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“Broken Reflections”

Location: Broken Top Loop, Bend, Oregon (2021)

Broken Top is reflected in No Name Lake during sunrise in mid-July.

Photographing from No Name Lake at sunrise was the crown jewel, my bucket list, for this 2-night 3 day backpacking trip along the 25-mile Broken Top Loop. I had first seen photos of this location over a year ago, prior to the onset of COVID-19, when it was still possible to visit without a permit. But the pandemic and subsequent permit lottery system made visiting a matter of chance. That opportunity came when a week prior to the backpacking trip, our group of six had worked together to secure an overnight permit using the online permit application – a limited number of permits only become available seven days prior to any given starting date.

With the permit secure, I then had to pack my large 60L pack and determine my lens choice. Opting to save on weight, I chose a general-purpose lens (24-70mm) and an adjustable tripod to complete my photographic gear.

Waking up 2 hours before sunrise in my tent, I made the 1/2-mile trek back up the trail about 500 vertical feet to No Name Lake where I had located my composition the day prior. Because the 24-70mm lens was not wide enough to capture the entire mountain, I used my tripod to create a panorama.

When I first arrived at the lake, the wind was dead calm. The surface of the lake was like a mirror – perfectly reflecting the jagged edges of Broken Top. But as sunrise approached, the wind woke up and began to stir. “No!!”, I screamed inside my head, as the once mirror like reflection began to ripple and distort. I quickly captured several panoramas while the water was still reflecting the mountain.

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