Category Archives: Photographs: Nature

Tree Trunks, Cypress Forest

Tree Trunks, Cypress Forest
Tree Trunks, Cypress Forest. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. August 24, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white photograph of forest floor and cypress tree trunks. Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

This was a tough photograph, and one that I’ll probably return to work on again. It was a foggy morning at Point Lobos and I had arrived in time for the hoped-for clearing that I expected to occur within the hour. I found this composition and set up and waited for the light. I got just a bit of filtered light through the fog but then the transition from fog to sun stopped. While I never got quite the light I was looking for, I am pleased with how this turned out.

It was a bit amusing to see the reactions of other hikers as they walked past. Some perhaps assumed that there must be a “great photograph” there since my tripod supported what probably looked like substantial equipment and I was standing there holding a remote release. Some would walk past and take a sneaky glance along the cameras line of sight – and I could tell they were perplexed. During the wait for decent light, however, I did get to indulge in one of my favorite little hobbies – offering to take group pictures of other visitors with their cameras so that no one would be left out. :-)

keywords: black and white, forest, floor, cypress, tree, trunk, point lobos, state, reserve, california, usa, monterey, peninsula, carmel, bay, nature, landscape, travel, scenic, grass, rock, stock

Three Pelicans in Flight

Three Pelicans in Flight

Three Pelicans in Flight. Near Pismo Beach, California. July 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Three pelicans pass by near the shoreline at Pismo Beach, California.

I’m going to have to come with more creative titles… I have another photo from this past weekend of, you guessed it, “three pelicans in flight” – though the newer shot was made at Point Lobos.

keywords: pelican, bird, shore, shorebird, three, sea, ocean, pelagic, wildlife, flight, flying, nature, california, usa, pismo beach

Seagull and Chick

Seagull and Chick
Seagull and Chick. Near Pismo Beach, California. July 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A seagull tends to her chick on offshore rocks near Pismo Beach, California.

keywords: gull, sea, seagull, bird, shorebird, chick, baby, youth, beak, plant, flower, rock, bill, nature, animal, wildlife, pismo beach, california, usa, stock, parent

Bird Rocks, Sunset

Bird Rock, Sunset
Bird Rocks, Sunset. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 30, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Photographed on my last little photo expedition of 2007, an evening visit to Point Lobos on the Monterey Peninsula to shoot a winter sunset. (Note: this is not the actual “Bird Rock” which is located just a bit further south along the coast in the park.)

I suppose that going to Point Lobos to do photography is almost cheating, given the incredible density of subjects to be found in this small park – shoreline vistas, tide pools, forests, wildlife of all types. But sometimes I can’t resist, especially now that the park’s hours have been extended to allow visitors to stay a half hour after sunset. In my opinion this is the most beautiful time to be there.

keywords: point, lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, monterey, peninsula, carmel, pacific, ocean, sea, water, wave, swell, surf, spray, coast, shore, rock, island, bird, fly, flight, nature, landscape, seascape, stock