Clouds and Trees, Bishop Creek Canyon, Eastern Sierra Nevada, CA

This month’s photo was taken February 10, 2005 out at Farmers Pond in California’s Owens Valley. Once again I was at the pond hoping to catch a nice sunset. The clouds looked great that evening and there was enough open sky over the mountains that I thought this would be an awesome one. Mother Nature had other plans though and the sunset colors never came. The reflections in the pond were so amazing though, I couldn’t let them go without getting some shots.

I’ve always loved the color version of this image. Even though the lighting wasn’t the greatest, the clouds and those reflections are so awesome. One night last year I decided to play around with this image in black and white. As I got deeper and deeper into the black and white I began to realize that this is what this image needed. The black and white captured what I’ve always loved about the image, the reflections and the way the clouds frame the mountains.

Ever since finding Farmers Pond back in the mid 90’s, I’ve tried to get a great reflection shot there. With the black and white version of this image I finally got it.

Prints of this image can be purchased at 25% off the regular price
through the end of February 2010.
Purchase Eastern Sierra Reflection

The movie from the 12th is totally different though. In it the clouds are coming up the valley from the south. This brings in more moisture since the air doesn’t have to move over the mountains, and sure enough, it leads to snow in Bishop. The snow looks really cool in the time-lapse.

You can see both movies here: Bishop Cam Time-Lapse December 11 & 12

Thanks Cory.

One more thing, if you guys want to see a bunch of pictures from Mammoth, Robin has put many on her blog, Life On the Eastern Slope
Go check it out!

Anyway, the weather is here. Our last 70 degree day was Sunday. Since then I don’t think we’ve gotten out of the 50’s and aren’t forecast too either. I’ve marked 9-27 on my calendar so I can see if that’s the last 70 of the year.

Today begins 3 days of cool, damp, rainy autumn weather. In fact, of the next 5 days, only Sunday doesn’t have rain in the forecast. It’s been getting chilly at night too. Here at the house we’ve hit 40, but other areas in South-east Wisconsin have had frost. Up in Northern Wisconsin they had a low of 23 two nights ago.

The Sierra Nevada received it’s first dusting of snow two nights ago. More is expected this weekend with a couple inches possible over the crest. Big winds are also forecast to hit the Sierra Saturday. That’s not good for the fall colors hunters.

It looks like Bishop’s lows have been dipping pretty close to the freezing mark and it just might hit it the first of next week.

Summer has fled and Fall is definitely here.

It’s just Lady Sierra reminding everyone that she’s not quite done growing yet

• Eastern Sierra Fall Color Flickr Group
• Phillip Colla Photography: Banzai Run to Bishop Creek & Rock Creek
• latoga photography: Eastern Sierra Fall Foliage Highlights I
• Luminous Exposure: Eastern Sierra Fall Color Report

There are a few photographers not included in the list because you can see their images in the Eastern Sierra Flickr Group.

Here’s one more link. It’s not Eastern Sierra images but Vermont images and they are awesome.

Joseph Rossbach Photography: Vermont Color Update

Greetings all — Fall is coming to the Owens Valley, but truly spectacuIar color is, as of now, limited to the Bishop Creek area at higher elevations.  I spent today at North
Lake, Lake Sabrina and South Lake.  Holy Moly!  It wasgorgeous out there!!!  Here’s the summary:

NORTH LAKE

Swarming with photographers in the a.m.  Afternoon colors were vivid and shadows fascinating.  Lighting is very harsh at mid-day as there was not a cloud in the sky.  Many of the aspens on the slope on the north side of the lake are past peak and has turned reddish brown.  There is plenty of red, orange, yellow and green.  The tunnel area is like a green and yellow 50/50 bar.  The entire North Lake area — especially on the slopes is definitely close to or at peak. Some trees have gone brown or are brown-spotted.  Given the weather forecast for gusty winds and cold starting late Monday into Tuesday, I’d say tomorrow or Monday may be your best bet for spectacular color.

