Fog, Headlands, Pacific Ocean

Fog, Headlands, Pacific Ocean
“Fog, Headlands, Pacific Ocean” — Headlands drop to the edge of the foggy Pacific Ocean coastline at Point Lobos.

This photograph captures several characteristic features of Point Lobos State Reserve and perhaps a bit of the experience of visiting. I photographed from a trail along the north shore of the reserve on a very foggy morning. At times the fog was low enough to partially obscure the view, but here it had risen along the shoreline to offer a clear view of headlands, a cove, a small island, Monterey cypress trees, and the Pacific Ocean disappearing into distant fog.

I learn or discover new things on every visit to Point Lobos, despite having gone there for decades. Each time I find different ways to photograph it, and new perspectives that I had somehow missed in the past. I also learn new things, including some I’m astonished to realize that I didn’t know. In another post of a photograph from this visit I shared that it wasn’t until this summer that I realized that these familiar coves all have names! The one in the center of this photograph is “Cypress Cove.”


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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Arches and Columns

Arches and Columns
“Arches and Columns” — Arches and columns at Glasgow University.

Serendipity brought us to these arches and columns during our visit to Glasgow. As we often do, we headed out on foot in the morning with only a general idea of where we were headed — essentially in the direction of the West End. We knew there was a museum along the way that we wanted to visit, but that was about it. As we approached, the impressive Gothic tower at Glasgow University dominated the skyline, and we decided to investigate.

There are modern buildings here, but this central Gothic structure, built around inner courtyards, caught out attention. At first we admired it from outside, but then I saw an entrance and thought “why not?” We walked in, wandered a bit, and eventually found these arches and columns over a walkway between the courtyards.


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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Headlands, Clearing Fog

Headlands, Clearing Fog
“Headlands, Clearing Fog” — Headlands drop precipitously into the Pacific Ocean as fog thins in the distance along rugged the Big Sur Coast.

Although I have visited and photographed the Big Sur Coast for decades, I find new subjects or new ways to see old subjects every time I go. However, I have a confession to make about this particular subject. I go back to it on almost every visit and continue to photograph it despite there being quite a few previous versions in my archives. I think I do this partly because the conditions change (here it is almost backlit and the distant fog is layered), and partly just because I find this feature so intriguing. On a coastline full of steep precipices dropping into the sea, this one stands out.

I was down there again in mid-August. As is often the case, I decide to go based on the weather forecast. This time it called for somewhat persistent fog along the coast, and I was expecting to be able to work with that murky subject. Imagine my surprise, after driving through truly dense fog near the Salinas Valley, when I arrived at the coast to find it virtually clear!


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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Leaves and Rain

Leaves and Rain
“Leaves and Rain” — Lush green leaves with raindrops, Stirling Castle garden, Scotland.

We did not go to this location intending to photograph garden leaves, but sometimes opportunities just come up. This May we visited Stirling, Scotland for a few days. The plan was to spend time in a less-visited Scottish location — not just less known to tourists in general but specifically to us! We knew little about the town before visiting, but it turned out to be an enjoyable stop. I made the photograph at Stirling Castle, a site connected to a lot of history in Scotland and United Kingdom. It was a rainy day — this happens in Scotland! — and we found these water-sprinkled leaves in a lovely garden near the castle’s entrance.

It wasn’t my intention when I made the photograph, but in some ways this little picture exemplifies some impressions of Scotland. It is, by and large, a very green place! The closest analog that I have in the United States might be the Pacific Northwest, the more coastal sections of which share this lush quality. It is also, again like the Pacific Northwest, a wet place. We did, in fact, have some lovely and sunny weather, but we also had days of fog, mist, rain, and clouds.


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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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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