Tag Archives: sky

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, Meadow

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Alpenglow, Meadow
“Alpenglow, Meadow” — Evening alpenglow comes to high peaks beyond a flower-filled meadoow, John Muir Wilderness.

Since I was unable to get to the Sierra much this season — it is a long story — I’m revisiting the archives, where I find a lot of interesting photographs that were “left behind.” This one comes from a trip into a high backcountry region with a group of fellow photographers a few years back. We set up a basecamp in a high basin just over the crest, and spent a week photographing the heck out of the surrounding terrain.

I made this photograph of evening alpenglow on the surrounding peaks from a stunning meadow that we discovered about 10 minutes walk above our camp. The meadow was open to 360 degrees of alpine terrain, and it was filled with wildflowers, even though it was near the end of August. (One of our group members, stunned when he first saw the meadow, named it “******* Julie Andrews Meadow.” I’ll leave you to guess the missing word.)

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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Two Peaks, Clearing Storm

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Two Peaks, Clearing Storm
“Two Peaks, Clearing Storm” — Clouds from a summer storm begin to clear above two fog-bound Sierra Nevada Peaks.

Rainy weather in the Sierra Nevada often produces post-storm treats, and many of them involve light and clouds and fog. The storms, often brief afternoon or early evening affairs, increase the humidity and drop the temperatures. So once they begin to dissipate it is common to see clouds floating among the peaks, and if you are in the right spot you might even be wrapped in fog. I photographed these two peaks and the clearing sky after one such storm.

The skies are usually clear on most Sierra Nevada summer days. In fact, sometimes they are clear for so long that photographers start to lament the constant blue sky and sun! But every so often moister air floats up the range and afternoon storms ensue. There are no guarantees, but many of them are gone by sunset. The storm that produced these clearing clouds was an exception, a full day of rain that largely kept us tent-bound until this evening.

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.