15 PM

Thanks everyone for the latest comments. So helpful to hear your opinions!

Registered on August 24, 2009, 123 Posts, 3099 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on December 1, 2016 at 3:34 PM

The larger view is stunning, Phil. The lighting on the rain sets off the big rock very well and there are enough details in the water and the rocks in the rest of the image to balance the big rock and the rain.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel Rappaport on December 1, 2016 at 11:01 PM

Was just there this past summer. The prolonged exposure and black and white conversion work well here - different image than any I've seen from this spot.

Registered on September 9, 2009, 294 Posts, 2006 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on December 2, 2016 at 8:38 AM

A wonderful take on this often photographed iconic site, Phil. This one makes an immediate impression over many images from this site. Very nice indeed...... laugh

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Prashant Khapane on December 3, 2016 at 10:24 AM

Lovely, I like the treatment and also use of long exposure.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 492 Posts, 4580 Comments

Comment posted by Sairam Sundaresan on December 4, 2016 at 2:22 PM

Wow! This is so surreal, and the choice of black and white is perfect. I love how you've added dimensionality using D&B especially on the rock faces. Really solid image!

Registered on March 14, 2013, 100 Posts, 643 Comments