Mystic Sunrise, Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay is the most iconic photographic location in Lake Tahoe, and one of the most photographed locations in the nation. While the conditions are always changing, truly unique images are rare here. On this particular morning I arrived well before sunrise and, moved by the stormy conditions, chose to focus on the mood of the weather as opposed to simply capturing a single moment in time. Using slow speed film, a tiny lens aperture, and a polarizing filter, I minimized the pre-dawn light hitting the film. This enabled me to leave the shutter open for 15 minutes, capturing the mood and motion engulfing this magical place as night moved into day. The subtle warm tones that filtered through as the sun reached the horizon contrasted beautifully against the cool tones of "the blue hour". Sometimes my images are just as much about the emotion of a place as the literal details.

Enjoy the View!

Jon Paul