Mono Lake: Sunrise, Mud, and the Shot That Was Worth It All

#hellohalloween

I arrived at Mono Lake while it was still dark—just me, the cold, and a large tripod in the car.
The sky was almost black, and a faint streak of light shone in the east. All around was silence, a slight frost on the windows, and a feeling of being somewhere on the edge.

I set up the tripod, adjusted the camera, and looked: the water was a mirror, the tuff limestone towers stood like giants. A few minutes later, the first colors of dawn appeared: pink, orange, the sky slowly glowing. I saw it and thought, "Any minute now..."

And then—a step to the side, my foot sank into the sticky gray clay. Ankle-deep. The world slowed down. My new sneakers sank imperceptibly into the earth. Half-barefoot, I walked to the car on the cold ground, my toes slightly numb, but the photos turned out so beautiful I won't soon forget.

⸻

📍 Where:
Mono Lake is located in California, on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, near the town of Lee Vining.

🚗 How to get there:
From Lee Vining by car:
— Take US-395.
— Then turn onto Mono Basin Road (or Test Station Road) to the South Tufa area.
The last sections may be unpaved.
It's best to leave before dawn to take your time and catch the light.

🕐 When to go:
Early in the morning – while the sky is still faint, the air is fresh, and the reflections are at their strongest.
Ideal: Arrive 30-60 minutes before sunrise.