Lake Berryessa Dam

Posted by Stephen Phillips (San Francisco, United States) on 9 March 2009 in Landscape & Rural and Portfolio.

On Putah Creek - Napa County - California

For those of you into such things - I encourage you to click on the link below - and then on the 'view map' link once you're there. It will show where I took this image and the dam (from above). Slowly 'zoom out'. It is amazing how much water is behind this little dam:
http://www.pbase.com/image/109952360

My Re-Discovery of Lake Berryessa (continued...)

My client who sent me on this effort is opening a market-restaurant-bar at an otherwise undefined place on the map called 'Barryessa Corners'. This spot is at the junction of California State Highways 128 and 121. It is not on the lake nor does it have a view of the lake. It is one of those places that is defined only by the crossing of two roads. It has also been vacant for years.

My client is also an old and dear friend - Mike Schildknecht. He is investing a bunch of time and money in launching this place. I won't mention what the economy is doing. I'll just say that Mike is a gambler and I wish him well.

His idea is to have my photography on the walls of the dining room. He is paying for the images we place and allowing me to sell them - and any other images I wish to purvey. How could I say no?

This was the inspiration behind my reluctant return to Lake Berryessa.

I had never been more than half way up the lake - and never took the narrow 'Berryessa-Knoxville Road' up to its end in Lake County. The images I'm doing for Mike's dining room will all be black & white. What follows are the first three - images all from this drive on March 6th.

The entire road along the lake and then up to Lake County is a mere 73 km (45 mi.) - but according to Google - the drive time is 1 hour and 50 minutes. With my camera it took more than 5 hours.

I'll also mention that the lake itself is a mere 111 km (69 mi.) from downtown San Francisco. When you see what's here - you'll understand how shocked I was at having missed this all of these years.

to be continued...

© copyright 2012 by Stephen Phillips Photography / San Francisco / www.joyoflight.com
please respect these rights - do not copy or use these images without permission

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Comments (32)

Sharon from Los Angeles, United States

love the angle Stephen... its like everything is converging towards the dam... :)

9 Mar 2009 6:29am

Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica

Love the converging look in this shot, awesome!

9 Mar 2009 6:37am

Mike from Lichfield, United Kingdom

This is a really good photo and the place looks absolutely gorgeous. Cheers for sharing.

9 Mar 2009 6:55am

Marie LC from Voiron, France

The converging is excellent

9 Mar 2009 7:26am

yz from Budapest, Hungary

beautiful landscape shot

9 Mar 2009 8:07am

chrissy from uk, United Kingdom

lovely landscape

9 Mar 2009 8:18am

Marcie from United States

This looks like such a wonderful place. Love your high-in-the-sky point-of-view.

9 Mar 2009 12:00pm

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

It's fantastic, the way you composed it make the eyes start at the top and slowly draw, with great pleasure...at the bottom, bravo!

9 Mar 2009 2:18pm

hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong

It's a pity that the restaurant cannot enjoy a view of the lake... Time, and only time could tell if your friend has made a wise bet! Yes, let's wish him well. Great angle to take this shot, Stephen; I'm amazed by all the fine details that can be discovered in the larger version. In the meantime, I'll be waiting patiently for your next pic.:-)

9 Mar 2009 2:19pm

@hugo poon: Thanks, Hugo. "Gambler Mike' is actually coming to San Francisco and meeting with me the afternoon. I will tell him of your good wishes from Hong Kong - he'll get a kick out of the international focus!

Twelvebit from Victoria, United States

I definitely see California in this. It reminds me of my time as a kid in the San Bernardino mountains.

9 Mar 2009 3:00pm

@Twelvebit: I can fully appreciate the 'California' quality you see in this. I was in San Bernardino not long ago and know you've seen a bunch of changes to that once sleepy town.

sherri from Little Rock, United States

so beautiful...love the rocks and seeing the road alongside

9 Mar 2009 4:10pm

willow from United States

Great perspective on the stream. I love finding little hidden treasures like this place. Looking forward to more...

9 Mar 2009 4:39pm

Eleftheria from Greece

Wonderful!

9 Mar 2009 5:56pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

It's a lovely approach to the dam and lake. I'm anxious to see what's to come.

