Bonsai Rock
Lake Tahoe, NV
BONSAI ROCK
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF BONSAI ROCK
Lake Tahoe, is a wonderful place to visit, relax and take in the majestic views of the surrounding Sierra Nevadas. The clear blue freshwater lake, with a depth of over 1,600 ft, attracts adventurers, travelers and photographers to this easygoing location split between the states of Nevada and California.
The 72 mile drive around the lake can provide many epic views, but my favorite is a little cove on the north east side called Bonsai Rock. The location is named for a small, single Bonsai Tree that grows on top of a large protruding bolder just off the shoreline. This spot is one of the most beautiful places to shoot sunset in the Lake Tahoe area. The view, perspective, and size of the bolder changes based on your movement around the cove, the level of the lake and the time of the year of your visit.
If you are interested in learning more about Bonsai Trees - I have include a link to Bonsai Tree Complete Guide: How to Grow and Care for Bonsais by Planted Well. Give it a look, very interesting.
Image by Mark Brodkin @ www.markbrodkin.com. Location summary by Tim Wier
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I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult).
The dirt trail down to Bonsai Rock is less than a 1/4 mile with a modest 150 ft elevation drop, but has a few slippery places. Just take your time and watch your footing.
The shot is fairly straightforward. However, as mentioned your view and perspective of the rock and Bonsai tree changes as you move around the cove. Also, the level of the lake will play a part in your composition.
Most of the shots I have seen from this location are longer exposures (2-20 seconds), which helps to reduce the movement of the lake and appear to make it calm.
This shot is all about the light and sky, so be patient and wait for the right light. Because the sky will remain brighter than the foreground at sunset/twilight, you may need to blend multiple images to achieve the right look…
There are many compositions that you can choose for the Bonsai Rock - I would bring lenses ranging from 16-75mm. The above shot was taken at 50mm.
6,225 Ft. Elevation
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KMZ Trail File
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Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
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LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
