South Tufa on Mono Lake, California is a must sunrise location. One never knows what to expect and often we are pleasantly surprised. Some mornings you have beautiful clouds. On other mornings the wind churns the water into angry foam.

This hot July morning was tranquil, peaceful. The dry summer air was clear and calm. The approaching sun set the eastern sky aflame. Silhouettes of the tufa were reflected in the still water.

A vertical composition captured this moment best, rendering both the drama of the sky and the tranquil delicacy of the water. Centering the tufa created a restful feeling of balance and harmony while placing the horizon on the upper 1/3rd line kept the image dynamic.

I experimented with a lot of different interpretations during the post processing, maybe as much as 15 or 20. I was looking for the one interpretation that best communicated the mood. The interpretation I finally selected best captured the drama of the colors while at the same time revealed the soft luminance and gentle shades of tonality and color in the water.

This was one of those experiences in which you knew at the time that on this morning the photography was all about color. Discovering the luminous quality of the water during post processing made this a truly exciting and powerful image for me.