Tag Archives: trees

Canyon Trees, Layered Rocks, Autumn

Canyon Trees, Layered Rocks, Autumn
“Canyon Trees, Layered Rocks, Autumn” — Layered rocks and small trees with the last leaves of autumn, Utah.

This was a magical spot at a deeply-shadowed bend in the canyon of an Utah River. A small group of us had spent the morning working our way slowly through a section of red rock canyon, alternating between sun in the straight sections and shade where the river inevitably made the next bend. At every bend we would peek around the corner, see something interesting, and say, “Just to the next bend.” Finally, we ran out of time at this point, photographed here, then turned around and started back.

Continue reading Canyon Trees, Layered Rocks, Autumn

Autumn Black Oak Leaves

Autumn Black Oak Leaves
“Autumn Black Oak Leaves” — Autumn black oak leaves in Yosemite Valley.

Is it ever too early to start thinking about autumn? I don’t think so! Every fall I revisit familiar places to photograph the signs of the changing seasons. One of these is Yosemite Valley, where the most interesting colors often peak right around Halloween. At a minimum I make a long day trip up and back from the San Francisco Bay Area. But my preference is to visit for at least a coupe of days.

Continue reading Autumn Black Oak Leaves

Boulder Mountain Aspens, Evening

Boulder Mountain Aspens, Evening
“Boulder Mountain Aspens, Evening” — Autumn aspen trees near Boulder Mountain, Utah.

I took me a while to figure out this location in Utah, along the edge of Boulder Mountain. Years ago we drove through here in the spring, and I was astonished by the huge aspen groves. I resolved to return in the autumn, and a few years later we did —timing our visit to synchronize with peak of California’s Eastern Sierra aspen color. It turns out that the color change earlier in Utah, and by the time we arrived the groves were past their peak.

Continue reading Boulder Mountain Aspens, Evening

Autumn Trees, Canyon Wall

Autumn Trees, Canyon Wall
“Autumn Trees, Canyon Wall” — A small grove of autumn cottonwood trees next to the wall of a Utah canyon.

A few years ago three of us explored a long section of narrow canyon in Utah, looking for photographs in this rich landscape. We started in a broad valley where a stream flowed between low hills, but soon the walls rose and steepened and the valley narrowed, and we found ourselves following a creek. The canyon was alternately wide and then narrow and constricted.

Continue reading Autumn Trees, Canyon Wall