Tag Archives: ridge

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Lake, Meadow, and Alpenglow

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Lake, Meadow, and Alpenglow
“Lake, Meadow, and Alpenglow” — An alpine lake and alpenglow on Yosemite backcountry peaks.

Over the years I have visited this lake many times. I feel like I know it pretty well now, but I still discover new things each time I go there. My first visit was on a very long day hike in the early fall, in golden light and cooler temperatures. After that I made it a backpacking destination quite a few times, and from here I explored other higher lakes nearby.

On the trip when I made this photograph I had gone earlier in the season to set up a photography base camp. From here I hiked daily to higher lakes, where I photographed more alpine country. A special feature of this location is that it lies on the west side of a ridge running somewhat north-south, with a completely open vista to the west. Late in the day this landscape fills with colorful sunset light.

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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

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Carson Peak, Grant Lake

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Carson Peak, Grant Lake
Misty Carson Peak catches the light in the distance beyond the low water of Grant Lake.

Carson Peak, Grant Lake. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Misty Carson Peak catches the light in the distance beyond the low water of Grant Lake.

This photograph comes from an early June visit to the east side of the Sierra Nevada a few years ago. The trip began with a quick pass through Yosemite Valley, where I photographed late dogwood blossoms and other flowers before heading over the crest on Tioga Pass Road for a few days of photography on the other side of the range. On an early trip like this I tend to hit some of the favorites first and then branch out to new locations. This spot is one of those familiar favorites.

As you have probably noticed, the low water in the foreground is a big hint that Grant Lake is there for water management, and that it is not a natural lake. A dark ridge looms beyond the upper end of the lake, framing the familiar view of Carson Peak. It was an afternoon and evening of clouds and some precipitation near the crest, and as the late light hits this peak some remnants of the moisture soften its contours.

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: Nature, Photographs: Sequoia-Kings Canyon, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Lake, Trees, and Mountains at Dawn

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Lake, Trees, and Mountains at Dawn
A quiet morning at a High Sierra backcountry lake in Sequoia National Park.

Lake, Trees, and Mountains at Dawn. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A quiet morning at a High Sierra backcountry lake in Sequoia National Park.

As is often the case, one thing leads to another, and I sometimes end up in a place I did not anticipate. I saw a question online about a particular sort of landscape subject, and I immediately thought of a photograph of mine that was related to that discussion. But after finding my photograph and thinking how it might inform that discussion… I decided not to share it. But looking for that photograph sent me back into an archive of photographs from a wonderful trans-Sierra pack trip I made almost fifteen years ago — and that’s where I found this photograph. (Perhaps not surprisingly, I’m now revisiting that entire archive!)

That trip was a wonderful one. A small group of friends(1) spent almost two weeks on the trail, crossing the range from west to east. On such a long trip some days are devoted to just moving onward toward the eventual goal, and this was one of those days. We selected this camp location because it was conveniently located along our route. This lake is not what I regard as an alpine spectacle — instead it is a quiet place, and a fine spot to just slow down for a moment. I was up early the next day to photograph the first light on nearby peaks in the morning quiet.

1 — Bonus photo! Here’s a picture of our little gang on the summit of Mount Whitney near the end of the trip.

Talusdancers on Mount Whitney, 2008
The Talusdances on the summit of Mount Whitney, August 11, 2008. (L-R: Ernie, Caroline, Owen, Emily, Steve, Dan)

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 to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sequoia-Kings Canyon

Evening Dunes

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Evening Dunes
Soft early-evening light on san dunes as the last sun strike distant desert mountains.

Evening Dunes. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Soft early-evening light on sand dunes as the last sun strikes distant desert mountains.

Photographers (and other creatives) understand that their perspective on their own work will always differ from those of others. It cannot be any other way. Only the photographer — that’s me! — knows the circumstances and experiences of making the image. No one else can ever see the photograph the way I do or know all of the associations it evokes. Perhaps this is a reason that we tell stories about photographs. We hope to fill in some of what the photograph alone cannot tell.

So, some backstory: This was the first time I visited at this semi-remote desert location. I planned to photograph in the evening, camp nearby that night, and photograph again in the morning. My camp was a bit more than a half hour walk from the location, and this was the very last photograph I made that evening. Astute observers (and fellow photographers) may wonder: “Why did you stop when that light was still on the mountains?” Well… I was there to photograph the dunes. It was extremely windy and the low light was becoming more of a problem. The light on the mountains was beautiful, but there wasn’t a photograph there. And I had a long walk back to my camp, alone and across terrain that I had not visited before.

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 | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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