The Story Behind Breeze Lake Blue and Gold

Breeze Lake sits at over 9,600 feet in southeast Yosemite, just below Fernandez pass, which marks the boundary between Yosemite and the Ansel Adams Wilderness. There are lots of ways to get there, but this trip was a long loops that included three other major passes before going over Fernandez and dropping down to the lake. My wife Susan was leading the way, as usual.

The lake has an east-west orientation with a steep mountainside at its east end and an open valley extending to the west, allowing the setting sun to bathe the mountainside in soft, golden light. Reflections of this and the deep blue sky above, along with sculpting from the typically brisk breeze, are the main elements of the image. The small gestures of black are contours in the water reflecting the shaded shoreline behind the camera. So in a sense, the water itself is invisible.