We always try to spend a week or two of each spring and fall in the Eastern Sierra, but I didn't think we'd make it to the mountains this year. In the end, we managed a whopping two days in Bishop Creek Canyon, and broke down outside of Lone Pine on the way home. (Want to buy a print? I have hefty tow and repair bills to pay off! haha.) We usually go to less popular spots, and it was delightfully bizarre to see so many other photographers zipping around all in one place. And it was very obvious why we were all there! The fall color in the eastern Sierra this year was GLORIOUS. (Side note, some flowers were still blooming too!) I'll let the photos speak for themselves. All photos taken the second week of October 2023, copyright Sarah Ainsworth. Prints and greeting cards available. All shots with the Pentax K1, lenses used: Pentax FA 50 mm f1.4 classic, Pentax DFA 28-105, and Pentax DFA 21 limited. (Amazon affiliate links)
Panoramic photo of North Lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains outside of Bishop, CA. The aspens wash the banks of the lake in gold as they change color with the seasons. (7 images stitched together.)
Wouldn't you love to have a cabin tucked into the trees in this neighborhood, in the shadow of the mountains, and watch the leaves change with the seasons?
No, it's not fall colors in Colorado, the Rocky Mountains, New Mexico, or even Utah (as my website's automatic tag generator seems to think). It's fall colors in California!
For the photogs reading this, the rainbow bokeh in this shot came from the new Pentax 50 mm f1.4 Classic. (Amazon affiliate link) It's such a fun effect. The bokeh reminds me a bit of an old Helios.
This is the creek coming down from North Lake outside of Bishop, CA. Aspens and willows grow along the banks and shift from green to gold this time of year.
Taken from along the road just below the Lake Sabrina dam in Bishop Creek Canyon.
Asters still in bloom against the backdrop of the aspens in their fall foliage. I was quite surprised at how many flowers were still in bloom.
Bishop Creek rushing downhill, with some aspens peaking while others are just starting to turn into their fall colors.
I know this shot down into the canyon where Aspendell sits has been done better by many photogs, but the scene just took my breath away, and I couldn't help but pull over.
I BELIEVE this is a fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium) still blooming as the aspens change color for fall. Correct me if I've got the ID wrong!
Star trails over the changing aspens, all marking the passage of time.
Bishop Creek.
The road to Lake Sabrina curves through groves of aspens and pine.
Prints and greeting cards available at: https://sarahainsworthphotographyla.shootproof.com/gallery/fallbishop/home
Please contact me directly if you're looking for a custom size or to order the panoramic image, using the linked contact form or emailing sarahainsworthphotography@gmail.com.
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