Bodie and Mono Lake - first trip

[Jim Graves]

I'm about to make my first trip to Bodie and Mono Lake ... any suggestions for films, EIs, development preferences.etc. for the high altitude/high contrast shooting?

[Vaughn]

No suggestions except for have a great time -- and watch out for the mosiquitos in Lee Vining Canyon! (I was just there a few days ago).

Vaughn

PS...if you come across some good high-contrast situations, make some extra negs and give them lots of development for possible carbon prints!

[John Kasaian]

Try to have a bite at the Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining (it's the gas station with a circus trapeze out front.) If you have plenty of deet on hand there are some nice campgrounds in Lee Vining Canyon, also Saddlebag Lake and Trumbull Lake have great campgrounds.

It is amazing how a good meal and a full night's sleep can effect one's photography!

[Capocheny]

Jim,

Sounds like a great trip coming up... I'm envious! :)

During a workshop with Per Volquartz, he recommended pre-flashing the film in those high-contrast situations. Just an idea...

Here's a beautiful image of Mono Lake taken by Per:

http://www.pervolquartz.com/monlakewint.html

Good luck and have fun.

Cheers

[Robert Oliver]

drink lots of water!

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, I suggest early morning for Mono Lake. Before the winds pick up you can get nice reflections, but not after it gets choppy.

Jon

[dsphotog]

Take more film than you think you need, (you'll use it all!)
Have dinner at virginia creek settlement, (on 395 just north of the road to Bodie) the pizza or lasagna is terrific! (especially after a day of photographing)
Shoot lots.
Have fun!
David Silva
Modesto, Ca

[Dan Fromm]

I've been both places, Mono Lake more than once, shot a variety of ISO 100 Ektachromes and RDP-III all rated at ISO 100 with no problems. Reflections are nice, lack of them doesn't prevent taking pleasing pictures. Neither does a horrible dull grey day as I encountered at Mono Lake last September.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

[Robert Hall]

Look at the web site for dates. Bodie closes at odd times and if you can catch the park on a day when the friends of Bodie are there or have one of their "friends" days you can get in earlier and stay later IIRC for some nice shots as the sun sets.

High altitude as well, so be prepared to breath a lot. :)

[BradS]

The polarizing filter is your friend.

The sky will be much more blue than you're used to in Sac.

Over expose and under develop. I like FP-4 or HP-5 in home brew D-23 YMMV.

[Jim Ewins]

In April my wife & I were up early and arrived at mono, got set up awaiting the sun. Before it glimed a bus load of workshop folks came and crowded right in front. No good shots that morn!!

[jasonjoo]

In April my wife & I were up early and arrived at mono, got set up awaiting the sun. Before it glimed a bus load of workshop folks came and crowded right in front. No good shots that morn!!

That seems quite rude!

[Bill_1856]

Going to Per Valquartz's first free workshop in Mammoth, I spent the night in Lee Vining. Although I had allowed several days to adapt after flying into Reno, I literally nearly died from Altitude Sickness. It took nearly six months to recover.
If you feel "strange" (short of breath, easily fatigued, confusion, etc) it's time to seek medical help ASAP.
I know this is rare, but it's something that one doesn't think of ahead of time.

[Scott Squires]

I just returned from two weeks in the Eastern Sierra and a week in Lee Vining shooting my 7x17. The fires in Northern California had sent smoke and haze into the Mono Lake area so it was tough to get a decent shot. Bodie was the best as it was not as hazy. Bodie opened at 8am and for two days it did not get people busy until after 10am.

The fires are all almost out so by the time you get there it should get back to its beautiful self.

Enjoy and bring plenty of film.

Scott

[jetcode]

In April my wife & I were up early and arrived at mono, got set up awaiting the sun. Before it glimed a bus load of workshop folks came and crowded right in front. No good shots that morn!!

unfortunately that happens a lot which is why Monday and Tuesday mornings rule!

[jetcode]

I just returned from two weeks in the Eastern Sierra and a week in Lee Vining shooting my 7x17. The fires in Northern California had sent smoke and haze into the Mono Lake area so it was tough to get a decent shot. Bodie was the best as it was not as hazy. Bodie opened at 8am and for two days it did not get people busy until after 10am.

The fires are all almost out so by the time you get there it should get back to its beautiful self.

Enjoy and bring plenty of film.

Scott

the smoke was intense in Reno last weekend - it reminded me of LA!

[John Kasaian]

Going to Per Valquartz's first free workshop in Mammoth, I spent the night in Lee Vining. Although I had allowed several days to adapt after flying into Reno, I literally nearly died from Altitude Sickness. It took nearly six months to recover.
If you feel "strange" (short of breath, easily fatigued, confusion, etc) it's time to seek medical help ASAP.
I know this is rare, but it's something that one doesn't think of ahead of time.

Taking Midol helps when dealing with altitude sickness. Really. Of course, I get a bit irritable every 28 days :D

[dsphotog]

One of my favorite images was, while on a Bodie workshop, shooting inside the store.
I realized a crowd of tourists gathered outside were peering in the front window...
so i turned the camera toward them! They freaked-out! I had to tell them to stay & keep looking in! great fun pic! The moral: tourists can make interesting subjects!
David Silva

[Vaughn]

The moral: tourists can make interesting subjects!
David Silva

So true!

http://bostick-sullivan.invisionzone.com/index.php?automodule=gallery&req=si&img=41

Vaughn