Mountains & Water
Ediza Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness
Ediza Lake is arguably is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. The hike to the lake is just under seven miles with over 1,250 feet of elevation gain to Ediza Lake. While the trail is long, it is quite scenic, as you pass the scenic Shadow Lake and wander along the cascades of Shadow Creek. There were plenty of summer wildflowers to take in as well. Then finally you arrive at the opening of the granite bowl of Ediza Lake at 9,265 feet. From the eastern shore of this alpine tarn the view extends from the spires of the Minarets to the impressive massifs of Mount Ritter and Banner Peak. We spent two night at Ediza Lake and I'm glad we did. On the dawn on the second morning there were glorious clouds in sky! As I positioned myself on my rock on the other side of the lake, I waited with camera in hand for the alpenglow to begin lighting up the jagged peaks of the Minarets. This was worth getting up at 5:30 AM for. This Ansel Adams Wilderness is one of the most scenic destinations I've ever backpacked in.
Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park
Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park is most scenic lake in all the Canadian Rockies. After setting up camp we got back in our kayaks, making the short paddle to Spirit Island. It was chilly, snowing off and on but the clouds were clearing. Making our way around the bend, paddling through the milky blue waters, the views opened as I spotted the iconic grove of trees that make this peninsula magical. We made our way around to the cove and parked our kayaks on the rocky shore, taking in this majestic scene. My camera was working overtime as we watched the clouds and light play off the mountain peaks of Maligne Lake. I still can't believe I was here soaking up this beauty. And worth the eight miles of kayaking to get there. No wonder why Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park is the most photographed lake in all of Canada.
Cathedral Lakes in the backcountry of Yosemite is one of the most popular day hikes in Tuolumne Meadows. That afternoon we hiked the 4 miles up to the Upper Cathedral Lake. The lake is stunning and one of the most scenic with the monolithic Cathedral Peak in the background. We hiked around the lake and climbed up to the ridge to enjoy this viewpoint as the sun was setting. If you were to choose a day hike in the Tuolumne Meadows Cathedral Lakes would be the one.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked up seeing Mount Whitney glowing in the sunset light. Not only that but the grape soda lupine were smelling amazing in the mountain air, waiting to be photographed. I rushed over to find a composition, stumbling to get a shot while witnessing the light show. It was good to be back in the Eastern Sierras!
Garnet Lake Ansel Adams Wilderness
Garnet Lake in the Ansel Adams Wilderness is right next to the popular Thousand Island Lake, is just as scenic in my opinion. We spent 4 days backpacking the Ansel Adams Wilderness. On our last night we camped at Garnet Lake. We found a campsite with our very own private beach! In the morning, I was excited to see clouds in the sky. The clouds made for a great reflection of Banner Peak in the calm waters of Garnet Lake that morning. This shot was taken from our beach front view. Views like these make the 18-mile round trip and over two thousand feet elevation gain worth it.
Just outside the mountain town of Banff in Alberta Canada are the Vermilion Lakes, a string of sprawling lakes and marshes. But in the winter it freezes over except for a few pools fed by hot springs on the edge of the third Vermilion Lake that keeps the ice from completely freezing over. That morning we made it just in time, as we rushed to Banff and off to the Vermilion Lakes looking for those hot springs. And we found a nice hole in the ice with a perfect mirrored reflection of Mount Rundle. As the sunrise began the sky lite up in the most amazing colors I’ve ever seen. Winter sunrises get the best light; a Vermilion Lakes sunrise is worth getting up early for!
Tunnel View in winter is one of the most amazing places to be in all of Yosemite. As you approach the valley from the Wawona road, through the mile long tunnel it opens up to the incredible Tunnel View: Granite cliffs, waterfalls and snow covered trees all painted with white. That evening as the clouds were breaking a layer of fog materialized in the valley below creating this epic scene that only lasted a couple minutes. No wonder Tunnel View in the winter is so incredible and not to be missed on any trip to Yosemite especially in the winter.
