Living in Southern California, we are blessed to have a variety of mountains within an hour’s drive away. They may not be as striking as their cousins to the north, the Sierra Nevada, but they have unique charms. I fondly remember day hikes, backpacks, and many other adventures on those local peaks. Additionally, for me, mornings like when I took “Winter Sunrise on Mount Baldy” are a good reminder that there are some wild and natural places near the urban sprawl of the LA metro area.

Every winter I set aside some time to photograph the nearby San Gabriel Mountains after a winter storm, and our particularly wet winter have made for some great opportunities. This image of Mount Baldy was the fruit of our record rain from 2023. I was so surprised by the band of light filling the valley but not the mountains. But as the light grew in intensity, I looked over my right shoulder and I saw what was creating this unexpected scene. A large flat cloud was blocking the sun just enough to flag the mountains from the first rays of sunrise.

This image seemed a natural fit for the January image in my new calendar currently on sale now. If you would like to see more of my local work you can visit my Southern California gallery. Want a print of this photo? Use this link to my Etsy shop and save 20% today.
I like the second image even better!