Tag Archives: autumn

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

Tall Black Oaks, Autumn

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Tall Black Oaks, Autumn
“Tall Black Oaks, Autumn” — Tall black oak trees in autumn colors in Yosemite Valley.

I think I photographed these oak trees at just about the peak of their fall color, and I also managed to show up when the light was just right. Autumn oak leaves tend more toward brown than golden, but in the right kind of backlight they can glow and even produce a rich golden color. The light here was quite soft, which is also beneficial, but with cloud-softened light on the trees in the middle of the frame.

The meadows of Yosemite Valley are marvelous places, even if these days our access to them is more restricted than it once was. In winter they are quiet and often filled with morning ground fog. In the spring new growth bursts forth and they are very green places. In summer the grasses turn that “California gold” color as everything dries out. And for a short time in autumn the golden colors extend up into the tree tops.

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

Stream, Autumn Reflections

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Stream, Autumn Reflections
“Stream, Autumn Reflections” — An Eastern Sierra Nevada stream reflects autumn aspen colors.

This is an older photograph (by a year or so) of a stream that I have photographed before — and I have shared other photographs of it here. It is a spot that I frequently pass, often stopping but typically not photographing. In some ways the subject can seem like a bit of a one-trick pony, and it is often photographed in pretty much the same way. But I stopped on this afternoon and liked the light, especially the bright aspens and their reflection in the stream.

On a technical note, this is a somewhat challenging kind of photograph to make. The difficulty is that there is a huge range of luminosity values between the brightly sunlit golden aspen leaves and the much darker creek running through the shadows. In the early days of digital photography this might have required a blend of two or more images, each optimized for either the bright or dark tones. But with a modern camera it is now possible to capture a useful single exposure and post-process it while retaining good quality.

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

Autumn Aspen Thicket

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Autumn Aspen Thicket
“Autumn Aspen Thicket” — A thicket of dense aspen trees with autumn leaves, Eastern Sierra Nevada.

This photograph comes from near the end of the autumn aspen color transition. Although one can stretch the season out to about one month, eventually the leaves all fall and we’re left with bare trunks. Generally speaking, the leaves fall first at higher elevations, and that’s where I found this grove. While the fully colorful trees are exciting, I also like this stage when the white trunks start to become the stars of the show.

There are many ways to photograph aspen trees, but I’m particularly fond of softer light. I find this when there is some thin overcast, or very early or late in the day, or even in light rain to snowfall. In this case I photographed at a time when nearby tall ridges blocked the direct sunlight, and the soft light filled the shadows.

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

Valley Light, Autumn

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Valley Light, Autumn
“Valley Light, Autumn” — Autumn light on trees in El Capitan Meadow, Yosemite Valley.

By now this meadow and its trees and beautiful light seem like old friends. Over the years I have photographed these subjects many times — in winter snow, autumn color, spring greenery, and even in the hot, crowded summer months. Many things have changed during that time. A few trees have fallen and their trunks and branches decay, and a few young, new trees have appeared. Access has become more difficult as the Park Service tries to protect the vegetation, a change about which those of us who remember the “before times” have mixed feelings.

Ironically, the beautiful light streaming down through a gap in the upper cliffs and lighting the trees and meadows is emphasized here by smoke. It being autumn when I made the photograph, it was the season for managed fires, set in order to clear out excess undergrowth and promote a more healthy forest. But still, it was a bit disappointing to arrive in the Valley and find it full of smoke — until I noticed the beautiful effect it had on this light!

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.