Category Archives: Photographs: Central California

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Morning Fog, Pacific Coast Highway Bridge

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Morning Fog, Pacific Coast Highway Bridge
“Morning Fog, Pacific Coast Highway Bridge” — Morning fog over the ocean and rugged rocks near a Pacific Coast Highway bridge.

I have a long relationship with this spot. I have photographed here for two decades. I recall the first time — I went to this part of the coast with a new long lens, ended up here more or less by accident, and the new lens was exactly the one I needed for the subject. Since then I have photographed it in all conditions — morning, midday, evening, fog, clear skies, sunset.

The main features in the scene remain the same, but the mood undergoes remarkable changes. In some of my photographs the details are much clearer than in this one, while in others the coastal fog almost completely obscures them. On this morning thin fog became luminous in the early light as the sun rose above the mountains of the Big Sur coastline.

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, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Flock of Cranes in Flight

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Flock of Cranes in Flight
“Flock of Cranes in Flight” — A flock of lesser sandhill cranes in low level flight, Central Valley, California.

This group of sandhill cranes was a minor part of a wild mass of birds, including thousands of geese and lots of cranes. At this point in the season (mid-February) the migratory birds can be quite active during the day, with lots of coming and going. This group of birds was about to land and join a larger flock already on the ground.

I decided to use this high key approach to the photograph in order to slightly abstract the birds’ forms and to separate them from any distracting background. The photograph catches them in a particularly interesting moment: As cranes land they transition though a series of positions. First they glide in smoothly, then begin to turn into the breeze. Then the legs extend, wings rise, and necks crane forward just before they touch down.

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, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Winter Wetlands, Clearing Fog

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Winter Wetlands, Clearing Fog
“Winter Wetlands, Clearing Fog” — Winter tule fog clears and the sun begins to shine on Central Valley wetlands.

This “quiet photograph” of winter wetlands, clearing fog, and bits of sparse vegetation is as evocative of the experience of such places as those featuring flocks of birds and winter sunrises and sunsets. The latter are remarkable and compelling features of this landscape largely because they are exceptional. Most of the time these places are quiet and still, and never more so than on a foggy morning.

Fascinating transitions of light occur as tule fog clears. The day begins in muted, gray, even oppressive darkness, with visibility measured in feet. Because tule fog is shallow it often becomes luminous as the sun begins to rise. Then, here and there, it begins to thin and break up, and soft directional light appears. Then the blue sky becomes more clearly visible, more distant features being to appear, and remnant clouds float above the landscape, and soon it is day.

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, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Light on Water, Big Sur Coast

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Light on Water, Big Sur Coast
“Light on Water, Big Sur Coast” —Brilliant winter sunlight reflects on the surface of the Pacific Ocean as morning fog thins along the rugged headlands of the Big Sur ciast.

Near the end of February I made a quick trip down the Big Sur coast — though I was eventually stopped by road closures resulting from this winter’s storms. Before I turned around I stopped above this scene, one of my favorites for its long views of receding headlands, and for the frequent presence of fog and haze.

I often go in the morning, before the inevitable crowds arrive. Morning light can be tricky here, as the sun has to rise above tall mountains inland of the highway. However, when that light comes down canyons and into fog and haze it produces spectacular light. Another hint: people often think of this coast as running north-south, but it is northwest to southeast. This means that by late morning the sun often reflects directly off the surface of the water, as in this photograph, creating strong contrasts between dark land and bright water.

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, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.