Tag Archives: eastern

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

Aspen Leaves, Morning Frost

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Aspen Leaves, Morning Frost
“Aspen Leaves, Morning Frost” — Fallen aspen leaves covered in morning frost, Eastern Sierra Nevada.

I had been photographing long views of colorful aspen groves on mountainsides as the sun came up. Photography in quickly-changing early morning light can be intense, and ideal conditions only last a short time. As the sun rose the light soon become too intense for the photographs I was interested in, so I went for a stroll along the base of a nearby rocky hill where it was still shady.

The hill produced the conditions that made this photograph possible. The most obvious was that the shaded light remained soft, revealing subtle elements in this little scene. Because direct sunlight had not yet arrived, the fallen leaves were still covered in frost. Morover, it is likely that the leaves collected here in the first place because the hill provided some protection from wind.

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

Sierra Stream, Aspen Color

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Sierra Stream, Aspen Color
“Sierra Stream, Aspen Color” — An Eastern Sierra Nevada stream lined with autumn aspen trees.

I photographed this scene on my recent trip to the Eastern Sierra Nevada to photograph autumn color. Though they are not the only source of fall color — look closely to see others in the photo — the aspen trees are the stars of the show. I arrived at just about the right moment, as there were lots of very colorful trees. But the trip was cut short when extremely strong winds arrived, bringing down many of the peak color leaves. I made this photograph after waiting patiently for a lull between the gusts!

Since this is my first 2025 fall color photo I will add a brief general update. (You can find more detailed information about Sierra fall color here.) While you can find aspen color, mostly on the eastern side of the range, from late September into the third week of October or so, the peak color tends to be during the first two weeks of the month. It generally works its way from high elevations to lower elevations and to some extent from north to south during this period. Although there is good color this year — better than average in my view — the weather is creating some challenges. The wind event I experience was one. Wind strips the most colorful leaves from the aspen trees, but the color ofter comes back a few days later as green trees transition. However, the forecast is for a somewhat unusual early-season winter-like storm this coming Monday through Wednesday, and the current prediction is for more than a foot of snow down to 7000′ or lower — which will likely close a number of the trans-Sierra passes.

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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: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Evening Light, Trees

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Evening Light, Trees
“Evening Light, Trees” — Just before sunset, evening light slants across trees high in the Eastern Sierra.

In late July a group of us camped for two nights at a lake just east of the Sierra Nevada crest. The lake is at about 10,000′ of elevation, and peaks to the west tower almost 3000′ higher. That tall ridge (the Sierra crest) begins to block the direct light remarkably early, in some places an hour and a half or longer before actual sunset. To photograph the “late” light close to this ridge I had to start quite early!

I had a rough plan to start closer to the ridge and catch the last direct light there on this rocky rise, and to then work my way to the east, following that edge of the light. This was one of the first photographs I made, and you can see the alpine terrain beyond these trees growing in this rocky landscape..

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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: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Dawn, Pond and Mountains

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Dawn, Pond and Mountains
“Dawn, Pond and Mountains” — Sunrise light strikes Sierra Crest peaks and is reflected in the surface of a subalpine pond.

I recently spent a few days backpacking with long-time friends and few new friends. We headed into the mountains just east of Yosemite and the Sierra crest, spending days in a high place — we were just above 10,000′ the entire time. We camped near this pond, so I was up before dawn to be here for the sunrise show as the first light appeared on the high peaks to our east.

Traveling in the backcountry with non-photographers is always a different experience. During the past few decades I have mostly backpacked by myself or else gone out with other photographers. We photographers have our odd rituals: up in the darkness, breakfast at mid-morning, dinner before the good evening light, then out to photograph and not back until dark. Sometimes I wonder if the others think I’m some kind of ghost.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

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.