Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Geese, Fog, Rising Sun

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Geese, Fog, Rising Sun
A flock of geese flies through winter sky above tule fog and rising sun.

Geese, Fog, Rising Sun. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A flock of geese flies through winter sky above tule fog and rising sun.

My favorite California winter conditions tend towards early mornings with thick tule fog that mutes light and sound — especially if it is cold, the surroundings are relatively natural, and birds are nearby. Every year as winter approaches I anticipate the first morning pre-dawn arrival at such a place, opening my car door, staring into the darkness, and hearing the sound of thousands of birds.

This was one of those mornings, and somewhat unexpectedly so. I watch weather forecasts in order to schedule visits when the fog appears. I had been watching for over a week, seeing endless reports of perfectly clear weather. (You may gather that such weather is what I least want.) But one evening when I checked again, a forecast now suggested the possibility of a couple of hours of early morning fog… and that was enough for me to change plans, get up hours before dawn, and give it a try. I made this photograph moments after sunrise, when the sun was barely visible though the low fog and birds flew overhead.

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 and Amazon.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Urban/Street

Meat Centre

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Meat Centre
Interior of the Meat Centre after closing time, Manhattan

Meat Centre. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Interior of the Meat Centre after closing time, Manhattan.

Businesses like this one, located along the edge (as I understand it) of Manhattan’s Chinatown district, fascinate me. There is often a sort of rough edge about them, but it implies that they are places where real work is done, and not that they are unkempt or that the owners and workers do not care. Quite to the contrary, as I look around this scene I see that essentially everything in it has a distinct place and a real-world purpose.

Technically this is a kind of “night photograph,” since I made the image while walking along a dark street and looking into this and similar businesses. Aside from restaurants and drinking establishments and the ubiquitous convenience stores, most of the businesses like this one were closed or closing. Here, the appearance suggests that the place has been cleaned up and organized at the end of the work day.

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 and Amazon.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Sandhill Cranes, Rural Road

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Sandhill Cranes, Rural Road
A group of sandhill cranes crosses an agricultural road.

Sandhill Cranes, Rural Road. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A group of sandhill cranes crosses an agricultural road.

Sandhill cranes can be noble birds, but they can also be downright goofy. One of the most impressive experiences I ever had while photographing birds came one evening, as the light was almost too dim to photograph. From the southeast we began to hear the characteristic call of these birds, and a moment later successive flocks of them filled this sky, with thousands of birds passing overhead before landing in nearby ponds. On the other hand, there are few things more gangly-looking than a crane trying to get itself straight for a landing!

I photographed this group at an unusual daytime hour, rather than at my more typical early morning or evening times. The small flock had collected along a levee road next to a pond, and they were mostly just standing around, occasionally shifting positions a bit. It seemed to be a quiet time for them — no flying in or departing, no “crane dance.” After an extremely foggy morning, the atmosphere was still hazy and the light soft.

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 and Amazon.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: People, Photographs: Urban/Street

Pointing The Way

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Pointing The Way
A man in holiday attire gives directions to a pedestrian in Manhattan.

Pointing The Way. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A man in holiday attire gives directions to a pedestrian in Manhattan.

This photograph was what I think of as a classic street photography “snap,” grabbed quickly while on the move past the subjects on a Manhattan sidewalk. Based on my recall of the moment and the low position of the camera, it is pretty likely that I make the exposure without even raising the camera to my eye, possibly not having time to do so and/or wanting to avoid creating my own intrusion on the scene.

If you like such subjects, there are a lot of different ways to “see” them as photographs. In this one there is the unusual attire of the fellow, who I suspect is a security guard working outside this building — during the holiday season such people must occasionally wear bright red shirts, Santa hats, and holiday light necklaces, which is not your typical security guard attire. He looms large in the frame — he is taller than the women, she stands further away and to the side, and his pointing motion gives him an active demeanor. I also like certain compositional aspects of the photograph, and I simply find the two people to be fascinating.

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 and Amazon.

Blog | About | 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.

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