Studio 4, Story 1: A Local Lens on Lake Tahoe’s Art Scene
By Charlie Pankey | Sierra Rec Now Podcast Feature
This week on Sierra Rec Now, I had the chance to slow down and talk art, photography, and passion with South Lake Tahoe’s own Jennifer Haran—a talented photographer whose work captures more than just the views of the Sierra. It captures the feeling of them.
Jennifer will be one of the featured artists in this weekend’s Tahoe Art League Studio Tour, running August 1–3, 2025. Now in its 18th year, the tour invites the community to explore over 20 local artists across 18 different home-based studios throughout South Lake Tahoe and Myers. You’ll find Jennifer in Studio 4, set up in her own yard near The Getaway Café. Jennifer’s site: windowontahoephotography.com
During our chat, Jennifer opened up about:
- Her first trip to Yosemite as a child and the Brownie camera that started it all
- Why she gravitates toward clouds, granite, and quiet alpine lakes in her work
- Her approach to capturing nature without oversaturating it or relying on AI
- How fire and climate events like the Caldor Fire turned her photography into a “living time capsule”
- Why she believes in telling local stories through a respectful lens
“I just feel like I’m keeping memories,” she told me, reflecting on the fragility of the places we love. Her prints—many on clean metal or acrylic—are not just beautiful; they’re intimate. They invite you to step into a moment of stillness.
The Tahoe Art League doesn’t just showcase local talent; it invests in it. The nonprofit offers art scholarships, funds public murals, and helps artists like Jennifer share their work beyond the gallery walls.
Insider Tip: Pick up a passport card at your first stop. Visit 10 or more studios during the weekend, and you’ll be entered to win a free piece of art. (Bonus: every purchase earns you additional raffle entries.)
So yes—there are fast cars and fireworks in Reno and Virginia City this weekend. But up in South Lake Tahoe, there’s art, story, and stillness waiting just off the trail.
🎨 Event Info:
📍 Tahoe Art League Studio Tour
🗓️ August 1–3, 2025
🕚 11am to 4pm daily
🌐 www.tahoeartleague.org
And if you visit Studio 4, tell Jennifer Sierra Rec sent you—and ask about the photo with the three little bears. Jennifer’s site: windowontahoephotography.com
