Mono Lake

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Mono Lake used to be much deeper.  Drawing off the water to send to LA resulted in dropping the level significantly.  The attraction of the lake is the many calcium deposits that used to be below the surface, but now are exposed.  They are called Tufa.  There is currently an effort to restore the lake to nearer its original level.  Most of the tufa will be drowned once again if that happens.

Click on images for enlarged view.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L @42mm, ISO 100

Tufa in morning light

The first day we went to Mono Lake was completely clear.  This is the sun's morning rays lighting up the tufa with the Sierra in the background.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L @52mm, ISO 400

Tufa Castle Sunrise

The next morning we noted clouds on the eastern horizon and thought they might light up with the rising sun.  When they did we were rewarded with some very nice colors.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 45mm, ISO 400

Red Sunrise over Tufa

This was taken just a few moments after the one above.  Both used a high ISO so a fast shutter speed could be used to preserve the small waves in the water.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 34mm, ISO 100

Morning Glow and Tufa

The water has a very high mineral content, especially calcium.  You can see the deposits on the dead brush in the foreground.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 60mm, ISO 100

Tufa Reflections

The clouds reflecting in the calm water provide some contrast to the darker reflections of the tufa.

Canon EOS 1Ds, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 35mm, ISO 100

Sunrise on Tufa

The early morning golden light gives a bit of color to the otherwise drab tufa formations.