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Sunset at Lake Phantom

The Graveyard Lakes are a cluster of lakes in California's High Sierra, over 10,000 feet above sea level. The lakes have names like Murder, Ghost, Phantom,...
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The Graveyard Lakes are a cluster of lakes in California's High Sierra, over 10,000 feet above sea level. The lakes have names like Murder, Ghost, Phantom, and Headstone, but in spite of the macabre names the Graveyard Lakes are a lovely and tranquil place to backpack. This trip in particular was special to me as the inauguration of a long-discussed tradition of a yearly backpacking trip with me and my dad :)
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Canon EOS REBEL SL1

settings

Aperture f/16 ISO 800 Shutter 1/80 Focal Length 35/1

upload_date

Feb, 2018

Views

423

Likes

+35

Awards

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Magnificent Capture

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Behind The Lens

Location

I took this photo on a backpacking trip with my dad. Over the course of five days, we headed into California's John Muir Wilderness, making our way up to a series of lakes known as "the Graveyard Lakes." In spite of the slightly macabre name, the lakes are lovely and serene, a fantastic escape from everyday life.

Time

As the sun was setting, I scrambled around on the rocks surrounding the lake closest to our campsite, finally finding this vantage point from which I had a beautiful view out over the lake to the mountains in the distance. I was excited to find such a picturesque spot as the sun was low enough to create beautiful light, but still bright enough to photograph easily.

Lighting

I wanted to capture the soft, almost dreamy effect of a mountain sunset. The sinking sun was perfectly lighting up a few fluffy clouds drifting across the sky, and the surface of the lake was still enough to produce a beautiful reflection. In that moment, I felt so relaxed and at ease, and I wanted to communicate that with this photo.

Equipment

I shot this with a Canon EOS Rebel SL1 using a 35mm lens. It was still light enough out that I could hand-hold the shot, so I didn't need my tripod.

Inspiration

I absolutely love backpacking and being able to escape into the wilderness for a while. Being up in the mountains makes me feel so free and alive, but also so grounded and calm. To me, this view out over the lake - the pastel clouds, the silhouetted trees, the reflection in the water, and the distant peak - perfectly encapsulates those feelings.

Editing

The problem with photographing sunsets is that they rarely look as impressive on-camera as they do in real life. I did some editing on the colors in Lightroom to bring the photo closer to the vibrance of what I had actually seen. I wanted to bring to life the color gradient from the blue of the sky down into the pink clouds and the purple mountain below.

In my camera bag

When backpacking, keeping things as lightweight as possible is crucial. I love my Canon Rebel SL1 because of how small and light it is without sacrificing quality. I typically carry a few lenses - a 35mm, a 24mm, a 100mm, and one or two zoom lenses - as well as a set of macro extension rings. Since the wilderness is dusty and I'm prone to losing things, I also bring along a cleaning kit and spare lens caps!

Feedback

The wilderness is beautiful, and if we go there we have a responsibility to keep it so. Follow the Leave No Trace principles, don't disturb any wildlife you may see, obey any regulations specific to the area you're in, and just generally be a good visitor. Generations of people have enjoyed and admired our wilderness areas, and we should aim to preserve and protect them for generations to come. #RecreateResponsibly

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Sunset at Lake Phantom

The Graveyard Lakes are a cluster of lakes in California's High Sierra, over 10,000 feet above sea level. The lakes have names like Murder, Ghost, Phantom,... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow harflu

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The Graveyard Lakes are a cluster of lakes in California's High Sierra, over 10,000 feet above sea level. The lakes have names like Murder, Ghost, Phantom,...
Read more

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.