9 Mar 2009 5:59pm

k@ from Paris, France

Wonderful - calm - soothing - original !

9 Mar 2009 6:43pm

Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain

The image is wonderful in color, very wide and deep. The place must me paradisiac. And your exhibition great, as I see :)
I woul like very much to see it in place, but it's an impossible.
Are you going to show also the pictures in b/w?
I'm travelling next Wednesday to Syracuse (NY) to give a lecture in a college. I hope to have time to shot some photos over there.

9 Mar 2009 7:53pm

@Paco Díaz: This is good news to hear you are heading for Syracuse. The weather can be near anything in March. I hope you are able to get around and explore the area - it is beautiful.

EYES WIDE SHUT from United Kingdom

Fabulous composition and perspective. A superb photograph, Stephen

9 Mar 2009 8:10pm

Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States

It's amazing how much more interesting a photo becomes when there's a story behind it..... the shot is wonderful, and how cool that your shots will adorn the walls of what sounds like a very cool little dining place...... If I ever get out there again, you will have to take me to check it out!!!

9 Mar 2009 8:12pm

@Susan: You are on Susan - just say the word.

dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States

Very beautiful. Great perspective. I looked at the map that you posted and it is amazing.

9 Mar 2009 8:22pm

@dogilicious: Glad you went for the tour!

Liang from San Francisco, United States

ahhh lake berryessa, nearby vacaville! never knew they had beautiful sights like these! I shall visit when I have the time! Excellent shot stephen!

9 Mar 2009 9:04pm

Alun Lambert from cheshire, United Kingdom

very good image

9 Mar 2009 9:40pm

grant from kansas city, United States

love it!

9 Mar 2009 11:00pm

Observing from North West, United Kingdom

A beautiful place and super shot, good reflections on the water. Looking at the map, we can see that the dam is very secure between the two mountain sides. What is its purpose...?

9 Mar 2009 11:32pm

@Observing: Regional irrigation in the Solano and Sacramento Valleys was the primary purpose in its construction. Recreation is the popular by-product.

John Maslowski from Dallas, PA, United States

Definitely beautiful country Stephen. Looked at your gallery and the pictures are gorgeous. Good luck to your friend and his business endeavor. Glad to hear someone is starting a new business along with job opportunities, wish him the best of luck. Surely looks like a great area from your photo's.

10 Mar 2009 1:40am

@John Maslowski: My restaurateur friend, Mike, was just here at my office. I passed on your good wishes and then showed him your website. Mike is from 'Jersey and he was just blown away by your portfolio. When today's image opened he instantly exclaimed, "The A/C Boardwalk!" You have another new fan.

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Beautiful shot! The reflection of the sky in the water is wonderful.

10 Mar 2009 3:39am

Karthik from Chennai, India

Lovely angle. Looks really peaceful.

10 Mar 2009 4:26am

Cricket-Tammy from United States

I really like the angle in which this shot was taken. You are just high enough but not too low. The rocks are just beautiful. I like the image because it is natural looking and not over processed. Very nice.

10 Mar 2009 4:26am

Suzanne from Huntington Bch, California, United States

Nice perspective here. I really like the rocks.

10 Mar 2009 4:41am

Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States

It is great to see these shots of Lake Berryessa - when I was very young we went on a ski/camping trip there. How is the water level after these storms?

10 Mar 2009 4:51am

@Scott Schilling: I was up visiting the Lake three weeks earlier and our two plus years of drought were adding up to a most depressingly low lake. It then rained heavily for two weeks and the change is dramatic. You'll get an idea Tuesday and a really good look here on Wednesday.

Question for you: How long will your Yosemite prints be up at the Photography Store?

Magda from Canada

Ohhh i like the perspective! The clarity and colour are fantastic! What a beautiful place.

10 Mar 2009 12:34pm

Calusarus from St Sorlin en Valloire, France

What an impressive building…

15 Mar 2009 10:45am

Amber Payne from United States

Beautiful pictures! Although Mike is not with us anymore, his adventure was successful and he has left a legacy for the Berryessa area! We loved Mike and will miss him!

13 Jun 2009 7:21am

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