As I stumble around DeviantArt I notice a lot of great photography in the Sierra Nevada mountains and some of them doesn't get the attention they deserve. John Muir once called the Sierras the "Range of Light" due to the way light eminates from the granite domes and cliffs...especially at sunrise and sunset.

The Sierra Nevada Range is one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world. It may not be the tallest or the longest but its beauty is unmatched. For more info on the Sierra Nevadas follow this link: [link])

Eastern Sierra Nevada:
The Sierras gradually slant upwards from the west for 30-40 miles and then suddenly there is the Eastern Sierra Escarpment. Huge granite cliffs plunge in only a few miles to create this massive wall of mountains.


Alabama Hills & Mount Whitney:
These hills are ancient eroded remains of foothills against the Eastern Sierras but all that is left are piles of smooth granite boulders. Mount Whitney stands behind them and it is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States.


Bristlecone Pines:
These trees are among the oldest living things on the planet. The oldest one has been dated to be almost 5,000 years old.


Mono Lake:
Most nature photographers have at least heard of Mono Lake with its strange and alien landscape of tufa towers. It is an ancient salt lake with no outlet and the only thing that lives in its waters are brine shrimp and alkali flies.


Yosemite:
This is the heart of the Sierras. Yosemite Valley can honestly rival the most beautiful places on earth. Just ask someone named Ansel Adams what he thought of the place...


Sequoia/Kings Canyon:
This area of the Sierras lies on the western slope and is home to the most massive trees on earth, the Sequoias.


Into The Wilderness:
The Sierras are full of untouched wilderness areas. There are a lot of highly accesible trails leading up into the High Sierras where you can really feel the beauty of the mountains all around you.


Indian Petroglyphs:
Many indian tribes inhabited the areas around the Sierras. These petroglyphs come from the Volcanic Tablelands north of Bishop, Ca.


Bodie Ghost Town:
The Sierras go hand in hand with cowboy stories and miners tales. There are many ghost towns in the Sierra Range but Bodie was the king. Once the mining slowed down the people left the town, so fast that the houses are still furnished.


The mountains even make a great backdrop for other types of photography. These photos make me think of mythological times and places.
Nudes:



For more professional photography of the Sierras follow these links.
Galen Rowell: [link]
Ansel Adams: [link]
Art Wolfe: [link]