Brilliant Waters
Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra
"So what would you do if you came upon a sight seen before only to see it as if for the first time? This was the effect Elizabeth's work had on me; capturing the power of what exists while elevating the experience through the poetic use of photography. I saw this country as if I had not seen it before - like I was being led slowly, carefully, along a great and beautiful path. To have this sensation of stop time observation is not easy. This work simply stopped me in my tracks."
by Robert Redford in his Foreword to
Brilliant Waters
Distributed by Mountain Press
Published in 2006. 104 Pages, 12” x 12” Hardcover, 44 8x10” Color Plates.
ISBN-10: 0-9776877-0-8
Published by Hawks Peak Publishing. $49.95
BRILLIANT WATERS combines Elizabeth Carmel’s stunning landscape photography with a selection of moving poetry by recognized writers. Robert Redford contributes engaging insights and commentary in the book’s foreword. This collection of remarkable photographs captures both the intimate details and grand panoramas that exist exclusively in the Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra regions of California and Nevada. BRILLIANT WATERS is divided into three sections: Water and Stone, Colors of the Sierra, and Winter’s Grace. Each section contains a portfolio of large 8” x 10” color plates personally selected and sequenced by Elizabeth Carmel. Selected images are paired with poems written by Richard Wilbur, John Updike, Octavio Paz, Gainor Ventresco, and Frederick George Scott. This book will appeal to all who love the scenic beauty of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra, and to photography enthusiasts worldwide.
Carmel expresses her inspiration for the book in the following excerpt from her preface: “Water, in its many manifestations, forms the unifying theme of BRILLIANT WATERS. Whether a photo of a cool shroud of mist on Lake Tahoe’s boulders, a carpet of camas lilies brought to bloom by spring rains, or a high Sierra stream flowing in summer, the varied images all explore the interplay of water and light.”
This book is unique in its subject, scope, and artistry. It is an enduring testament to the accomplishments of previous generations who have worked to preserve the Sierra Nevada. It is also a reminder of what is at stake as we strive to protect the natural world for future generations.