By Scott Thompson | Scott Shots Photography

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The image on the cover of this year's Tahoe Quarterly Best of Tahoe issue started with a text message, a cold lake, and one of those rare mornings that makes you grateful you said yes.

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A Tip, a Friend, and a Flooded Shoreline

It started with a text from a photographer friend. He had noticed that the lake level had risen quickly — enough to flood the lupine wildflowers that grow along the shore at Lake Forest Beach on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. In June, the lupines along the Tahoe shoreline are already one of the more magical seasonal sights in the region. But submerged? Surrounded by still water? Reflecting a sunrise sky?

We agreed: we had to be there.

We met up early, well before first light, and made our way down to the water's edge. Shoes came off. Tripods went into the lake. The water was cold — this is Lake Tahoe, after all — but neither of us noticed much once the light started to change.

What unfolded over the next hour was one of those rare mornings that reminds you exactly why you chase this kind of photography. The lake was glassy and calm, perfectly mirroring the soft pastels building in the sky above the Sierra Nevada. The partially submerged lupines stood in clusters around us, their purple blooms at eye level with the water's surface. Every direction you pointed a camera, something extraordinary was happening.

I came home with hundreds of frames. Among them was the image now titled "Tahoe Lupine at Sunrise 4" — the one that would eventually find its way to the cover of Tahoe Quarterly's most celebrated annual issue.

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The Cover

Tahoe Quarterly — Best of Tahoe 2026. Available on newsstands May 1, 2026.

Seeing this image on the cover of Tahoe Quarterly — and specifically the Best of Tahoe issue — is one of the most meaningful moments of my career as a fine art photographer. Tahoe Quarterly has been the voice of this region for decades, and the Best of Tahoe issue is their showcase of everything that makes this place exceptional. To have my work representing that on newsstands across the region is something I won't take lightly.

If you'd like to pick up a copy, the magazine hits newsstands and select retailers on May 1, 2026. Visit tahoequarterly.com for more information.

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Behind the Scenes

Early morning at Lake Forest Beach — shoes off, feet in the water, making the most of a fleeting moment.

This behind-the-scenes photo was taken that same morning. What you're seeing is exactly what it felt like: two photographers fully committed to the moment, standing in a cold alpine lake in the pre-dawn light, surrounded by wildflowers. No assistants, no stylist, no elaborate setup — just a tip-off, an early alarm, and a willingness to get your feet wet.

These are the mornings I live for.

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Own a Piece of It

The cover image is available as a fine art print through my website, and I think it looks absolutely stunning in a large format. Whether it's the richness of a metal print, the warmth of a canvas gallery wrap, the painterly quality of watercolor fine art paper, the depth of an acrylic print, or the classic feel of lustre photo paper — this image has the color, detail, and tonal range to shine on any medium.

Prints are available in a wide range of sizes, from smaller pieces perfect for a shelf or side table, all the way up to large and custom-sized statement pieces that command a wall. If you'd like to see this image in person before you buy, a 20" x 30" metal print is currently on exhibit and available for purchase at Art Truckee Gallery, 9950 Donner Pass Road, Downtown Truckee.

Large format metal or acrylic prints make this image a stunning focal point in a living room or great room.

The soft purples and warm sunrise tones make this image a natural fit for a calm, beautiful bedroom.

This image is also available on mugs, greeting cards, throw pillows, and more — perfect for gifting or keeping a little piece of Tahoe close.

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A Special Thank-You Offer

To celebrate this milestone, I'm offering 20% off your entire order with the code below. Whether you've had your eye on a print for a while or this is your first visit to the shop, I'd love for this to be the moment you bring some Tahoe magic home.

Use code TAHOECOVER20 at checkout for 20% off Valid through May 20, 2026. No minimum purchase required.

👉 Shop "Tahoe Lupine at Sunrise 4" and all fine art prints →

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A Note on This Place

I've been photographing the Lake Tahoe and Truckee region for a long time, and moments like that June morning are why I keep coming back to the shoreline, the mountains, and the trails of this region with a camera. The light here is like nowhere else. The seasons bring entirely different versions of the same landscape. And occasionally, the conditions align in a way that simply can't be repeated.

The lupines that grow along that stretch of North Shore shoreline are themselves a rare thing — they only appear during drought years when the lake level is low enough to expose the shoreline. Most years, that ground is underwater and the lupines never bloom. That June, they had grown in beautifully along the shore — and then the lake level rose just enough to flood the ones closest to the water's edge, creating the scene you see in this image. It was a fleeting window, measured in days. If you weren't there, you missed it entirely.

That's the Tahoe I try to capture. That's the Tahoe I want to bring into your home.

Thank you for being part of this community, and thank you to Tahoe Quarterly for this incredible honor.

— Scott

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Scott Thompson is a fine art photographer based in Truckee, California. His work is available as prints, canvas, metal, acrylic, and more at TruckeeTahoePhotos.com. Original prints are also on exhibit at Art Truckee Gallery, 9950 Donner Pass Road, Downtown Truckee.

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