Category Archives: Photographs: Wildlife

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

Elephant Seal

Elephant Seal
Elephant Seal. Piedras Blancas, California. July 21, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Elephant seal on the beach at Piedras Blancas, California.

(For those concerned that I may have been inappropriately close to these wild animals… this location provides a very close overlook and I used a 100-400mm telephoto to get these close views. Don’t worry, I would definitely not get too close to these fellas! If you’ve been around them, you and can probably think of about a half a dozen good reasons to keep your distance!)

keywords: wildlife; mammal; acquatic; elephant seal; marine; sand; beach; california; usa; piedras blancas; highway; one; coast; shoreline; ocean; nature; stock; animal

Elephant Seal

Elephant Seal
Elephant Seal. Piedras Blancas, California. July 21, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Elephant seal on the beach at Piedras Blancas, California.

keywords: wildlife; mammal; acquatic; elephant seal; marine; sand; beach; california; usa; piedras blancas; highway; one; coast; shoreline; ocean; nature; stock; animal

Two Gulls In a Row

Two Gulls in a Row
Two Gulls in a Row. Pacific Coast, California. March 1, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Two gulls follow one another along the edge of a bluff along the California Pacific coast, flying past my position at eye-level.

I made a series of photographs of birds from this spot – the images that have been appearing recently included. To get these I followed a strategy that can work well in some places along the California coast: spend a few minutes figuring out the “line” that the birds follow along the end of the coastal cliffs, apparently looking for updrafts. Then set up close to or under one of these invisible paths, sit quietly, and photograph like mad as the birds fly by.

keywords: two, gulls, sea, seagulls, birds, in, row, follow, fly, flying, flight, pacific, ocean, coast, california, usa, bif, wings, sea, shore, shoreline, sky, nature, animals, wildlife, stock