Fallen leaves carpet a grassy grove of aspens in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The magical grove was found during an afternoon exploring and was quite an exciting find. Sometimes you find areas that are perfectly like a dream, this was one of those moments for me. The afternoon light was playing peek-a-boo through the aspens and lighting the leaves to provide a vibrant color splash of warmth.

Dramatic fall color display in the Eastern Sierra Mountains near Mammoth Lakes, California. The morning light providing a rainbow amongst the light rain and heavy winds of a chilly fall morning.

Long Exposure on the shores of Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. A Summer afternoon filled with clouds helped to light and frame the beautiful mountain backdrop behind the lake.

Clouds and light dance around the peak of Mt. Whitney, Lone Pine, California

A group of aspens guard a grove of fall colors in the afternoon light. Eastern Sierra Nevada, California 2019

Sunrise Long Exposure at Rainbow Falls, Mammoth Lakes, CA

A magical grove of aspens in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, California. Long grass covered the ground and leaves dotted the grove, making a magical scene that left me spinning in amazement. Alone with the quiet sound of the aspens blowing in the wind I was on an Island of bliss.

A shot from the end of 2019 at Hot Creek Geological Site near Mammoth Lakes, California. The milky way naturally aligns with this valley and creek to create a magical scene in the later part of summer and fall.

Mono Lake is almost 1 million years old and sits in a basin that was formed by geologic activity millions of years ago. It is a terminal lake, water flows in but not out, making it high in salinity. While it is home to no fish because of this, it is home to trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies which support bird migrations through the year. The tufas, which the lake is known for, are limestone concentrates formed at the bottom of the lake which are revealed as the lake level has dropped. On the shoreline you can see vegetation which has turned white from the salinity of the water as it has risen in the past years. In the past, water levels have dropped because of water being diverted for other purposes such as drinking water and agriculture. The lowering of the water put migratory birds in danger of losing a vital source, but thanks to activist the water has been re-diverted and lake levels have been rising.

Milky Way rising over a small Barrel Cactus in the Alabama Hills, California.

Milky Way composite over Rainbow Falls, Mammoth Lakes, California

Angry skies over the HWY 395 house in Lee Vining, CA.

Colorful sunset at the Hot Creek Geological Site in Mammoth Lakes, California

Fall colors and lake reflection in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, CA

It is pretty amazing to see the displays of color that nature can make at specific times of the year. We see them during the spring time and the flowers blooming, the summertime and the lush greens, or the fall with the bright colors of the foliage. When I see displays at these times of the year it reminds me of nature acting as a symphony or choir, and blasting out music for us all to hear or in this case see. This Lone Pine Tree amongst a Grove of Aspens reminded me of these times and it seemed as though the pine was a great conductor to nature’s symphony.

Long Exposure on a stormy day at the South Tufas of Mono Lake, California

Sunset with one of the more famous Ancient Bristlecones in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Near Big Pine, California. While many of these trees live to be 1,000’s of years old, this tree is no longer living, but still 1,000’s of years old.

Milky Way Composite from the Eastern Sierra Mountains, California

Fall colors surround a man-made lake in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. The calm chill of dusk enveloped the scene and the ripples of wind showed on the water. Shot in October 2019.

The Milky Way rising over an alpine lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

A frozen lake begin to crack and melt as the high Eastern Sierras begin to melt. This shot was taken on a frigid and windy spring night at a high alpine lake in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, California

Milky Way composite over Hot Creek, a geothermal area, Mammoth Lakes, California

Blue hour amongst the Tufas of the Eastern Sierra Mountains, California

Sunrise at the Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California

Fall colors surround a creek flowing out of the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains. Dappled afternoon light from the surrounding trees shines on the cool waters of the sierra nevada mountains. Shot outside of Mammoth Lakes, California 2019

Last sliver of light on a mountain meadow in the Eastern Sierra Mountains, California