What seemed like a never ending summer with endless record highs and out of control wildfires in the Sierra Nevada, Autumn was a much needed change to the climate. Rain showers and snow high in the mountains was welcomed with open arms. The shorter nights although did not get the same greeting. Here are some of my favorite creations by my camera and my eye:
When low clouds enter the valley, you have to focus on the lower elevations. Yosemite Falls which was non-existent for the past few months came back as a trickle momentarily but a nice overnight rain brought back the once mighty waterfall.Clear skies in November mean cold temperatures at night and in the morning. Since the sun sets early, morning walks become the new normal to get a much needed dose of vitamin D. Before the wind of the day the Merced River lays silently still and makes for an outstanding mirror.A tall golden oak stands tall in front of one of the many monoliths inside Yosemite. This landmark known as Elephant Rock can be missed by most visitors. This area is one of my favorites, it brings me back to my childhood, climbing large boulders and jumping over the water.A long exposure right after the sun goes down captures all the action going down on El Capitan. There are quite a few headlamps on the route from “Free Solo.” Travelers driving on Northside Drive light up the oak trees with multiple shades of light and foliage.Ilhouette Creek resurges with a autumn rain and flows into the nearby Merced River.On election night, I managed to get to the ballot box right as the sky turned purple. It pretty much rained all day and then opened briefly for a sign of the upcoming change in politics.Cottonwood trees turn bright yellow at this beautiful bend on the Merced River. This area gets a little sun at the end of the day which caught my eye. I wasn’t capable of creating the backlit piece I saw briefly but it still turned out great. The sun goes down very fast in the canyon!Clouds Rest stands tall at the east end of Yosemite Valley. Our first rain of the season brought snow to the high elevations and makes for an interesting perspective of snow to snowmelt.
The canyon near El Portal has many huge bends go the Merced River. This creates great view of the black water and the surrounding foliage. As the height of the river retreats it reveals tall grasses that light up and contrast with the oak trees.Standing in the rain and watching low clouds crash into El Capitan is an amazing experience. Most people probably disagree but the stone and the plants love the water and create bolder colors.An Aspen grove is one of the largest living organisms on the planet. When they grow together they create amazing scenes of bark and color. Here on the June Lake Loop, aspens create a golden canopy.An amazing morning drive from Markleeville to the Eastern Sierra via Monitor Pass was a pleasant surprise. The colors and the mountains in this area were breathtaking.I was anticipating a brightly lit pink or purple cloudy sky but just missed. A faint hint of color still got me excited and made for a great end to the day.In Albuquerque, the Bosque, goes along the Rio Grande. Its an amazing area for recreation. Birding, biking and fishing are popular activities. Snow in the mountains of the Sierra doesn’t mean the lower elevations are ready for winter. A large aspen grove stays bright even as winter creeps closer.Random trees along the Merced River can be quite an attraction. This icon is mixed with dogwoods in background that bring a little red to the party.
Thank you for checking out some of my favorites from this autumn. I have been printing 8″x10″ prints with a mat border and hoping to start doing some pop-ups. As always though, all images are available for custom prints and framing. I will be doing large formats to decorate our house as well. They will be for sale so let us know if you are interested. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there and stay safe during the transition form fall to winter. – Luke
