Tag Archives: america

Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Bench and Mountains

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Bench and Mountains
“Bench and Mountains” — Morning light on a bench near the base of the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada.

Most often as we watch the first sunlight arrive on the eastern face of the Sierra Nevada we are either somewhere out to the east, perhaps in Owens Valley, or actually up in one one of the valleys that cut into this side of the range. There are a few places that can offer a little different view, locations that are east of the escarpment but high enough to view the east side almost straight on from close distances.

I made this photograph from one of those locations, a long ridge that runs roughly parallel to the Sierra crest. The terrain here switches from high desert sage country to large groves of small aspens and then becomes more alpine. (You can see some of those small trees in the foreground here.) I made the photograph shortly after sunrise, when the low sun angle still cast. large shadows across the lower slopes of eastern escarpment.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Autumn Path

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Autumn Path
“Autumn Path” — A trail, covered by fallen leaves, winds through autumn forest, Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite Valley can be uncomfortably crowded, but there are ways to find quiet and tranquility. One is to avoid summer, with its heat and oppressive crowds — all three of the other seasons are more interesting, and less busy. Or get away from the prime iconic sights and sites. Often it takes little more than a few minutes of walking to find yourself in a place with a tiny fraction of the number of people you see in the crowded places.

I have a few favorite such places, typically along quieter trails in less busy parts of the Valley. This one tracks along a peaceful section of the Merced River, and for a week or two in autumn it is filled with subtle autumn colors and the ground is covered with fallen leaves. Yes, there is a trail in this photograph, but you may have to look closely to spot it under all of those leaves!

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

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Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis Reservoir
“Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir” — The Manhattan skyline below Central Park from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis Reservoir.

Last fall we were in New York for family visits and to see a performance at the Metropolitan Opera. It was a lovely autumn day in Manhattan so we went for a long walk. We typically stay at a place a bit to the west of the Park, and our mornings often include walks there in one form or another. This time we headed further north from our usual routes and ended up walking around this manmade lake.

When I think of Central Park, this reservoir isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. To me it is more about lawns and trees and curving pathways, people enjoying what counts as the “natural world” in this city, and a steady stream of walkers, cyclists, runners, and more. But it seems to get less crowded up here by the lake, and views open up, unobstructed by trees.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Aspen Slopes

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Aspen Slopes
“Aspen Slopes” — Aspen covered slopes on the east side of the Sierra Nevada.

People new to the autumn aspen “scene” in the Sierra Nevada often ask, “Where is the best place to find the aspens in the Eastern Sierra?” My answer may sound facetious, but it is accurate — “In the Eastern Sierra!” Sure, there are particular places where everyone goes to look and photograph, and many of them are spectacular. But the trees are everywhere. Drive across any Sierra Pass (slowly!) and you’ll find them. Head up or down US305 and watch (mostly) to the west, and you’ll see tons of them. Head up into most any east side canyon and they will be there.

In some other places large swaths of trees change virtually at the same time — in New England, for example. But things are more varied in the Sierra, and the color sustains itself for almost a month. It starts at the highest elevations and more in the north than the south. Then, generally speaking, it works its way from high to low and from north to south — through there are some variations here and there caused by exposure and availability of water. The trees in this photograph are in the transition zone between the dry high desert terrain and the first conifer forests as the elevation rises.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.