Oak Pasture Near Dutch Flat

Oak Pasture Near Dutch Flat
Oak Pasture Near Dutch Flat. Grant Ranch County Park, California. April 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white photograph of oaks and pasture near Dutch Flat in the Diablo Range mountains east of San Jose, California.

This grove of trees sits on a flat area (e.g. – “Dutch Flat”) on top of this ridge with the Santa Clara Valley below.

keywords: oak, tree, pasture, meadow, grass, cow, cattle, silhouette, santa clara, valley, county, san jose, joseph, grant, ranch, park, california, usa, nature, scenic, landscape, view, fence, hike, outdoor, stock, photo, photograph

Quicksilver Wildflowers

Quicksilver Wildflowers
Quicksilver Wildflowers. Almaden Quicksilver Park, California. April 12, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Deep purple spring wildflowers at Almaden Quicksilver Park, California – photographed on an early spring hike near the peak of the central California wildflower season.

The flowers are larkspur, or delphinium. They are interesting flowers and somewhat difficult to photograph. Their color is a very deep purple, so it is almost necessary to photograph them against a much lighter background. These were photographed along the New Almaden Trail, not far from the Mockingbird Hill entrance.

keywords: wild, flowers, wildflowers, deep, purple, five, petals, trail, hike, nature, spring, almaden, quicksilver, county park, santa clara, san jose, california, usa, stock

Oak Tree and Fence, Dutch Flat

Oak Tree and Fence, Dutch Flat
Oak Tree and Fence, Dutch Flat. Grant Ranch County Park, California. April 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white photograph of an oak tree and fence on the ridge near Dutch Flat in Joseph Grant Ranch County Park.

This is a wonderful and, I suspect, infrequently visited location high above Santa Clara Valley. This trail begins in Joseph Grant Ranch County Park and in fairly short order ascends to the top of a oak and grass covered ridge overlooking Santa Clara Valley.

keywords: oak, tree, silhouette, wood, fence, meadow, hill, black and white, dutch flat, joseph, grant, ranch, santa clara, county, park, diablo, range, nature, photo, photography, stock, grass

A Question About Filters

Dario wrote with a question about filters:

Your nature photographs are absolutely amazing. I don’ t have any experience in nature photography (but I want very much to start learning about it). Do you recommend any specific filters for a 24-105L lens? (slim circular polarizer + ND filter / some specific brand?) Thank you very much for your help and congratulations for your highly professional photographs!

First, thanks for writing and thanks for your very kind words about my photography. I decided to answer your question with a post in my forum. I hope you find it useful!


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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

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Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.