Solitude
Thousand Island Lake - John Muir Wilderness
Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California

Summer Spring
John Muir Wilderness - Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California

Last Light on Picture Puzzle Peak
John Muir Wilderness
Eastern Sierra Nevada Range near Bishop, California

Shot this view while scrambling up to the top of Mt. Agassiz. Of course this means I didn't summit in time so I finished the rest of the ascent in the dark at least I got to enjoy the view for a few minutes. In the background that is little old Mt. Tom.

Step into the Ice
John Muir Wilderness - Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California

I've been asked quite a few times about this one so here is some info the technical side. The focal length was 18mm on a D70 with the kit lens 18-70mm. f16 or f22 at somewhere around a second. Everyones camere will very in exposure time depending on the lens used and iso speed. The peak has no name. The unnamed peaks are assigned a number. I don't carry maps when I hike into the Sierra unless I'm responible for bringing someone back and I don't always return the same way I came. I run into a lot of Pacific Crest Trail hikers up there with maps that are always glad to help you find your way on the high freeway of people. You could call it lost but what do you call someone standing in a lake full of ice?

- Steve Sieren

Isosceles and Columbine peaks
John Muir Wilderness - Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California

Nameless Lake
Eastern Sierra Nevada

An unnamed lake near the northeastern border of the Yosemite wilderness. This was shot pretty late in the morning but a break in cloud cover gave some decent lighting. The nice water color is from melting glaciers/icefields. Found this nice little spot while scouting new workshop locations.

Hand Held
1/320 sec f16 iso 200 *no filters*
5DMII 17-40mm L

One thing about no filters is that you are getting the best clarity out of you lens. Stacking many plastic or resin filters over will soften you image. Even a polarizer will soften it to an extent so if you don't need them don't use them.

Treasure Peak in Royce Lake Basin
Panoramic

Heaven's Glow
John Muir Wilderness - Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California

More Sierra Nevada High Country
http://www.sierenphotography.com/Other/Eastern-Sierra-High-Country-II/9729121_MxbiF

Merriam Peak

Here is a try at perfect symmetry, I say perfect because that's how symmetry works. The peak is symmetrical with it's own reflection but the rest of the scene is not.

I had another composition in mind here but didn't think I could make it up the extra 800ft to get to the spot overlooking a couple of peaks to the right so I just stuck with Merriam. I do regret it now but fatigue could be a killer. This is before the light became it's best, it is just reflected glow before the alpen glow showed up at sunrise. I merged 2 vertical files so I could get more of wider feel and print it wider too. Since I did that I didn't really have to spend much time composing because I knew the edges of the scene could be composed when cropping the file.

Only got a few blisters on this short 18 mile overnight trip. This was more like a pit stop on the way back home from visting my family in Sparks, Nevada. Had the girlfriend drop me off at the Mammoth Mountain resort and took the bus to the trailhead.

I decided to leave the trail from Ediza Lake and do a ltttle bit of cross country. I ended up finding a nice little tarn under the sierra crest and the place where the Dec 08 OP mag cover shot was taken but then had to scale down the cliffs on the right side of this picture to get to where I was going to be meeting my ride home the following day. One of the guys which I never met before handed me a nice cold tall can of Saporo (no I wasn't dreaming thanks Dav:beer). After hiking all afternoon to about 10k ft I caught a nice buzz. Good thing I found them otherwise I'd be hitch hiking home. These 5D MII batteries are amazing. Enough blah blah, hope you enjoy the image.
More Sierra Nevada High Country
http://www.sierenphotography.com/Other/Eastern-Sierra-High-Country-II/9729121_MxbiF