Jon Paul Gallery is Lake Tahoe's Premier Fine Art Landscape and Wildlife Photography Gallery 

Yosemite and the Sierras

Red Barn and Pogonip

December brought extremely cold temperatures, freezing fog and a blanket of frost to the area surrounding Lake Tahoe. Knowing that these extreme conditions can create a special mood for the right composition, I spent three mornings searching within the pogonip for interesting "western" scenes. I had driven past this traditional red barn hundreds of times, but this is the first image I have composed of the structure.

The frosted trees, pogonip and diffused morning light add an air of history to the scene. I especially liked the way the mountain backdrop disappeared into the mist allowing my imagination to wander. The detail of the tree's soft shadow on the barn is subtle, but intriguing. I much preferred this "softer" feeling image to the bright contrasty, literal scene I observed the previous morning. An iconic western scene became something special when paired with unique and dramatic natural conditions. Using the panoramic format enabled me to eliminate the clearing sky and retain the intimate feel I desired.