The Eastern Sierra fall colors are some of the best around; I especially love photographing them. Fall is definitely one of my favorite seasons. This particular year was one of the best I've seen as far as colors for the aspens: greens, yellow, oranges and even reds! Part of the fun is driving and hiking up each canyon and hunting for the fall colors. My only problem is there are way too many place to photograph in the Eastern Sierra!
Eagle Falls Sunrise, Lake Tahoe
Eagle Falls that sunrise, was one of the most colorful sunrises I've photographed at Lake Tahoe. I was happy to be able to stay over in South Lake Tahoe over the break. I thought I would drive out to Eagle Falls, Lake Tahoe, which is a popular location to photograph a sunrise. I woke up half asleep, making the drive up the mountain to Emerald Bay to find the sky lighting up for a burn. I have been disappointed here before, so I wasn’t expecting much, but when the colors went from cool to warms, I went nuts. I rushed out to Eagle Falls skating on the ice as I set up my tripod, attempting to get any shot. The colors went off in the sky reflecting the waterfalls. It was such a great experience and a moment I soon won't forget.
That Eastern Sierra sunrise I will never forget. The night before, I camped outside the town of Bishop, California in the Eastern Sierra. I woke up to an overcast sky thinking it was a bust. I didn't know what to expect for sunrise. Then like a light switch the morning light pierced the storm clouds illuminating Mt Tom and Basin Mountain of the Eastern Sierra in the richest alpenglow. That light pared with the blooming yellow rabbit brush in the foreground was so incredible. I was trying to photograph this as fast as I could as the light and colors were quickly changing. To date this was the most epic Eastern Sierra sunrise I've experienced.
Yosemite in Winter is one of the most amazing places to be in all of Yosemite. As you approach the valley from the Wawona road, through the mile long tunnel it opens up to the incredible Tunnel View: Granite cliffs, waterfalls and snow covered trees all painted with white. That evening as the clouds were breaking a layer of fog materialized in the valley below creating this epic scene that only lasted a couple minutes. No wonder Tunnel View in the winter is so incredible and not to be missed on any trip to Yosemite especially in the winter.
Don’t you wish all sunrises could look like this? On the way home from Reno I made the stopover in Bishop for a couple days. I think it’s the local luck that I that got to witness one of the most incredible sunrises. Normally when I’m solo in Bishop the skies are always bluebird, but that night was different. My friend, John took me to one of his favorite spots for sunrise as we watched a Sierra wave lite up the sky in amazing colors.
This was the most epic Eastern Sierras sunrise I've ever seen. I had to stop in the road for another photograph as the light show kept getting better... After the initial alpenglow it began to rain over Mt Humphrey creating a momentary rainbow with the direct sunlight. Plus, there was a band of light illuminating Basin Mountain. Not to mention the blooming yellow rabbit brush was the perfect foreground. As Galen Rowell said it best, "the Eastern Sierras are where the light and the Sierra Nevada Mountains meet." The Eastern Sierras are one of world's best locations for landscape photography especially during an incredible sunrise.
Ediza Creek Falls is a spectacular waterfall deep in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. On our second night camping at Lake Ediza we hiked around to the other side of the lake searching for some good sunset light. Well we didn't find the light, but we did find Ediza Creek Falls and an amazing view of the Minarets instead. I was happy photographing this waterfall except for the 14 mosquitoes that were buzzing around.
Half Dome in Winter is a sight to behold. We arrived in Yosemite as the snow was coming down thick covering everything in white. The next morning after sunrise we hiked through the trees and came across this incredible scene with a reflection of Half Dome in the Merced River. Don't you love Yosemite with a little snow?
One of the most popular locations for landscape photography in California is the Mammoth Lakes area. The escarpment of the Sierra Nevada creates some of the most dramatic scenery in all of California. One of the best places to go is the Mammoth Lakes are. That morning soon after the alpenglow the sunlight broke through the clouds over in the east warming the Eastern Sierras. It's always an experience to wake up early and watch the rising sun do its morning work and paint the landscape with light. I find myself returning to Mammoth Lakes California year after year.
