Category Archives: Photographs: Nature

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

First View

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First View
Morning view of Yosemite Valley’s El Capitan and Ribbon Fall on a spring morning.

First View. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Morning view of Yosemite Valley’s El Capitan and Ribbon Fall on a spring morning.

There are several stories about how I came to this spot earlier this week. One starts decades ago, but I’ll begin with a shorter one. Up at 2:50AM and on the road minutes later, I began the drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Yosemite Valley in darkness. I had considered a sunrise arrival, but that would have meant being on the road around 1:00AM — which wasn’t going to happen. So the sky began to lighten out in the Great Valley, and the sun rose while I was in Merced Canyon. This scene was in front of me when I finally stopped, shortly after turning onto Southside Drive in the Valley.

Of course, the full story of “how I got here” is much, much longer. It started decades ago when I was five years old and my parents relocated to California from the Midwest. Soon after our arrival we went to Yosemite — I don’t know the exact year, but it must have been not long after my fifth birthday. I’ve been to this place many times over those years, and I expanded my experience to the greater Sierra. On this visit I thought a lot about how my relationship to this Valley has changed, and I hope to write a bit more about that in the next few weeks.

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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Shadows on Dunes

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Shadows on Dunes
Morning shadows lie across Death Valley sand dunes.

Shadows on Dunes. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Morning shadows lie across Death Valley sand dunes.

Yes, I know. More dunes. As I wrote earlier, it is almost impossible to visit Death Valley National Park and not photograph sand dunes at least a little bit. To be sure, they comprise only a small portion of the park, and there is much more to see there. But they are a compelling subject, with infinite variations of light, texture, form, and color. I photographed these in the early morning just after sunrise when the shadows were still long.

While photographs often show the actual features and forms of the dunes, photographers “interpret” the subject, too. We seek out the most fascinating bits and pieces, the best light, and then we go to work to present them in the most interesting and appealing way. Here I wanted to show the directionality of the early light, but also maintain at least some details in the deep shadow areas.

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Distant Mountains

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Distant Mountains
The view toward the distant Sierra Nevada from the crest of the Panamint Mountains on a hazy evening.

Distant Mountains. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

The view toward the distant Sierra Nevada from the crest of the Panamint Mountains on a hazy evening.

Here is yet another photograph from a high place in Death Valley National Park, from which the peaks of the Southern Sierra Nevada are visible in the distance. I made the photograph late in the day, shortly before sunset. This explains the deep shadows on the foreground hills and the luminous quality of the back-lit atmosphere.

The distant peaks of the Sierra are familiar to me, and from this location and a few others in the park I looked at them through binoculars and long lenses and relived Sierra adventures from many past seasons. These include some wonderful trips around and out of the Cottonwood Basin area, various ascents of Mt. Whitney, and more.

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel

Central Park, Spring

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Central Park, Spring
A meadow and trees in spring, Central Park, Manhattan.

Central Park, Spring. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A meadow and trees in spring, Central Park, Manhattan.

This photograph is evidence. Allow me to explain. We frequently visit New York City, as our sons and their wives live and work there. The running joke is that we always go in the two worst months, August and December. And on every visit they tell us that “you should really come in fall or spring when it is beautiful.” So a few weeks ago I took them up on this and visited at the end of April. You know… spring. It rained almost the entire time. There was thunder and lightning. Roads flooded. Until the last morning.

I had a few hours on my final morning since I didn’t need to get to the airport until afternoon. So I headed toward Central Park and found… sunshine, pleasant temperatures, clear skies, and spring greenery. It was quite pleasant — for a few hours. I headed to the airport and flew back to the West Coast where… it was raining. Someone is playing a cruel joke on me. ;-)

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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