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JOHN A. SIKITA

artist photographer philanthropist

John Sikita

Sand Harbor


As I looked out from the California side of Lake Tahoe, I could see that there might be a chance for a nice sunset from the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. I have photographed Sand Harbor many times and I figured I could quickly find a nice composition to complement the good light, so I packed up the wife and kid and headed over to the Nevada side. It was a weekday, and September, so I thought I might have most of the beach to myself, but was greeted with the usual nightmare of people crawling all over the place. I figured I could compose and maybe someone might be nice enough to duck out of my picture or maybe photoshop them out of the pic. For the most part I was right. Luckily this was taken at the height of the latest California drought which allowed for some foreground boulders and nice wave tracks in the sand below the surface. Since the winter of 2016/17 this boulder is now under about 2 feet of water. I waded out about 10 yards into the water and set up for my shot toward the North. Just then, a van pulled in and out came the photo “workshop.” They proceeded to line up at the direction of their “leader” by beach’s edge pointing directly into the West. I could see they were looking at me pointing my shot perpendicular to them and scratching their heads as to my intention. I must admit squatting in front of a tripod in a foot of cold water might seem strange, but I have always found that to find unique pictures you sometimes have to do unique things. The sun set beautifully giving the clouds the cotton candy effect but more importantly, the side lighting of the boulders and ripples in the sand gave the photograph much more interest in the warm light. I have often thought that I would like to lead a “workshop” but then the reality of my charming personality reminds me that it probably wouldn’t be a good idea. I run into these quite frequently whilst in the wild and it seems to me that they are always teaching how to use their camera and then pointing them all in the same direction to get their “trophy” shot. To me its similar to having a Sherpa set all the fixed ropes and carry all your shit to the top of the mountain so you can take a summit pic and show it off to your friends (all of which I’m guilty of btw). But just as I learned nothing on that summit bid, I doubt the participants in that workshop learned anything either. People have asked me to show them how to take photographs, and in my mind I ask myself, “…how do I teach someone something that has taken me 20 years to master…” and then I usually politely decline or bring them along as bear bait.

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