Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser

35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
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Today, we’re featuring a beautiful Sierra Nevada travel story from film photographer Lauren Fraser. Here is more from Lauren about her time in the California mountains…

I hadn’t been out of the city since I moved to it 10 months ago. I came down to LA from Northern California last fall. I was craving the lack of noise and a few hundred miles in the car. I headed out after work, immediately feeling freedom as I made my way out of Los Angeles. Highway 14 met up with 395, and I felt a warming sense of calm.

When I arrived in Lone Pine the weather read 107. I needed the sun to go down a bit before I went and set up camp, so I meandered through town, camera in hand. Something about small towns, and the buildings + signs that occupy them, is so enjoyable to me. I later parked up in the hills, wandered a bit, and once the sun had bid farewell for the day I got comfortable.

The Milky Way was really showing off, and, although I was wiped, I got the tripod out and started shooting. I knew my time would be short lived in the morning once the sun crested the eastward hills, so I got up early enough to enjoy the cotton candy hues of the blue hour along with a deafening silence.

I headed north, passing through some familiar favorites. I took my time heading up 395, taking the time to notice and smile at the little things. I took the left turn and anticipated a cool dip in the turquoise jewel. I set myself up on the shore composed of black stones for a good while, eventually packed up and cruised just a touch more north. I dipped off onto the 203 and headed to find a camp spot. The next two days were spent without cell service, and filled with hiking, lake swimming, and hunting for wildflowers.

Heading south, I felt a slight bit of sadness paralleled with a soft feeling of relief and love in my heart. Until next time, eastern Sierras.

Analog cameras and films used: Nikon F3 (Find at KEH Camera or on eBay) | CineStill 800T (Find on Amazon), Kodak Portra 160 (Find on Amazon)

Connect with Lauren: Website | Instagram

35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film
35mm film image of the Sierras - Solo in the Sierra by Lauren Fraser on Shoot It With Film

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Blog Comments

Been there so many times, shot so many rolls with F4 and F100 with FG backups, and then following my favorite views with Mamiya C30 (which needs shutter mechanism repaired now) or the Autocord medium format, sometimes with 4X5 or digital backup. We tend to go further north than this, but in the spring, this area sometimes shows us a Calochortus kennedyi, which would be almost as nice to see as those girls walking on the trail. Try as I might to look under every mushroom, around every stream or pool, the nymphs and naiades persist in evading me. Too shy for my shutter and film?

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