Tufa towers reflected in Mono Lake at golden hour, receding storm clouds lit warm over South Tufa, California.

High Water

South Tufa, Mono Lake, California

After several days of rain the lake had come up noticeably, and water was standing among tufa that usually sits on dry ground. That's what made this frame — I wedged the camera and tripod under the tufa tower to get the towers reflected in water that isn't normally there. The clouds were the tail end of a long rainy day, pulling back and catching the last of the light. They gave the sky its balance: warm on top, warm in the reflection, and I didn't have to do anything but wait.

Nikon Z 7_2 · NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S · 14mm · f/11 · 480s · ISO 31

August 13, 2026

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More from South Tufa, Mono Lake, California

Tufa towers on the shore of Mono Lake at South Tufa in soft light before golden hour, calm water and thin cloud, California.The Milky Way over the tufa towers of South Tufa, Mono Lake, during the Perseid meteor shower, reflected in still water.

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