On The Rocks Photo

Photographer’s Note

Lake Mead was formed by the Hoover Dam; construction began in 1931. Giant hydroelectric power generators paid for the $48 million project, which would regulate the water delivered to Arizona, Nevada, California and Mexico.

The most noticeable thing about a recent boat researching excursion to Lake Mead was the lowered water levels. A March, 2008, article in the Las Vegas Sun says that water levels were down 103 feet from the Lake’s peak. While Lake Mead supplies 90% of the water for Las Vegas; should water levels drop another 100 feet to below 1,000 feet, Nevada would loose access to all its river allocation. Further, a recent study by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego found that Lake Mead, could go dry in 13 years. However, the lake was nearly this low in the mid-fifties and again in the mid-sixties; while in 2000, the lake was close to peak levels.

snuggleaphagus, parbo, ribeiroantonio, Floydian, feather, gunbud, leo61, stelli, zmey, bullybeef53, delic, ktanska, fulvio52, danos, Didi, cfreire, avene, jwmunro, Benedict has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jimkilgallon (0) 2008-10-18 17:43

Hello Pat
I remember going through Lake Mead, your picture is very different to how I remember it, the rocks were not as orange but the water was totally blue. The reds and blues play off nicely against each other with the shadows to the right seemingly given the capture more contrast. Well done and thanks for the note.
Regards
Jim

snuggleaphagus (4138) 2008-10-18 17:49

what a stunning image. The colors are spectacular and I love the water i n the foreground, pure liquid gold. The clouds are also a good compliment to the whole scene. Great details and the trexture of the hills plays well against the the smoothness of the water.

parbo (10966) 2008-10-18 18:10

Hello Pat,

The copper toned ridges are looks like they are really made from copper. You captured a splendid moment and fantastic lights there Pat. Reflection on matte lake surface are just marvellous under fantastic sky. Congratulations. Have a nice weekend.

Friendly Regards,

Ertugrul

ribeiroantonio (21839) 2008-10-18 18:23

I believe that water shortages come and go in cycles and it will be full again in the future. We are in a similar situation here in Queensland with the water levels now rising slowly.
In the picture, it is amazing to observe the absence of trees. Even close to the water maximum level on the banks, we can not see trees. The POV is very good and the wide view gives a sense of a huge space. Well done.
Antonio

vascao (190) 2008-10-18 19:32

Hi, Pat
Once again, a very fitting title. Lovey colors and textures, I like the almost oily appearance of the water.
[]'s
Sergio

Floydian (30970) 2008-10-18 19:44

Hello Patricia,
I was expecting something else, but also this one looks very good in those deep satirated colours with great textures on the rocks. The heavy contrast works also very good and your composition with the big rocks in the shade on the right is well seen and composed.
I only drived by at Lake Mead, but sure worth a stop as you show here...very nice.
Regards, Henk

[2] +

mesutilgim (36581) 2008-10-19 0:22

Hi Pat,
Great scenery very well seen and captured. Amazing light and very nice reflections.
Nice notes as well.
TFS and have a nice weekend
Best regards
MESUT ILGIM

MarianneS (14262) 2008-10-19 0:42

Hi Pat,
Superb composition, simple but still so effective.
The deep blue of the sky fits perfectly with the golden tone of the rocks. Thanks to the excellent sharpness, they look like a mine of gold!!
Cheers,
Marianne

feather (49858) 2008-10-19 5:50

Stunning colours on this one Pat, especially the water with the gorgeous reflected colour. I also like the way you have brought out the texture in the rocks. Was this taken from your boat?
Kath

[2] +

gunbud (27755) 2008-10-19 7:20

Hi Pat,
Stunning color contrast between the golden desert dunes and distant arid hills with the deep blue waters of Lake Powell.
The golden reflection is wonderfully disturbed by the riffling blue riffles that blend beutifully with the golds.
Informative note about the receding waters and the declining lake.
Regards, Tom

leo61 (43205) 2008-10-19 9:26

Hi Patricia!
What a fantastic place and you managed a great shot.Fantastic and well contrasting colors and fine details to view at this unique geology.I like the blue reflections of the sky in the foreground and your POV.
Regards,Leo

Burberry1 (6041) 2008-10-19 11:31

Inspiring and amazing view.
Love the lightmanagement, colors and beautiful contrast.

