I was up and out of camp in the darkness on this late-August morning. My plan was to work my way up Tioga Pass Road toward the pass, and I had a few subjects in mind along the way. After that I would head over the pass and out of the park to explore some areas just east of the Sierra crest. After heading up to the end of this valley to make a few photographs of some alpine terrain, I headed back down this way, making a point to stop at a few places I had noted on the way up.
Although east-facing peaks were in full sun by now, the valleys behind the taller peaks were still in deep shadows. This is a wonderful time of the morning — it is usually still and quiet, and few other people are out. The light in the shadows is soft — sometimes so soft that it can be a challenge to include it and the brightly lit peaks in the same frame. I wandered out into and round this meadow for perhaps a half hour or more, watching the light change and looking for compositions.
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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.
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