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Words by Blake
Convict Lake is one of the places that shaped me long before photography entered my life. I’ve returned here for years with a camera, often leaving without an image that felt great enough to keep. The valley is demanding and storm conditions are unforgiving – The light reveals itself only when everything aligns.
This morning was different. I hiked out before sunrise during the first winter storm, following fresh bear tracks down the trail. Autumn still clung to the trees, snow settled quietly into the basin, and there was no wind. When first light reached the Sierra walls, the lake was still, short of a soft wintry breeze.
I made this photograph to preserve that quiet moment and I wanted the image to hold it exactly as I experienced it.