Tag Archives: clouds

Photographs: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature

Mono Lake, Before Dawn

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Mono Lake, Before Dawn
“Mono Lake, Before Dawn” — Colorful pre-dawn clouds over Mono Lake.

This photograph may look very similar to a previously shared Mono Lake photo — both feature the reflecting surface of the lake and a colorful sky. But they are quite different images, photographed from very different places and at different times of the day. The other one was from an evening when afternoon thunderstorm clouds were dissipating. This one is from just before dawn on a hazy morning with high clouds illuminated by the colorful pre-dawn sky.

While that previous photograph was made right on the shoreline of the lake, this one used a more distant camera position. I had headed up into the Eastern Sierra foothills to search for aspen color, and I was exploring some less-used gravel backroads. This higher perspective allowed me to include more of the lake. (It is hard to see, but it extends far beyond the nearer portion that reflects the colorful sky.).

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: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature

Two Peaks, Aspens

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Two Peaks, Aspens
“Two Peaks, Aspens” — Two peaks surrounded by autumn aspen forest.

When I became aware of the Eastern Sierra Nevada autumn aspen color spectacle a few decades ago, I became obsessed. I traveled there every autumn over a period of several weeks, often visiting three or more times, and photographing up and down the range. I got to know this subject quite well — so well that I eventually was asked to write a book about it! I still love those trees during fall, my favorite season in the Sierra. However, as the area became more popular I began to look to other areas besides the Sierra.

This photograph comes from one of many areas east of the Sierra where you can find fall color. I first spotted this general location years ago on a drive through a section of high desert, and wondered how to get up there. I figured it out before long, and on my first visit I found vast forests of aspens and great long views of the Eastern Sierra. As I continued to explore I found even more color, often in places that are barely visited.

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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Alpenglow, Dissipating Thunderhead

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Alpenglow, Dissipating Thunderhead
“Alpenglow, Dissipating Thunderhead” — An afternoon thunderstorm dissipates above developing alpenglow on Sierra Nevada peaks and flower-filled meadow, John Muir Wilderness.

I remember this evening well. I’m not always sure why, but the details of certain specific days in the Sierra stick with me. As I recall, it was a quiet evening well into our weeklong stay near the lower end of this high basin. We were relaxed and enjoying the spectacle of large storms dissipating to our south as the evening approached.

These peaks and ridges and this meadow were our friends for that week, and we saw them in diverse conditions and light. Even though it was late summer, the wildflowers peaked near our arrival and were perhaps just beginning to fade. We viewed and photographed that ridge in morning and evening light, on days that were clear and when the view was obstructed by haze, clouds, or rain.

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: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sky

Mono Lake, Dissipating Storm

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Mono Lake, Dissipating Storm
“Mono Lake, Dissipating Storm” — An evening thunderstorm dissipates above Mono Lake on an autumn evening.

It is well understood that some of the most interesting landscape photography light comes at the edges of the day, around sunrise or sunset. When things work out just right, Sierra Nevada weather conditions amplify this light. During the summer months afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon, and they often break up around sunset, allowing light from the west to dramatically illuminate and color the clouds.

I had been photographing in mixed light during the afternoon — sometimes it was clear, but at other times is was overcast. As the day moved toward sunset, I was passing along the west shore of Mono Lake as clouds dissipated and that western light turned the thinning storm clouds into a fiery cloudscape above the lake.

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.