There are so few places around Orange County that actually exhibit Fall colors. It’s one thing I don’t like about living in the area. There’s something so magical about seeing leaves change color, wearing an overcoat/scarf, and NOT needing to use the air conditioning in November. So when we decided to take a break from Orange County and visit Joshua Tree National Park, we were ecstatic to see yellow foliage in the distance and decided to check it out. Located on 29 Palms Highway, Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is a hidden gem I highly suggest checking out. If you’re into birding, it is also an internationally recognized birding site, with over 240 species spotted!
Metering
I found taking photos here really difficult. Trees were all different sizes, and the sun filtered through the leaves unevenly. In addition, when framing up shots, partial shade in some parts made the metering on my camera do weird things. So I turned this into a teachable moment for myself and experimented with different metering settings to capture the scenery. In the end, I went back and forth between ESP metering and spot metering to even out the tonality of each shot. In addition, I messed with the exposure compensation as well. Like I said, very tricky for me! But it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.
Before going into the preserve, I took some practice shots. For the following two images, I used spot metering for highlights. This mode makes darker tones lighter. Since the sun was low on the horizon, the leaves cast shadows on themselves, making the scene appear dark with ESP metering. Using spot metering for highlights evened out the luminosity of the leaves. I think it makes the leaves pop a bit and adds depth to the images.
Inside Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
The preserve itself is so peaceful. When we went, there were maybe 4-5 other cars, and we only ran into one person during the whole visit. The paths are well-maintained, and there are plenty of areas that can hold small events and gatherings. Looking back towards the lot provided a great peekaboo view of the mountains. I think those are the mountains around San Bernardino, but I’m not 100% sure.
For the following shot, I thought about using spot metering to bring out the shadows, but I like this composition better. I like the darker hues in the shade cast by the trees, especially with the brown log on the left. The contrast in light, to me, illustrates the dichotomy between the light Fall colors in the background and the dark muted tones in the foreground. This photo is my favorite of the set.
On the way out, I had to capture the following image. I love how the walkway leads to the colorful trees in the background. The green and yellow really give the feeling of the changing season.
And here’s the final image of an outhouse with the Fall foliage in the background. I love the bright yellow!
A Bit of History of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
The Morongo Fault feeds the preserve with snowmelt from the San Bernardino Mountains and provides water for bighorn sheep, mule deer, and the hundreds of bird species either living there or migrating through. But in the past, the water was a mainstay for native tribes, the latest of which was the Morongo clan. Some of the exposed rock is some of the oldest in California, dating back almost 2 billion years!
In the mid 1800s, settlers migrated to the area and smallpox wiped out half of the native population. After the survivors moved elsewhere, Big Morongo Canyon became a working ranch until 1968, when The Nature Conservatory purchased 80 acres from J. L. Covington. A short while later, San Bernardino County acquired an adjacent 160 acres and the 240-acre total was dedicated as a Wildlife Preserve.
Since then, the preserve has grown enormously. The Bureau of Land Management designated almost 3,700 acres of the preserve and surrounding area as “Area of Critical Environmental Concern” in 1982. In 2016, the preserve became part of the Sand to Snow National Monument, connecting the preserve with Joshua Tree National Park and increasing the size to 31,000 acres! This connection is important as it allows wildlife to move and forage freely.
As always, comments, questions, and feedback are welcome below!