Canon 5D Mark II, 24-70mm F/2.8, f/18, 1/20, iso 200
Had the opportunity yesterday to visit the North Fork of the American River, on some private property. It's an amazing location, first discovered by gold miners. But unlike some other mining sites, this one is pristine and there's no evidence of large scale mining.
Challenging to photograph though, with a huge amount of white water and brilliant sunshine. Even without a camera it was a beautiful spot to simply enjoy being alive and feel nature seeping into my body.
In the rocky area aside the river was a series of small pools, mostly a foot wide or less, carved by centuries of waterpower. Much like I'm fascinated by the continual pounding of surf on land, this slow carving of rock is also a wonder. The water in this pool is definitely rainwater. But the rock has surely been sculpted by huge winter flows over the eons.
I suppose the last time the water was this high these small stones were being pushed around the surface, and found a home here in this unusually shaped pool, most of them being round. It was a tiny bowl of jewels, to me, amidst a larger landscape of extreme beauty, among the best the Sierra have to offer.
I'll share a couple more images in the next few days.
