Geese, Fog, Rising Sun

Geese, Fog, Rising Sun
A flock of geese flies through winter sky above tule fog and rising sun.

Geese, Fog, Rising Sun. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A flock of geese flies through winter sky above tule fog and rising sun.

My favorite California winter conditions tend towards early mornings with thick tule fog that mutes light and sound — especially if it is cold, the surroundings are relatively natural, and birds are nearby. Every year as winter approaches I anticipate the first morning pre-dawn arrival at such a place, opening my car door, staring into the darkness, and hearing the sound of thousands of birds.

This was one of those mornings, and somewhat unexpectedly so. I watch weather forecasts in order to schedule visits when the fog appears. I had been watching for over a week, seeing endless reports of perfectly clear weather. (You may gather that such weather is what I least want.) But one evening when I checked again, a forecast now suggested the possibility of a couple of hours of early morning fog… and that was enough for me to change plans, get up hours before dawn, and give it a try. I made this photograph moments after sunrise, when the sun was barely visible though the low fog and birds flew overhead.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books and Amazon.

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