Aspen-covered hillside
Conditions on the eastern side of the Sierra haven’t changed much since my post two days ago. In other words, the autumn color is still wonderful. I’ll just add that we got a closer look at Dunderberg Meadow, and it’s a bit past peak, but still beautiful. We also checked out Lee Vining Canyon today, and there’s plenty of color there, though some groves are still green. Around the June Lake Loop, the beautiful hillside between Grant and Silver lakes is about half green, but the aspens in the nearby valley floor have all turned, and some are even bare.
Aspens, willows, and an American coot
There should be plenty of color for at least the next week. Some aspens will lose their leaves, but the green ones will turn soon. I’ll be in Yosemite Valley tomorrow, and I’m anxious to see how much the color has changed. I’ll let you know what I find!
Here are a couple of images from the last few days. I’ll post more when I can.
—Michael Frye
Related posts: Autumn Has Finally Arrived in the Eastern Sierra; App Update is Ready; Fall Color in Yosemite;
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author and photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters, plus the eBook Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom. He has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
I can only say your work is outstanding, interesting and well recieved and I look forward to each addition.
I do have one question regarding much of your landscape photography.
Do you rely on Hyperfocal distance for focusing?
Thank you
Jim
Thanks for the intel Michael. Heading towards Mariposa at the moment and over to the East Side tomorrow, so this is very timely !
Thank you for the fall report Michael! I’ve been looking forward to shooting the fall colors in the Eastern Sierras all year and am happy that I’m finally going to be able to go this weekend! Your thoughts and work are always inspiring to me. Thanks for writing such a great blog.
Best,
Ida
I love the shot with the coot!
Too funny…. my husband was at Lundy and Virginia Lakes yesterday getting some shots!
He took a shot at Lundy with a coot too! Great minds think alike!
I too love the shot with the coot. They are such funny birds – lots of character! I can’t wait to hear what you find in the Valley, as I’m going to be there next week (can’t wait!) I’m in the area for too short a time, else I’d make the trip over to the Eastern Sierras for sure.
Thanks for all the updates, Michael!
Michael,
Could I have your permission to repost some of the photos from your site (with credit and reference to your site) on CaliforniaFallColor? We’re getting great pickup and coverage around California in media (LA Times, KCET, lots of weathercasters and media) and it could give your site a larger audience? If so, I’d always refer folks to your site and credit you. Best to you. JP
Jim, thanks very much – I appreciate the kind words. I do use hyperfocal distance in situations where depth of field is an issue. But I don’t use hyperfocal charts or anything like that. I can’t really describe the procedure here, but you can find detailed descriptions in both the book and iPhone app versions of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, and in my book Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters.
Chris, you’re welcome, and have a great time!
And the same goes for you Ida – hope you get some good photos over there.
Kim, great minds indeed! 🙂 In this case it was either grumble about the coot getting in the way, or use it as part of the composition, so I chose the latter.
Vivienne, coots do have a lot of character – they’re a bit pugnacious I think. Valley report is coming soon.
John, sure, that would be great – I’ll answer you by email.