Autumn Flow

Autumn Flow
“Autumn Flow” — The surface of the Merced River, broken by boulders, reflects golden fall colors from nearby trees.

I was in Yosemite Valley on the last day of October to photograph the fall colors of oak, maple, and dogwood trees. It may seem odd to some, but I barely photographed the iconic formations of the park at all, instead wandering around looking for more intimate views that suggest autumn. I made this photograph at a place along the Merced River where I’ve stopped for years, a spot where I know that I can find interesting reflected light at the right times of day.

This is a somewhat long exposure, made that way to allow the surface of the water to blur a bit. The location is in deep shadows during much of the day, but here the water reflects the surrounding trees and the light from high cliffs across the valley.


Leave a comment or question using the form. (Click the title to see the full article and to comment if you are viewing it on the home page.)

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.


Discover more from G Dan Mitchell Photography

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

2 thoughts on “Autumn Flow”

  1. Thanks, Brenda. Of course, I’ll still photograph those icons at times, but the threshold for doin git is higher now since I’ve seen them so many times. But there is always something new to see among the intimate views.

  2. I’m with ya, Dan! I often walk around ignoring the iconic formations in search of intimate views that just resonate so much with me at times. This is lovely! Thanks for sharing.

Leave a Reply to brendatharpCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.