Fall Color, Carson River Panorama

As everyone hid inside on this rainy fall morning, I headed to this dreamlike location in Hope Valley, just a short drive from my home in South Lake Tahoe. After years of visiting and scouting, this is the first image I have captured here. The river had changed, and my vision had matured. I found a rock in the middle of the river I could jump to, and I set the tripod legs on three other small rocks. With my 5x7 view camera set up with a panoramic film back and all settings prepared, I waited for a brief break in the cloud cover to add a glow to this rich saturated scene. As the cloud thinned, I exposed the film knowing this was a special moment. As I stood in the rain, I felt at peace. I believe this image conveys the tranquility I felt in this amazing natural eden.