Autumn in the Sierras: Part 2
October 31, 2011 | By Nick Carver
Welcome back for part 2 of my trip to the Sierras! This post covers the second half of Day 2 - from afternoon to sunset. I spent much of the daytime hours getting the intimate details of this beautiful landscape. Close-up shots like these tend to be more forgiving of the harsh, midday light. Also, without the time crunch of beating a setting sun, I was able to relax a bit and concentrate on the details for a change.
The following 5 pictures were taken on the side of South Lake Road where sunlight was creeping out just perfectly to backlight these aspens against the dark shade of a cliff. I really enjoyed playing with the contrast between the bright yellows and deep shadow.
As the sun started to drop, I bounced around to several locations I thought would make the most of the late afternoon light. One of my favorite spots was this little pond (2nd picture down) where some gorgeous aspens reflected nicely in the still water. This location sure tried my patience, though. Not only was it difficult to find a stable footing in the marshy meadow, but then I accidentally stepped right into the pond on my way back to the car. Drenched my socks and shoes. No fun...
After sunset, I took some photos along the nearby creek, but I'm going to put those in the 3rd and final installment of my trip. So watch for those along with the rest of the pictures from my last day in the Sierras!
