Where Autumn Crosses the Pass

At the summit of Monitor Pass — the natural passage between Hope Valley and the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada — autumn announces itself with quiet authority.

On this very cold morning, fog lingered low across the meadow as first light slipped over the mountain ridge above me. The aspens ignited in brilliant yellows and deep amber tones, glowing against the cool blues of the winding stream below. Hiking along the bank, I paused when a mule deer emerged from the meadow grasses. Still and alert, it seemed to embody the stillness of the high country.

The curve of the stream draws the eye gently through the frame, guiding the viewer across a landscape caught between seasons — summer’s retreat and winter’s approach. The deer, the light, and the rising warmth of the sun combine in a fleeting moment of Sierra solitude.

This image captures not just a location, but a transition — a passage of light, season, and silence — preserved as a fine art archival print for collectors who cherish the quiet beauty of the Sierra Nevada.

I release limited edition California fine art prints in small runs of 25. "Still Standing" is available either in Collector's Print (Unframed) on Hannemühle fine art paper, or in Museum Framed Edition on Hannemühle fine art paper, under Acrylic glass and framed with mounting hardware installed. A Certificate of Authenticity indicating the print number within the edition, and signed by the Artist, will be provided to each collector.