Here are a few more photo from my eastern Sierra autumn trip.

Most of the colorful aspens throughout the areas I visited this year were shades of yellow and gold. I found a few areas with oranges in the mix. I discovered just how varied and temperamental the leaf change is as you change elevations and conditions. At 7,500 feet the aspens were still mostly green. In the photo below, taken at about 9,000 feet, there must have been a wind that came through, since many of the branches were already bare.

I was standing beside the lake, along with several other photographers. It was probably around 6:30am when I arrived. I had my tripod set in a location that I determined the previous evening. We were chatting and waiting for sunrise. Sunrise came and went, creating a soft glow on the mountains. I continued to wait and chat, wondering what the light would do when it hit the ridges on the other side of the lake. I watched as the light hit the tips of the peaks and slowly move down the mountain. There must have been some clouds toward the horizon behind me, which allowed itself to create a soft spotlight on the aspens down by the lake. Within moments, the effect had passed.

Toward the end of my week, a minor snow storm passed through. I decided to explore areas along this creek for compositions. It was snowing during both of these photos below.

I have a few California Vistas calendars left. To learn more about my calendars or purchase one, click here.

To see the full gallery from this trip, click here.

I took a week in early October in the eastern Sierra Mountains, wandering around creeks in the aspens, enjoying the fall colors. Unfortunately, smoke from the fires in Sequoia National Park drifted into the area soon after I arrived and stayed for most of the week. Here are a few photos from early in the week. More will come later.

Calendars and the World Wildlife Fund

A quick note about calendars. As mentioned previously, all proceeds from my calendar sales will be donated to a charity that supports the environment. I have decided on that charity: World Wildlife Fund. The reason I chose them is that this group had special impact on me. They provide educational materials for teachers to use in the classroom. I used these materials when I taught 5th grade. While teaching my students about issues and caring for the environment, it caused me to look at my own behaviors and make small changes in my habits to help reduce my environmental footprint.

To learn more about my calendars or purchase one, click here.