Lake Tahoe. Her breathtaking beauty nurtures our soul and creative spirit, fueling our passion for ingenuity and preservation.
Sunset, Bonsai Rock by Elizabeth Carmel has been selected as the TAMC collectible sticker #4 to honor this sanctuary and our interconnectedness with nature and one another.
“It was calling me all day,” recalls Carmel, a landscape photographer from Truckee, describing the motivation and artistry behind her powerful image.
We all know that feeling. That sense of urgency. That overwhelming drive to get to the lake. Finally, standing at the shore awestruck, feelings of anticipatory exhilaration and joy explode, followed by a calmness that regenerates the spirit.
An award-winning photographer of expressive landscapes and “waterscapes,” Elizabeth captured the intensity of an early December evening in 2006. All day she felt compelled to get to the lake. She knew something extraordinary was unfolding.
The uncharacteristic fog that settled in the basin that day burst into brilliant alpenglow saturating the sky and lake surface, gently bathing Elizabeth on the shore. The stunning image stirs the emotions, awakening an inner stillness that only nature can evoke.
Using a 39 megapixel Hasselblad camera, Elizabeth’s photographs possess incredible detail, exceptional composition and unparalleled color and tonal range to create captivating visions of the natural world. A retired urban planner, Elizabeth is constantly inspired by her natural surroundings and specializes in capturing the distinctive personalities offered by the changing seasons.
“I try to communicate the importance of protecting beautiful, wild natural areas. I shoot primarily with an eye to create pieces that I hope communicate a sense of transcendence and an experience. I try to create very simple compositions. I like to isolate the rocks, calm water and the reflections beyond what would be considered a postcard shot into something that’s maybe a little more interpretive of the landscape.” – Elizabeth Carmel
Sunset, Bonsai Rock also graces the cover of Elizabeth’s first photography book “Brilliant Waters, Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra,” which includes a forward by Robert Redford. In late 2009, Elizabeth released her second book “The Changing Range of Light, Portraits of the Sierra Nevada.” This new large format book features her landscape photography of the Sierra combined with important information about how the depicted landscapes will be affected by climate change. Elizabeth will make a presentation about her new book on Thursday, June 17, at 7:00pm at the UC Davis Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences in Incline Village.
Elizabeth and her husband Olof live in Truckee with their young daughter and are very active in the local community. They are members of North Tahoe Arts and the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, and donate to many organizations. Elizabeth contributes her time and photographic talents to local and national Land Trust organizations. Elizabeth’s photographs have been included in several regional and national shows, including the 2005 Nevada Triennial juried exhibit at the Nevada Museum of Art. She was also a featured artist on the Apple website. A complete online portfolio of Elizabeth’s work is available at www.ElizabethCarmel.com.
The Carmels recently opened a newly expanded art gallery, located at 9940 Donner Pass Road in historic downtown Truckee. The gallery is open daily, and an online gallery can be viewed at www.TheCarmelGallery.com.
Similar to the previous three TAMC collectible stickers which celebrate our mountain culture, Sunset, Bonsai Rock gives us a strong sense of place and artistically interprets our deep connection to this special place we call home.
With only a limited print run, the 4″x 4″ stickers can be found at your favorite shoppes and events in Lake Tahoe and Truckee listed below. Or, feel free to send a SASE to B2 Marketing Communications, Box 10224, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158.
South Lake Tahoe:
4 Seasons Soup & Salad
Tahoe Mountain Soap – Farmer’s Market Tuesdays
Sierra Ski and Cycle Works
Grass Roots Natural Foods
Gaia Licious
Top Drawer
Tahoe Keys Deli
Alpina Cafe
Sierra Athletic ClubNorth Lake Tahoe/Truckee:
New Moon, Tahoe City
Carmel Gallery, Truckee
Art Attack, Incline Village
CyclePaths, Truckee
Wild Cherries, Truckee
For Goodness Sake, Truckee
Truckee Bagel, Truckee