Marie Lake’s island-dotted blue water from the Selden Pass trail at midday, John Muir Wilderness.

Islands

Marie Lake, John Muir Wilderness, California

Marie Lake from the Selden Pass side, shot at high noon — the hours photographers are taught to write off. Some subjects do not care: the lake is all shape, a scatter of islands that reads like a map of itself, and midday blue is its true color. At 28mm I framed it as geography rather than mood. Rule of thumb from three weeks out here: when the light is boring, look for places that are drawn well.

Nikon Z 7_2 · 17-35mm f/2.8D · 28mm · f/5 · 1/640 · ISO 72

July 10, 2025

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