For various reasons — projects I’m working on, clear signs of the changing seasons, photographs I’ve recently seen — I have been getting into that autumn frame of mind that comes at about this time every year. With that in mind, today’s “morning musings” post is about finding and photographing fall color in the Sierra Nevada. Rather than re-writing the whole thing, I’ll start by pointing you to an extensive guide that I wrote a few years ago and have updated every year since that time — if you are thinking of chasing aspen color this fall you may want to take a look: “Sierra Nevada Fall Color — Coming Sooner Than You Think”
If things evolve on a relatively typical schedule, eastern Sierra aspen color is perhaps about six weeks away. I have been photographing this subject for a while now, and it is one of my favorites. I intend to be out there again this fall.
One popular game at this time of year is to predict/guess when the colors will arrive and how good they will be. I’m fully aware that I’ve been wrong quite a few times, and my increasing knowledge of this subject has perhaps only made me more aware of how unpredictable this can be. However, this year I have to wonder about the effects on the trees from our three-year California drought, which has reached an extreme level all across the state this year. I don’t know what the results will be, but I’m considering some possibilities:
- During the last two years it seemed to me that I was seeing the onset of color move a bit earlier in the season. I have to wonder if we may see stressed trees go into fall mode a bit on the early side this year.
- Some people say that they are seeing a few aspen groves turning brownish-yellow already and looking like they are drying out.
- Also during the last few dry years we have seen some anomalous early season storms, and I wonder if that pattern will continue. This can affect the season in various ways if it happens. On the negative side, leaves can blow down early. On the positive side, snow and aspens can make a beautiful pair.
As always, to the extent possible, I like to remain flexible about when and where I’ll photograph the aspens, and I watch the evolving conditions to see what this season may bring. How about you? What are your fall color plans?
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Knowing your subject and locations helps a lot — among other things it can help you find stuff when everyone else things there is nothing to see! (And your report of dates and the followup reminds me that some of favorite photographs of mine from Boulder Mountain were at the very end of the season, when the higher trees were bare, but the lower trees had just enough leaves left, to set off the beautiful bare branches.
Good luck with your fall shooting this season!
Dan
Dan
I have shot the colour in Utah and Colorado in the past. Generally, the dates I have listed work for me. As you know anything can happen and just got to go with the flow. I also like to photograph aspens when the last of the leaves are just clinging to the branches. As well, aspens without any leaves can be an interesting composition. Have a look at my site there are numerous shots of aspens. I have plans to shoot southern Utah in early November if I can make it work.
Steven
Heading to Utah and Colorado for three weeks starting in the 18th to the 10th of October. I have been photographing Aspens for 9 years. With the dry conditions, leaves tend to be more fragile and tend to turn early.
Steven:
The dry conditions certainly do seem to stress the trees. In the short term this can be a less-than-wonderful thing for color, though I’m always ready to be surprised. In the long term cycles, I always hope that this leads to some brilliant color years when the trees recover in a few years.
Have you photographed aspens in Utah and Colorado before? I have not shot them in Colorado, but I have in Utah. They tend to turn earlier there than in California, and those dates may be a bit late for the best Utah aspen color. On the other hand, by late in that period you’ll see more and more other color in lowland area — especially the cottonwood trees.
Dan