Spectacular Fall Color in Eastern Sierra
Last week, the fall color in the Eastern Sierra was the best I’d seen in years. If you’re in range, get yourself over to the June Lake and Lundy Canyon areas, pronto. As in today. Because the leaves are starting to drop by now, and all will be gone at the first half-storm.
There was something about this scene that just felt just right when I took it (in a hurry with rapidly changing light)— for the way it captures multiple elements of the Sierra, each in balance with the others— mixed-color aspen, sagebrush, the tall weedy growths that predominate the lower slopes, the mountains in early autumn snow splendor, the rich blue sky, the wispy clouds, the dappling of morning sunlight on all.
I am persuaded that use of the Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon has a lot to do with the color and feel of this image (and the wonderful Nikon D3x instead of the mediocre Canon 5D Mark II). The Zeiss 35/1.4 (about $1843) is absolutely my all-time favorite 35mm lens. I’ll be posting my usual high-res examples in my Zeiss Guide fairly soon.
Nikon D3x + Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 Distagon @ f/14, polarizer
The Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Distagon is still one of my favorite handheld lenses for shooting at dusk, generally wide open. It has wonderful color and contrast and vignetting.
Nikon D3x + Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Distagon @ f/2.8, handheld
Nikon D3x + Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Distagon @ f/2.8, handheld