Agnieszka

stelli (2941) 2008-10-19 11:44

This combination of copper and blue is magnificent! Nature at its best! Thank you for sharing! Regards Stella

delkoo (34140) 2008-10-19 13:10

hi pat
Simple shot, but very well done! The colour and clarity is very good, allowing us to see everything so clearly that it's almost like being there.

didier

gneufeld (15159) 2008-10-19 14:06

Hi Pat,
Wow, stunning colors here - love the deep rich tones you achieved here. Well seen and presented. TFS. Gerald

zmey (7244) 2008-10-20 8:52

strange, mystical world for my northern european eyes so accustomed to greenery. strange, in a sense that we see plenty of water here, but the grounds around are still arid and almost void of vegetation. i like the color palette with the reddish tones of the rocks playing out against the bright blue sky.

regards,
kristaps

bullybeef53 (3219) 2008-10-20 15:02

Fantastic colors and detail.
Jim

delic (6735) 2008-10-20 15:08

Not surprisingly, Lake Mead seems to suffer the same fate as Lake Powell. I like the colors and the composition, though a boat would have made the foreground look better. Regards,
Hakan

ktanska (16502) 2008-10-21 1:47

Hi Pat,
Incredibly beautiful desert landscape. There's so many shades of red. And they give special color to water too.
And excellent note. What a huge spender of resources Las Vegas is. Thinking about rising price of energy, and how almost everyone arrives there by plane, that city will be in deep trouble, soon.
Kari

fulvio52 (8314) 2008-10-21 2:19

Hi, Pat.
A very interesting shot, both from a technical and a natural point of view. I was at Hoover Dam less than 2 months ago and I also noticed the extremely low water level when compared to average. Pretty spectacular colors and a well chosen perspective are the main features in this one. On the overall : a very good job, I like it a lot. TFS!
Have a nice day, I'll see ya soon.
Ciao,
Fulvio.

John_F_Kennedy (31167) 2008-10-21 2:51

Hi Pat
Very great depth almost a panorama image with the rocks. Liek the view over the lake, ist a good contrast. Well done.
Best wishes,
Achim

danos (32170) 2008-10-22 2:00

Hello Pat,
nice composition with the lake Mead and the hills that surround it.I like the tints of the colors as the contrast between them.Unfortunately the water famine is the most dangerous threat all over the world.Well done.

Regards,Danos

Didi (35928) 2008-10-22 10:33

Hi Pat
Fantastic and great colours with interesting water reflections.
I think also that this place needs a panoramic version.
Best regards.

cfreire (11647) 2008-10-22 15:16

Hi Pat,
Wonderful shot very well composed with splendid colors, contrasts, reflections and textures. Good POV and framing. Well done. Regards, Consuelo

avene (10938) 2008-10-25 19:40

hi Pat,
ah, the colours in this one! I like a lot the deep cognac golden brown and saturated blue, and how thick the water feels in the foreground. the clarity is amazing, and the white clouds add just the right accent. beautiful, what can I say.

regards,
Kristine

jwmunro (6571) 2008-10-27 8:30

Hello Pat -

A very nice image and is reminiscent of the Velvia days with highly saturated colors - especially the blues. Nice detail in the shadows on the right. Well done.

Thank you for sharing.

John

baba_flies (7951) 2008-10-29 5:42

What a juwel, Pat! You have a wonderful silky shine on the water that I never achieve with my program, wonder what secret you have :))))) I love the bit of shadow on the side but otherwise there is nothing but sunshine with this blue sky and some harmless clouds, all matching so nicely with the orange color of the desert. Oh yes, this was in our papers too ... no more golf green in Las Vegas :)))) Excellent photo work ... Barbara.

Benedict (7062) 2008-10-31 5:38

hi pat,
i have not been to Lake Mead.
this picture certainly entices me to go. the colors surely offer a subtle memory of warm light and the shadows, that contrasting appeal.
3ks for this one Pat,
Benedict

Angshu (33533) 2008-11-04 0:02

Hello Pat
That's a lot of pictures posted by you in my absence. Superb colours here, especially the brown, contrasting with the blue sky & the slice of blue reflection in the water. Even the clouds are nice. A very barren landscape indeed, surprising so close to water...read with interest Antonio's critique. Good work
Best Regards
Angshu
PS : Would be posting some more Durga Puja shots, but as Elaine (everlasting) had said it may be difficult for non Indian viewers to really appreciate..maybe :-(

jmcl (13721) 2008-12-27 8:00

HI Pat,

There is something about the contrast and color in this image that work together wonderfully .. that overwhelming red orange is beautiful .. the emptiness of it works well with the water .. wonderful textures .. especially on the water .. very nice. my best holiday wishes for you and yours. take care, John