Category Archives: Photographs: Central California

Photographs: Agriculture, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Winter Corn

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"Winter Corn" — Old corn left on the stalk in a winter field.
“Winter Corn” — Old corn left on the stalk in a winter field.

We don’t usually see corn on the stalk this late — by now it usually has been harvested, either for human food or animal feed. The stalks are left to decay for a while or sometimes salvaged for seasonal autumn decorations. Eventually they are knocked down — and it parts of California they get burned. It is quite unusual to find stalks with fully mature ears of corn on New Year’s Day, which is when I made this photograph.

So, why are the ears still there in this field? Not everyone understands the multiple factors driving support for wildlife refuges. Many of us are simply grateful they are there, providing safer places for migratory and other birds. But hunting and agriculture have played a big part. Here, attracting birds to places that are not someone’s field is one of the goals, and this crop provides feed for migratory birds.

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

Red-winged Blackbird

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Red-winged Blackbird
“Red-winged Blackbird” — A red-winged blackbird perched in wetland plants, San Joaquin Valley.

I photographed this red-winged blackbird perching on wetland plants on New Year’s Day, 2024. (In this light and with the wing in this position, it is possible that it could be a tri-colored blackbird.) Anthropomorphizing animal behavior can be a mistake, but these birds always impress me as a happy bunch. Perhaps that is because their cries and their flight patterns make me happy. They also do a pretty good job of producing synchronized-flight “murmurations.”

They are not easy to photograph. They are small birds, and they fly quickly and often erratically. They hang out in vegetation and retreat to more obscure spots when you come close. And the black plumage of the male birds can lose details in a photo. (I usually over-expose them a bit to retain some detail.) A combination of quiet patience and quick reactions is required if you want to get the shot.

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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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Lone Tree, Morning

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Lone Tree, Morning
“Lone Tree, Morning” — A solitary tree silhouetted against dawn sky on a foggy morning.

I traveled to California’s Central Valley back in late December, when I saw a weather report calling for thick fog. Now normal people would specifically NOT choose to go there on one of its infamous fog days, when the tule fog can make driving nearly impossible. But I wanted to photograph in those conditions, so I headed over a few hours before sunrise. The fog was extremely thick along the way, and I was looking forward to even “worse” conditions at my destination. But a mile before I got there the fog thinned, dawn light shone through, and high clouds were visible in the soft light.

At first I was disappointed. I had gone to a lot of trouble to be there for fog, and now the fog was dissipating! But it didn’t take long to notice the compensatory visual appeal of the thinner haze and how it glowed in the early light. I found a slightly higher view point, located a lonely tree on the horizon, and made a few photographs.

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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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Autumn Sky

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Autumn Sky
“Autumn Sky” — November morning sky and clouds above California’s Central Valley.

The pre-dawn light on this autumn morning in California’s Central Valley did not look all that promising. It was one of those, “OK, but nothing remarkable” days — lovely, but not with quite the magic I hoped for. As I recall, the earliest light of sunrise was muted by clouds to the east over the Sierra Nevada. But before long things began to improve, and I had a few moments of quite intense light shortly after sunrise.

This is an example of a phenomenon that I’ve learned to watch for. It is a circumstance that increases the potential for brilliant dawn or sunset color, though it is far from a guarantee. On a cloudy morning or evening when the cloud layer ends far to the east (at dawn) or west (at sunset), there is a chance that the sun will briefly shine under the clouds as it touches the horizon, lighting the clouds with intensely colorful light from underneath.

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.