Lake Natoma: Folsom, CA

Lake Natoma along the American River, a popular spot for paddle boarding and cliff jumping. 

When I started thinking about photographing this place, I thought the rocky waters with the iconic Rainbow bridge in the background would make for an excellent photo, and of course a colorful sunrise to tie it all together. I had this one in the back of my mind for about 6 months before I finally got around to trying it. I knew I would probably have to get in the water to get the shot I had in mind, so I wanted to get it before it started getting colder.

Conditions looked good for a colorful sunrise on this warm summer morning, so I woke up at 5am and made the short drive to the lake in hopes of seeing something beautiful. I parked at a nearby parking lot, put my headlamp on and started making my way in the dark to the beach. I hadn’t been there in a couple years, so first I ended up at the wrong beach. I was too far west. The sun was starting to rise and I could already see color in the clouds, so afraid I might miss it, I ran along the trail to get to the right beach. 

To my relief, I made it with time to spare. I looked for a rock island that could get me a higher view, but also didn’t require trekking through too deep of water. I found one that worked that I only had to get in waist deep to get to. A little morning dip in the cool water wasn’t too bad. I climbed up the rock, set up my tripod and camera and got ready for the sunrise. Then the sky exploded, illuminating the water below it. The flock of ducks in the foreground being the perfect cherry on top. One of the best sunrises I had seen in a while, and it was one I had to take a minute to take it all in.