Taken at Garnet Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness on July 27th, 2008.
I took this photo early in my career, and it’s one of the first photos I was proud to have in my portfolio. During the summer of 2008, my friend Joe and I were on a backpacking trip through the gorgeous Ansel Adams Wilderness, which is sandwiched between Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite National Park. We gave ourselves four days to complete a 24-mile loop so that we’d have ample time to stop and enjoy every lake along the path.
We camped at three incredible locations during the trip: Ediza Lake, Thousand Island Lake, and Garnet Lake, each offering their own stunning views of Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak. And while our days at Ediza and Thousand Island were wonderful, this morning at Garnet Lake offered perhaps my favorite moment of the whole trip.
I awoke before sunrise and ventured down to the lakeshore. As I explored I came across this small inlet in the lake that offered a breathtaking perspective. The inlet was as still as water can be, creating a picture perfect reflection. Trees on the shoreline formed an elegant natural frame, highlighting the stunning mountains in the distance. As I prepped my camera equipment the sun rose, shining through some haze and casting a diffuse orange glow across the peaks.
Looking at the beauty of the scene filled me with a profound sense of serenity, and the stillness of the morning was broken only by the sound of my camera’s shutter.
I’ve never returned to this exact spot since that day in 2008. Although it is stunning, I am hesitant to go back for another look. The conditions I had on that one visit were so ideal it’s hard to imagine any other morning surpassing them.
