This was my final aspen photograph of the day. These trees grow in what feels like high desert terrain along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. This is essentially “sage brush country,” though as the elevation rises there are increasing numbers of conifer trees. Being east of the crest of the range, the area falls into evening shadows well before actual sunset.
At first blush, photographing after most of the direct light is gone would seem to leave me with less intense colors. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In full sunlight, especially when back-lit, autumn aspen leaves can be so bright and with colors so saturated that the gaudy effect may overpower subtle elements of a scene. In this soft light, shadow details begin to emerge and the colors are less overwhelming.
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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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