Introduction
In the series, Earth Etchings, I explored Emigrant Lake reservoir in southern Oregon during drought conditions over a 3-year period. Ironically, the drought was a “wet” one. Due to unusually warm winters, most of the precipitation fell as rain. Therefore, there was not a considerable visual change in the surrounding landscape but the reservoir, that relies on melting snowpack to sustain water levels, became a new world. One could think of it as an inverse oasis. The heat of summer created the cracked earth suggesting a displaced desert. There was almost a post-apocalyptic feel at this near barren reservoir and an overwhelming feeling of quiet and loneliness. Walking on the lakebed somehow felt surreal- as if it shouldn't even be allowed. I felt compelled to return again and again. Initially conceived of as a climate change documentary project, I found the more I was there the more I developed a fascination with the interplay of the forms created by the drought and the changing atmospheric conditions, at times with a magical effect. I began to see beauty amongst these earth etchings, and became more connected to the natural world than ever before.