Aspen Leaves, Sunset. Monitor Pass, Sierra Nevada, California. September 29, 2007. © Copyright .

I’m a sucker for backlit leaves, especially in early or late light -like the last remaining leaves on this aspen tree at Monitor Pass.

Aspen Leaves, Autumn. Sierra Nevada, California. September 29, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

Aspen leaves in the very colorful grove near the lower end of Hope Valley on Highway 88.

Sierra Aspen Grove, Sun. Sierra Nevada, California. September 29, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

I spent a couple weekends photographing the annual fall colors of the aspens in the eastern Sierra Nevada. This photograph was made among the trees of the extensive groves near the top of Monitor Pass.

Aspen Grove and Snow – Monitor Pass. Sierra Nevada, California. October 6, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

On my second aspen hunting weekend this fall I again drove over Monitor Pass during the late morning hours, having shot the Carson Pass/Hope Valley area earlier in the morning. There were several inches of snow beneath this aspen grove close to the summit of the pass.