As I prepare for another trip to the Mono Lake area, I found myself revisiting photographs I made there in 2021, including the remarkable limestone tufa towers that line the lake’s shore. I have always been drawn to landscape abstractions, and black and white remains my preferred medium for expressing them. Occasionally, however, color becomes impossible to ignore.
My original intention at Mono Lake was to create a series of monochrome photographs, and I did. But at sunrise and sunset, the vivid blue and orange bands reflected across the water were simply too compelling. Instead of resisting them, I embraced color and made a few abstract images that celebrate those fleeting moments.
Like many photographers, I enjoy looking beyond the obvious composition and searching for a fresh perspective. Whenever possible, I try to photograph a scene in a way that feels personal rather than familiar. Yet there are times, especially when photographing with others, when several cameras naturally end up pointed at the same subject. Some locations offer only a handful of practical viewpoints, and moving a few feet in the name of originality might mean stepping to the edge of a cliff.
The reality is that very few landscapes remain unseen. Most iconic locations have been photographed thousands of times, and that doesn’t diminish their appeal. What matters is not whether the scene is new, but whether the photograph reflects the photographer’s own way of seeing. Through composition, light, in-camera choices, and thoughtful post-processing, even a well-known subject can become a personal interpretation rather than a repetition.
Location: Mono Lake, CA, USA;
Equipment: Nikon Z50, AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm F2.8G, tripod, Lee Polarizer, 4×6 Color Graduated Resin Filter (Soft Edge, yellow), and 6 stop ND filter;
Settings: 175 mm, f/18, 5”, ISO 100;
Tips: The graduated color filter from Lee helped to enhance the yellow color of the sky.
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It is all about the light 
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