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Thread: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

  1. #1

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    A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Got this shot a few weeks ago in Lake Tahoe.

    A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe
    A Zen Moment by Dave Michaud

    Canon 5D3
    Canon 16-35 @ 30mm
    ISO 100, f/11, 150 s
    Singh-Ray 3 stop reverse GND
    6 stop circular ND

    Any and all feedback appreciated!

    Cheers!
    Dave

  2. #2

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Beautiful shot.

  3. #3
    John Morton's Avatar
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    I'm a big bonsai fan to the point that I can't even begin to tell you about that.

    It's a beautiful picture! We have a lot of natural bonsai here in the Thousand Islands area (St. Lawrence River) that I keep telling myself I really need to make the effort to get out and document.

    The essence of bonsai is capturing a complete landscape in miniature. Throwing caution and personal safety to the wind, I would have been wading out to that rock in the hopes that I would find a little pool of water on its surface there with the trees!

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks folks! Appreciate the background on bonsai and suggestion for my next trip

  5. #5

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    I participated recently in a discussion explaining that many people think of the slow shutter speed as an overused special effect. Just the opposite, I think your use of the slow shutter speed is perfect for this particular composition and the tranquility of the scene.

  6. #6

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Mike. The water was pretty rough this evening. I tried 30, 60 and 90 seconds, but really preferred the silky look of this 150 sec exposure.

  7. #7
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Dave,

    Completely agree that there would be no Zen without that water treatment you used. That water appears so clear that under calmer condtions a tight shot of the foreground rocks and those beneath the surface might make a good shot. But that's a completely different shot, and I think you nailed yours.

  8. #8

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Kevin. You're right, I went back to this location the next day and it was perfectly calm - the water is very clear and blue, and the rocks make for a beautiful scene. Hope to get back here someday with calm conditions and evening/twilight light

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Nice photo. Definitely has a meditative quality.

    Karm

  10. #10
    Ken Curtis's Avatar
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Wonderful image. Nicely done.

  11. #11

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Karm and Ken!

  12. #12
    kaneohebud's Avatar
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Dave:
    Great picture! I'm envious, especially of the 5DMKiii.

    Where in Tahoe were you for this shot? Looks like a sun rise shot from near Emerald Bay but I could be 180 degrees wrong about that. I'm going to Tahoe in 3 weeks for a week's shooting. Any suggestions?
    Last edited by kaneohebud; 30th August 2012 at 11:14 PM. Reason: Added thought

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Bud! Actually, this was shot from the west side of the lake at sunset/twilight. Bonsai Rock is about a half mile south of Sand Harbor. I highly recommend Sand Harbor (few miles south of Incline Village) for evening shooting. Here's a shot I got there a few years ago

    A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe
    Lake Tahoe Twilight

    Cheers!
    Dave

  14. #14
    kaneohebud's Avatar
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Another great shot! Can't wait to get there. Hope the fall colors are still there. The fish are supposed to be spawning with a lot of black bear activity so I'm hoping to get lucky!

  15. #15

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    beautiful!!!

  16. #16

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Gretchen. Have fun Bud!

  17. #17
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Stunning, Dave. I visited in 2004 along with a lot of other great places on a mammoth road trip - unfortunately without a camera. I have to return!

    The only tiny tiny nit pick compositionally would be the clipping of the rocks in the bottom left of shot 1, but that may well have been your only option on site.

  18. #18
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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Fantastic shots. I love the colors.

    The water line in the last one is a bit tilted or is it just me?

  19. #19

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Phil. I actually did that rock crop in post, in order to move the bonsai rock left a bit in the frame (less centered). Perhaps I'll play around with that again and see what's best.

  20. #20

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    Re: A Zen Moment - Bonsai Rock at Lake Tahoe

    Thanks Miltos. Yes, you're right. In shot #2, the water/horizon line is tilted a bit. I remember fixing that when I made the print, but didn't go back and fix this digital version. Nice catch!

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