Last week I decided not to head over to the east side for more aspen photography – a combination of still working over the many photographs I brought back from earlier visits, some other responsibilities, and continuing reports that the bizarre and unusual progress of fall color was continuing. (But see Michael Frye’s “Lazarus” blog post for hints of a different set of possibilities.)
Along those lines, the recent reports seem to fall roughly into two categories. On one hand we have continuing reports that the aspens are still turning to fall colors very, very late and, in some cases at least, reportedly going almost straight from green to brown or dropped leaves. On the other hand, during the past week I’ve seen reports and photographs of some possibly isolated but very striking aspen color. Without having been on the scene recently I’m going entirely by second- and third-hand reports… but it sounds like you might be able to find a few good trees still if you act quickly and are willing to look around a bit. (And don’t forget that not all trees are aspens – there are other fall color opportunities at lower elevations.)
My attention now turns to other subjects including other opportunities to photograph fall color. My target date for visiting Yosemite Valley to shoot meadows, oaks, dogwood, and maples in fall color has always been the very end of October or right around the first of November. That had been my plan again this year… but during the past week or so I’ve started seeing photographs and reading reports of some good fall color already appearing there. Is the next phase of the “Strange Fall of 2009” going to be early color in the Valley? I’m hoping to head up there this weekend to find out.
Figuring this out – and then photographing it! – is a fun sport, for sure. I have to say that finding your way around the eastern Sierra is probably a lifetime occupation. Even once you start to become intimately familiar with a few places there are still new ones to discover… and the familiar ones throw surprises at you, as we saw during this fall season. THIS must have been a tough (or, to use your word, “confounding”) season in which to try to figure this out!
Take care,
Dan
Dan–it’s been really fascinating to me reading color reports as the fall progressed during this apparently oddball year. I’m still learning my way around the eastern sierras after visiting for the first time in July, and this is also the first time I’ve approached fall color photography as a serious amateur. I researched as much as possible on locations and probable peak times before heading up 395, so it’s been a bit confounding at times as I dashed about chasing the aspens–but also a lot of fun. It’ll be interesting to see how subsequent seasons stack up against this one (for me).