Mono Lake is in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lee Vining. A small mountain town on US Highway 385 (if you frequent the Eastern Sierra, you are very familiar with the legendary US-395). Mono Lake shores used to be much higher than they are today. But Los Angeles, 350 miles to the south, started draining the lake in 1941 to provide water for the thirsty city. The water was withdrawn faster than the rivers and creeks of the Eastern Sierra escarpment could replenish.

As the water receded, a magical phenomenon was exposed. Springs and volcano vents at the bottom of the lake bubbled up calcium-rich fresh water to mix with the carbonate-enriched water of the lake. The two sources interacted to create the limestone tufa. Before the water was drained, the tufa grew and grew.

Now that the water is so low, the tufa is exposed, and it attracts the attention of photographers from all over the world, especially for its spectacular sunrises.

The best light occurs during Nautical Twilight when the eastern ski takes on a magnificent orange glow that is reflected in the water. This photograph was taken at that time.

The composition has two symmetrical elements in the tufa - horizontal and vertical. This gives the image stability, which is appropriate for the tufa. However, the reflection of the twilight light is what really makes this image. Working down from the tufa reflection, the light transitions from a brilliant orange to a beautiful, delicate blue, enhanced by faint ripples. This creates an attractive but straightforward contrast between the bold tufa and its reflection, as well as the delicate blue and orange reflected light. This captures the emotions of both peacefulness and joy felt by those of us who were there.