Aspen Trees, Conway Summit, Fall. Eastern Sierra Nevada, California. October 16, 2011. © Copyright 2011 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.
Aspen trees in peak color at Conway Summit along highway 395 in the eastern Sierra Nevada.
I isolated this small bit of near-psychedelic color from the extensive aspen groves at Conway Summit, along highway 395 just north of Lee Vining and Mono Lake along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada range. When I visited the grove this past weekend the colors seemed to be essentially at their peak with alternating rows of red, orange, gold, and even a few lime green trees marching up the slopes toward the Dunderberg area high above.
If you hit it at the right moment, the aspen color at this location is second to none, and a bonus for many is that it is so accessible, being right alongside the highway. Brilliant colors can occur on both sides of the summit, but those on the north side seem to me to be more varied, and it is a bit easier and safer to find a place to stop alongside the road.
The lighting during my visit was “interesting” – which often means good but with some challenges. From my point of view, the best light at Conway Summit, at least when it comes to photographing aspen color, occurs fairly late in the afternoon when the sun gets low in the sky and can backlight the groves of trees. However, because of the backdrop of Sierra Nevada peaks the interval of good light can be short – and it is distinctly before actual sunset. The “interesting” element during this visit was that clouds were building over the crest. This produces some spectacular sky conditions at times, but it also cast shadows across the trees that dulled the colors and lowered contrast. Now a bit of this can be a good thing, and too much backlight can be a bit difficult to handle. By scoping out perhaps three of four possible compositions from my position, I could wait until the “good light” hit one or another of them, swing the camera around in that direction, and work quickly while the light lasted. For this detail shot of a colorful section of the aspen groves just below my position I had what can perhaps be the very best light for such subjects – a bit of directional light from behind filtered through clouds.
G Dan Mitchell Photography
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By the way, as nice as those photos are, pictures, do it no justice. That day, I saw it completely by accident, and the colors were electric and neon. It was surreal. I’ve never seen anything like that anywhere.
I am not a photographer, but I happened to drive by that grove about three years ago at just the exact right moment. I go through there fairly often and have never seen that Grove so vivid as I did that day. I went by the next day and the opportunity was gone. I just drove through there today. (September 28, 2023.) and they’re beginning to turn. It just kills me that I can’t go by there every day and experience that at the right time again! You would almost have to drive out there so that fairly remote area every day and October to catch it at the right time if you catch it, make sure you stop and take pictures because it’s a once in a lifetime’s opportunity. Absolutely stunning.
John,
You are absolutely right about the timing and the transitory nature of the color. The peak comes quickly and passes before you know it. And some years there may be a drought or a windstorm or who knows what… and it doesn’t quite come together.
For every time when I manage to arrive at the right moment, there are probably ten times as many occasions when I went there and found something less (sometimes a lot less) spectacular.
A few things can increase the odds of getting something interesting. One is to think a lot about the time of day. Generally, I’m looking for a time when aspens are back-lit or at least side-lit… or, as in the case of this photograph, even in soft shaded light. Second, when the entire grove isn’t “perfect,” it is often possible to focus on a small section of it where the colors are at their best. Finally, think about how to photograph the groves at times when they are not at peak color — sometimes contrasting the color with some green leaves works, and the exposed white trunks can become more interesting after some of the leaves have fallen.
Dan
Good luck, Mike – I’ll be interested to hear your report!
Really like this one Dan! Hope to get something tomorrow…
Richard, it is harder that you might think to catch this grove at peak color! I’ve been stumped a few times myself. I almost thought that despite the gorgeous color that the light wasn’t going to cooperate this time, but I stuck around and got a few odd minutes to shoot.
Dan
A striking image Dan, nothing like the total lime green when I was there two weeks ago. I know this grove and have been trying to catch it the past three years. Sooner or later I’ll be there. Thanks for sharing with us what Sierra Color is all about!
Richard