Mount Tam Watershed Photo

Photographer’s Note

I've mentioned a few times on the board that I often go hiking on trails not far from where I live in Marin County, California. In fact, the first image I posted was from a trail in the Marin Municipal District watershed with a vista of Mount Tamalpais. Today I give you a view from another perspective, featuring the two peaks of Mount Tam and one of the many reservoirs that drain this basin and provide water for residents of Marin. This reservior is called Bon Tempe.

I took this photo facing toward the east. Beyond the foothills of Mount Tam you see San Francisco Bay and the distant East Bay hills. I'll share a few photos taken from this vicinity. As I've observed before, one of the amazing things about this region is that it is nestled in the midst of a major metropolitan area. Yet on the slopes of this small mountain are hundreds of miles of exquisite hiking trails with grand views of the Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding countryside. Enjoy.

Rinie_Hoff, Oldtree, SophieL, carper, michel_r, pamastro, anney has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snuggleaphagus (4138) 2004-11-09 2:27

Awesome Curtis. First of all I like how you've been exposing our little corner of the world here on TE.
This photo is fantastic with very good details and sharp. I love clouds and we have great clouds in the bay area and you captured them well. And their shadow on the mountain side is quite pretty. The point of view is great. Good perspective. The fact that you have the sea water and another body of water is very appealing too.

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2004-11-09 2:50

Very nice view, Curtis. I envy you, I would probably hike more in a surrounding like this. Very clear and crisp picture, all the diagonals lead you through the whole picture, the water reservoir in the foreground and the slope behind it, give a great depth to the picture. Pleasant, different tones of green, getting dimmer in the back. Nice view on the bay in the distance. AND your got a beautiful sky!

Oldtree (2457) 2004-11-09 4:20

Beautiful Curtis. I want to be there and just stroll around. Look here and there, no time pressure, find a nice place, sit down and let my thoughts flow.
Good composition you chose with the inclusion of the foreground. The sky is obviously just right for us photographers folks. And the lake looks inviting and beautiful in color. :o)

SophieL (6028) 2004-11-09 5:29

Well, back to landscape pictures from you Curtis, to my greatest pleasure I have to say, since your eye on this little corner of the world reminds me of very happy moments. (I like your other pictures as well!).
A carefully composed picture, with the different lines of the landscape opening up like a fan from a point on the left, nice light and a beautiful sky.

The wilderness of this nature so close to the big city amazed me as well. I found great hope to see that people who lived there seemed aware of how precious that nature is, and measures are taken to ensure that this wilderness is properly respected. I hope it will last a bit.

spence (1679) 2004-11-09 5:58

I like the crisp, well contrasted look of this shot Curtis. It's beautifully composed too, with the strong diagonal of the mountain against a great sky. The foreground of bare ground is an effective contrast in colour and helps provide good depth to the shot. The light is nice too. Gorgeous countryside - no wonder you enjoy hiking there.

paguru (1052) 2004-11-09 7:16

As in an earlier image, there is this special light in this one that does only exist in some areas near the sea - I've seen it in northern California and on Cape Cod. You've captured it well, this is an outstanding landscape shot, and the sky is very interesting. Thanks a lot!

wilkinsonsg (8644) 2004-11-09 14:38

Very well captured IMHO, I like the clouds and the details in the trees in particular :)

michel_r (1114) 2004-11-10 18:18

Hi Curtis.
You have combined a number of good things with the diagonals meeting at the border of the image and a "busy" sky. The water seems so quiet, almost like a mirror. WHat time of the day was the picture taken? Have you tried in the evening?
michel.

Photo Information

Copyright: Curtis Grindahl (cgrindahl) (6109)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-10-27
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel, Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS, Hoya Super HMC 72mm UV
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-11-09 2:17