Carson River

For all my Carson River photos this year, I think this is probably my first big picture

photo of the area. Here it is.  I love this place!

Thin Ice

When we got our first rain, the Tahoe area got its first snow.  Yesterday was my first chance to get up there since the snow earlier this week.  Snow everywhere above about 4500 ft., but probably less than a foot left.  I only found two little patches of ice.  I'm not sure what cause this patch of ice along the edge of the Carson River to form with these cool patterns in it, but I'm sure glad it did.  I thought it was so pretty! 

Carson River

The Carson River, named after Kit Carson, winds its way through Hope Valley.  This is the same river as Monday's photo ( Aspen Reflection ), but a few miles downstream so it's a very different view.  There are more rocks here, and the water is moving quite a bit faster.  This little Aspen leaf somehow managed to lodge in a safe spot between two rocks, as water rushed around it. 

Aspen Reflection

The Aspens in the Lake Tahoe area are at peak color right now, so I drove up there on Saturday to get some photos.  I have a handful of Aspen photos to post this week, but this one is definitely my favorite from the trip.  I tried this type of liquid gold reflection last year too, but I'm much happier with how this one came out!   This was taken in Hope Valley along the Carson River.  I'm already thinking this one will go in my 2014 calendar :) 

October 25

Tahoe "vacation" Day 3:   The light was just so pretty along this river, and the colors were different every direction I looked.  This one is much more subtle than the liquid gold photo from Sunday, but so easy to look at.  I'm very happy with it.  It makes me want to take a watercolor painting class.   f/22 at 1/3, ISO100, 155mm.

October 23

I was so impressed with this area up by Tahoe that I dragged the family back here today for a picnic, not far from where I photographed on Thursday.  It was a great picnic location, and beautiful lighting for photography again.  The river is in the shade, and the Aspens are in the sun, so the reflections are strong.   I think it looks like liquid gold!  My second favorite photo is also a water scene, but at least I do have some Aspen photos I like this time too.  I'm considering taking a blog "vacation" for a few days and posting some other photos from today's trip during this week.  We'll see...   f/7.1 at 1/160, ISO200, 200mm.

October 20

Clover and I took a day trip up to Hope Valley east of Lake Tahoe today.  Us and about 300 other photographers who were parked along the side of the Aspen-lined roads up there.  Only the reflected glow of Apsen leaves in this photo though.  All my Apsen photos have way too much glare.  Now I realize how important a polarizer is up in the mountains!   Oh well.  It was still a pretty drive.  And Clover got to swim.  f/22 at 1/4, ISO100, 55mm.