Lord of the Valley

Early last month I had become unbearably tired of my office days again and rushed into tying up several projects, and began trip planning. Since turning full time Pro in September, I've tried to structure my photo trips less intrusively in some aspects, prefering longer excursions over interruptive daily jaunts (which invariably cause me to get nothing done all day). This has also served to help me broaden my portfolios greatly.

By the 10th, I had made plans to be in the Sierra, White Mountains and California deserts for 2-3 weeks. Somehow, this managed to turn into 34 days.

I was captivated by the Southern Sierra and Owens Valley like no place I have ever been. The place my idol, Galen Rowell, called his favorite on Earth. My favorite landscape has always been the trasistion zone between mountains and desert, and no where else is this terrian represented more spectacularly than the East slopes of the Sierra. An arid land, but one of striking and dramatic contrasts. And one of absolutely extrodinary light.

I spent most of my days in the Owens Valley, admiring the towering Sierra range and in adjacent attractions like Mono Lake and the expansive Death Valley. I also made forays into the high peaks including snowshoe-backpacking trips into the Sierra's Palisades range and a 7-day summit of 14,000-foot White Mountain, to the East, via the Bristlecone Pine groves - the World's oldest living things.

Over the next month or so I'll be presenting my new body of work from this region as time allows. I hope to do some catch-up around here if I can too, and enjoy all the great work posted daily on NPN.

This image is of Mount Tom, a 13,000+ foot peak that towers over the head of the Owens Valley, ten thousand feet below. The first light compliments the peak, clouds and Jeffery pine groves on the foreground plateau. I'm jealous of NPN contributor Cory Freeman, who wakes up to a stunning view of this peak ever day!

5D, 70-200 at 140mm, polarizer + 2-soft grad, 1/6 second at F11.