Category Archives: Photographs: Central California

October Oaks – Calero Hills

October Oaks - Calero Hills

October Oaks – Calero Hills. Calero Hills, California. October 14, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

Regular practice is an important part of keeping your “photographer’s eye” sharp. I try to shoot frequently, and even when I don’t feel like using the camera I sometimes make myself stop and see what I can find in my surroundings. This photograph is simply an example of that process. On this particular day I was out on a very enjoyable autumn hike in the oak grassland south of where I live. I had almost completed my hike without taking a single photograph, so I decided to stop in this spot near the end of the trail and see what I could find – and a set of images of oak trees against the golden brown grasses was the result.

September Morning, Los Cerritos Pond

September Morning, Los Cerritos Pond

September Morning, Los Cerritos Pond. Calero Hills, California. September 2, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

This spot is one that I hike past frequently on my visits to the Calero Park in south Santa Clara County. The tree sits next to an overlook above a small pond nestled in the grassy hills of this park. This photograph captures the golden browns of late summer, the form of the oak tree, and the shadow of the rustic fence.