Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

After the Storm, Mt. Gibbs

Image Leave a comment
After the Storm, Mt. Gibbs
“After the Storm, Mt. Gibbs” — Evening light comes to Mt. Gibbs and Tuolumne Meadows as an afternoon storm clears.

I have learned that sometimes the light arrives when you don’t expect it. The day had unexpectedly turned stormy, and to my surprise it rained for hours, continuing past the time when Sierra afternoon thunderstorms typically dissipate. I wondered if it would clear at all, but I headed into the Tuolumne area anyway, thinking that I’d surely want to be there if the light did arrive. And it did! Right around sunset the clouds to the west thinned and beams of light played across the landscape.

One of the biggest surprises when I entered the park late on this afternoon was that a significant hail storm had apparently moved through earlier, dropping so much hail that from a distance it looked like fresh snowfall on Mt. Gibbs.

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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

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

Dawn, Pond and Mountains

Image Leave a comment
Dawn, Pond and Mountains
“Dawn, Pond and Mountains” — Sunrise light strikes Sierra Crest peaks and is reflected in the surface of a subalpine pond.

I recently spent a few days backpacking with long-time friends and few new friends. We headed into the mountains just east of Yosemite and the Sierra crest, spending days in a high place — we were just above 10,000′ the entire time. We camped near this pond, so I was up before dawn to be here for the sunrise show as the first light appeared on the high peaks to our east.

Traveling in the backcountry with non-photographers is always a different experience. During the past few decades I have mostly backpacked by myself or else gone out with other photographers. We photographers have our odd rituals: up in the darkness, breakfast at mid-morning, dinner before the good evening light, then out to photograph and not back until dark. Sometimes I wonder if the others think I’m some kind of ghost.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature

Mono Lake and Tufa Towers

Image Leave a comment
Mono Lake and Tufa Towers
“Mono Lake and Tufa Towers” — A row of tufa towers at the shoreline of Mono Lake.

In early July I spent a few days in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, mostly photographing high country in and around the Tuolumne Meadows area of Yosemite National Park. Since I was camped just outside the park boundary and east of the crest, I managed to get down to the high desert country east of the range, too. In particular, I spent one morning photographing at Mono Lake.

These tufa towers are, of course, more or less the classic subject at the lake. On this morning they were actually more of an afterthought for me. My main subject had been long views of the lake itself, and especially those that include the distant mountains to its east and north. I started photographing that subject before sunrise and kept at it until the early morning warm light dissipated. With plenty of time on my hands, I figured I might as well take a long, lazy walk down to the shoreline where I made this photograph.

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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Forest and Pond

Image 2 Comments
Forest and Pond
“Forest and Pond” — Trees reflected in the still water of a subalpine pond, Yosemite.

I have had my eye on this little scene for a while. The trees stand along the far bank of a small subalpine pond in the Yosemite high country. During the daytime it is a tough photograph, with the sunshine becoming almost unbearably bright. My ideal might be to photograph it before sunrise or after sunset. But this time I found myself here a bit earlier in the day — so I went ahead and made some photographs.

A challenge with scenes like this is that the dynamic contrast between the highlights on the trees and the background shadows can be huge if there is direct sunlight — too big to capture in a photograph. That’s partly why the soft light helps —before sunrise, after sunset, or when something else shades the scene. I timed this so that the trees were entirely shaded, yet nearby subjects in brighter light cast some directional light into the scene.

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. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

2 responses to “Forest and Pond”

  1. Oscar Ramirez Avatar
    Oscar Ramirez

    I know nothing about photography but enjoy your art and techniques. Your dedication to the art is commendable!

    Reply
    1. G Dan Mitchell Avatar
      G Dan Mitchell

      Thanks, Oscar!

      Reply

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

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