The Sun Is Setting

Sunset at Mono Lake, Tufa

The sun is setting? Don’t put the camera away! My husband and I were at Mono Lake late one September afternoon, admiring the tufa towers when I noticed I was losing the light and the detail in the calcium carbonate structures that have made this lake famous. I knew I would have more opportunities during the day to get detail shots, so I decided to take advantage of the setting sun and go for the silhouette.

I aimed the little light meter square in the middle of the lens at the light behind the tower and stood so the sun was blocked, eliminating all but a smidge of the bright light from the frame. I used the telephoto lens to crop down on the tower. The residual light became an orange backdrop for the tower, emphasizing its shape and the warmth of the day.