Mono Lake is a great location to photograph sunrise. It was one of those mornings where the light went crazy. Over in Lee Vining it was dark and raining but I took a chance and drove out the Mono Lake for sunrise. The sky that morning the sky blew up with color as I was attempting to shoot the tufas with the myriad of photographs all around. After the initial sunrise a rainbow appeared over the entire Mono Lake and tufas. I scrambled to find a different shot with the tufas and the rainbow. This was the best sunrise I've experienced at Mono Lake. Normally I get disappointed!
Sierra storms can transform Yosemite into a winter wonderland. Winter can be enchanting experience in Yosemite National Park. This time of year the normal tourists are gone and what is left is the peace and solitude of the majestic Yosemite Valley. The weather is still something of a crap shoot, as Sierra storms can blanket the valley at any time, but if you time it right you’re blessed with a winter wonderland. The winter storms can dump feet of white snow coating the entire Yosemite Valley in white powder painting the forests, the granite peaks of El Capitan, the Cathedral Rocks, Half Dome and the rest of Yosemite’s icons. That afternoon the timing was perfect, as we grabbed our cameras, and shot away as the storm clouds passed revealing this winter wonderland.
Galen Rowell, the celebrated adventure photographer, helped put North Lake on the map with photographers with his North Lake sunrise shot of the fiery yellow and orange aspens reflected in the deep mountain blue lake. Fall Reflections in North Lake, photographed by Rowell, is one of my personal favorites. Now North Lake for sunrise one of the most popular locations to photograph the fall colors in California. That early morning, I headed to North Lake in the dark hours trying to make it for sunrise. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. The fall colors were peaking as the alpenglow lite up the Sierra peaks. That North Lake sunrise I will never forget.
Owens Valley Sunrise and the Eastern Sierra
The Eastern Sierra has some of the best mountain scenery and landscapes in California and a favorite for landscape photographer. Hwy 395 is the highway in which you can get the best access to the Eastern Sierra. It begins in the Mohave Desert and heads north into the pastoral Owens Valley on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. With the Eastern Sierras to the west and the Inyo and White Mountains to the east this topography creates some of the best sunrises and sunsets in California. This was one of those mornings when the light and the color was hard to believe. The plan was to shoot the Owen’s Valley for sunrise, and it didn’t disappoint! The alpenglow lite up the Eastern Sierra in an amazing pink hue.
In the fall one of the best creeks to explore is Bishop Creek. This is one of my favorite places to photograph especially in the fall season. After doing some exploring up the north end of Bishop Creek, I heard a waterfall off in the distance. Of course, I had to investigate. Upon approaching Bishop Creek, I came across this unique red aspen perched above some granite rocks right above a beautiful cascade with a little tint of red color.
Lake Tahoe sure does gets some incredible sunsets. It took me three tries to get this shot. Last winter I dragged my brother and his family out to the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe to attempt to get a photograph for sunset that Lake Tahoe is known for. We headed to the iconic Bonsai Rock and made it down to the lakeshore. The clouds were looking decent and then the light show began. On top of that there was no wind, so the water was perfectly still creating some amazing reflections. One of the features of Lake Tahoe are the crystal-clear waters and the boulders that line the lakeshore which make for incredible landscape shots. For my composition I was trying to frame Bonsai Rock in between the boulders with that incredible cotton candy sky. I still can't believe that unforgettable sunset at Lake Tahoe.
Mono County is one of the best locations in California to enjoy and photograph the fall colors. Mono Country is situated on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range with stunning topography including rugged granite canyons, snow-melted streams and waterfalls, expansive pine forests and western blue skies, with a showering of aspen groves that turn an amazing array of colors in the fall. This chilly fall morning, I woke up and headed up the road through groves of colorful aspens to get to this viewpoint of Sagehen Summit dressed in colorful aspens. It was amazing enjoying the sun rising over this magical spot. Mono County is one of my favorite go-to-spots to photograph the spectacular fall colors!