SOUTH LAKE

The road to South Lake is lined with oranges, reds, greens and yellows.  It is simply spectacular, but as with North Lake, may go past peak quickly when the weather front kicks in.

LAKE SABRINA

Sabrina is in third place of these three locations, but still, plenty of color and some bright red aspens for those who can hike across the dam and around the lake.

OTHER BISHOP CREEK LOCATIONS
Intake 2 is very green as are the lower elevations of South Fork of Bishop Creek, Aspendell (almost totally green), etc.

In summary, the high alpine locations will be done in short order, but for those of you planning to come up this week or next, the color is just starting at lower elevations.  BTW, the concensus of those who traveled up to Bridgeport, Virginia Lakes, Lundy Lakes, June Lake Loop, etc., is that’s everything is still green.  Too early for prime time.  But with the cold windy weather expected, anything can happen.

Tomorrow, I’m out to the Bishop Creek area again, then possibly up to Rock Creek.  Travel safely everyone.

We also have an update from Mike at Luminous Exposure
Mike has some great pictures posted from his trip.

Thanks to both of these readers for the updates!

• Bishop Creek Fall Color Update Sept q8 2009
• Bishop Canyon Sept 18, Flickr Images

Greg Boyer has also been following the colors in the Eastern Sierra and has many reports on his blog. Here is his latest.

• Fall Color Update #6

Parchers Resort up Bishop Creek has begun their reports that include pictures.

• Bishop Creek Canyon Color Report

That’s all I have for now. There are plenty of photographers heading to the area beginning this next week. I’m sure Twitter will be all a buzz once their reports begin coming in. So stay tuned.

I was also very happy to share my adventures with everyone on SierraVisions and on photo groups like CalPhoto. For many years I was the main fall color reporter for the Eastern Sierra and I tried to keep everyone informed about what was happening.

Boy have times changed.

Now, on their blogs, many photographers report about Fall in the Eastern Sierra. Twitter, Facebook and Flickr are ringing with Eastern Sierra activity. We also have two people in Bishop giving first hand reports now. And I’m sure that when October rolls in and the hills are alive with the sound of clicking shutters, we’ll have reports flowing in as fast as Bishop Creek flows down it’s canyon.

And you know what? I think that’s pretty cool. It’s awesome that the internet can provide photographers with all of this information. Many of these photographer only get a few days out of the year to shoot fall in the Eastern Sierra and this helps them better prepare for their trips and gives them a chance to come up with ideas about the images they want to capture. That’s a very positive thing.

But there’s a negative side too. News of the Eastern Sierra’s Fall color show is now reaching more and more photographers from around the world. Many are planning their trips to Bishop Creek, Lundy Lake, June Lake Loop, Rock Creek Canyon and all of the great aspens displays of the Eastern Sierra. Once October rolls in and the color show really gets going, the canyons will be crawling with photographers trying to capture those great images. It was crazy the last few years that I lived in Bishop. I have a bad feeling this year could be insane.

Personally, I’m kind of glad that I’m far away from the madness of it all. For me, nature photography is about being alone in the wilderness creating beautiful images of Mother Nature. It’s about connecting with those special, spiritual feelings that you only get when you’re alone in the wilderness. I don’t get a lot of enjoyment dodging other photographers and trying to stay out of their shots while many of them walk right into mine.

So for all of you who plan on going to the Eastern Sierra this fall, I wish you all the luck in the world. I hope you get some great images and have a great time creating them. I also hope that you don’t twist an ankle dodging all of the tripod legs As for me, I’ll be up in Minnesota shooting fall colors along the shores of Lake Superior, Mille Lacs Lake and the places in between. After that I’ll be chasing colors here in Wisconsin and down in Illinois. There’s a chance that I might see another photographer or two. There’s also a chance that I’ll have it all to myself.

Here’s the links:

• Sierra Impressions: Rock Creek Fall Color Report 9-12-09
• Photos from Rock Creek 9-12-09
• Eastern Sierra Fall Colors Flickr Group