Half-second exposure of a cascade in golden evening light at the Palisade Lakes below Mather Pass.

Gold Rush

Palisade Lakes, Kings Canyon National Park, California

Evening at the Palisade Lakes after crossing Mather, with the Golden Staircase waiting below camp for morning. A half-second exposure, no dark filter needed — my strongest ND was a 3-stop, so silky water on this trip meant simply waiting for the light to drop low enough. It usually did around the hour the light also turned to this. Constraints have a way of scheduling your best work for you.

Nikon Z 7_2 · 17-35mm f/2.8D · 19mm · f/5 · 1/2 · ISO 31

July 6, 2025

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