Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: The Southwest, Photographs: Utah

Utah Aspen Grove

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Utah Aspen Grove
“Utah Aspen Grove” — An extensive forest of tall Utah aspen trees with autumn foliage.

This is another of those photographs from a distinctly non-iconic location. Once again, while driving a main route I spotted a little gravel road heading off in the general direction of a shallow valley filled with aspens. Being of a mind to explore, turned off and followed it into large groves of tall, colorful autumn aspen trees.

This scene illustrates something I have mentioned before: the California aspens in the Sierra Nevada are much different from what you see in the Southwest and any other places. I’m used to smaller groves and smaller trees, often growing so densely that it is hard to walk among them. But these trees grow tall and remarkably straight, and are spaced widely enough to allow plenty of light on the forest floor.

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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Manley Lake, First Light

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“Manly Lake, First Light” — Early morning light on the Panamint Range reflected in Manly Lake, Death Valley.

Death Valley National Park is so large that it is often hard to fathom the its scale. Lake Manly, the temporary body of water occupying a section of the Valley near Badwater, is small by comparison to the valley as a whole. The mountains in this photograph are many tens of miles away. (A couple of roads reach that ridge, and it would take 1 1/2 or 2 hours of driving to reach their high points from the shore of Lake Manly.)

In the daytime most of this desert landscape is not particularly colorful. In fact, in flat light and haze it can sometimes seem almost monochromatic. But early in the morning and then again in the evening, the sunrise and sunset light paint the scenes with vivid colors that contrast with the hazy blues of the shadows.

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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Badlands and Wash

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Badlands and Wash
“Badlands and Wash” — A small wash spills from desert badlands into Death Valley at sunset.

Another recent post of a Death Valley photograph noted the interesting subjects found in remote and hard-to-access areas of this national park. This is not one of those photographs. In fact, I made it a short distance from a popular lodging and camping spot, and my tripod was set up at the back of my vehicle! The subject is eroded badlands terrain where a small wash empties into the main valley.

The terrain of this park is remarkably varied, ranging from harsh, sun-baked desert playas to high summits that can be topped with snow. Among them, desert washes emerging from canyons are a favorite of mine. I love to walk the quiet washes, and they often provide trails into deep canyons and mountain heights.

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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Dawn Clouds, Death Valley

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Dawn Clouds, Death Valley
“Dawn Clouds, Death Valley” — Colorful dawn clouds above Death Valley and the Panamint Mountains.

The camera position for this photograph was a high point in the Panamint Range of Death Valley National Park. We arrived before sunrise, when the sky was just beginning to take on dawn colors, and the clouds were becoming blood red. There are few colors in nature that are as intense… and as difficult to photograph, at least if you want the photograph to suggest what you saw when you were there.

To my way of thinking, after a few decades of visiting and photographing the place, the most interesting locations in this park are not the most popular ones. They are off in odd, sometimes distant corners of the region. You may have to deal with a few adversities getting to them. (One winter I was turned back from this location by snow.) But the rewards are worth it.

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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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.