MONO LAKE

The only reason why this is a composing and not just a time blending is beacause unfortunately the milky way was right behind me. I rotatet the sky 180 degrees otherwise I couldn't make this image at that time. You can't have everything... well, use Photoshop, then you can;) Time and location of all exposures are the same - within two or three hours, from after sunset until night. I wanted to capture the lake from above, as only a few did that before - obviously and surprisingly...

Leaving Yosemite National Park through the east entrance you will arrive in Lee Vining, Mono Lake. 180 km2 large and except for the small village Lee Vining there is not much around it. If you find the small hidden and barely drivable "road", which can only be tackled with 4x4 and some courage, you will be rewarded with a panorama that literally blew me away.
This vastness ... and the feeling of standing up there, waiting for the sun to set and peering into the infinite under this starry sky can not really be recorded. I tried anyways. With a total of 24 exposures I can show you the Mono Lake under the Milky Way. With the 14mm I was able to capture the entire Mono Lake within one frame.

First I thought I can’t make it. But then we found that "hidden" road… for a hike it was too long... 5 hours I think - one way...! time is always tight... and it was too hot... at night to cold... and the backpacks were too heavy... and those wild animals... you never know;););) I'm glad we made it with the car! Only the last mile we had to walk. Unforgetable Night! Just marvelous, those are the moments I live for. I never plan big, I love the spontanious adventure of exploring! Grab and go!

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