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

Domes, Haze, Morning

September 6, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Morning light and haze, granite domes and peaks

This is a scene no doubt very familiar to visitors to the Yosemite National Park high country, though perhaps fewer would see it at this time of day — I know that when I am out photographing during the early morning like this I am often surprised by how few people manage to get up and see this beautiful time of day! The scene includes domes, mountains, and a bit of forest at the upper end of Tenaya Lake.

The difference here is that I used a very long lens to photograph the scene, thus eliminating the lake and the higher peaks that stand in the distance. The long lens also intensifies the effect of atmospheric haze by condensing it, here muting the details of the distant peak the stands in front of Mount Conness.

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Flight, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Geese, Sunset Clouds

September 5, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A line of Ross’s geese fly in front of sunset clouds, San Joaquin Valley

It is summer… and I miss winter! I used to think that it was more of the case that I simply look forward to whatever season it isn’t, but I have come to realize that summer just isn’t my favorite time of year — at least not for photography. (Don’t take this the wrong way, though. There is plenty to photograph all year long, and I make a lot of photographs during the summer, too.) Over the past few years I have come to love the winter Central Valley, especially when I can photograph migratory birds, fog, and the immense skyscape.

This late-February day was special for photography. Surprisingly, it began in Yosemite Valley, where we had been for several days for the opening on the Yosemite Renaissance exhibit. Up early, we photographed in the Valley until midday, and then we began a lazy westward drive though the foothills that would take us to San Joaquin Valley wetlands to photograph birds at the end of the day. In the evening there was a tremendous fly-in of geese and cranes, and large flocks passed in front of beautiful clouds. Here a flock of Ross’s geese is backlit by the light from the west.

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Urban/Street

Kodak Moment

September 4, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A Florence, Italy souvenir store still retains the venerable name of Kodak.

Mostly there is nothing particularly noteworthy or unusual about this little souvenir store in Florence, along the edge of the square where the Duomo is found. It appears to be much like the many other similar shops, there to cater to the many tourists who pass through. I passed by on the last morning of our long overseas trip — we were out for a few final hours of wandering around before beginning the ordeal of the flight back home.

The attraction of the shop is, of course, the anachronistic (or nostalgic, depending on your age) name of the shop: “Kodak Film,” declared twice on the two signs. There was a day when Kodak film was a mainstay in places like this, but those days are long gone. I didn’t go inside to check, but I doubt that there is much or even any Kodak film for sale inside these days. But as I type this I recall the sensations of purchasing those boxes and even of tearing the wrapper off of an old spool of 120 or perhaps opening a film can. I also note that the people taking a picture in front of the store are using… smart phones!

Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Urban/Street

Woman In Polka Dot Dress

September 3, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

At the very end of our recent trip we ended up in Florence, Italy for a few days. We had been in the Chianti region just a bit south, and we were scheduled to begin our return flight at the Florence airport, so we figured that we should investigate this famous city a bit. (By the way, about that Florence airport… perhaps a story for another time.) This was our first visit to Florence, and it is a remarkable city in many ways — its very long history, its maze of narrow, curving streets, the architecture and museums, and more. I would like to go back.

It is also a pretty popular tourist destination, which seems to be the trend with so many such places. It seemed like most of the tourists were perhaps Italian, but the city was also crowded with people from all over the world. The press of visitors, of course, cannot help but have an effect on the city, and there is (as in so many popular cities) an uneasy balance between the qualities of the city that draw people there and those very people who come to visit. It seemed to me at times that perhaps 90% of the people I saw were either visitors or locals there to take care of the visitors. But every so often I would catch a glimpse of someone who did not fit into that pattern — a woman in a scarf ducking down and alley, someone going to work, perhaps the fellow with the bicycle, and this woman walking down one of the town’s narrow streets.

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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

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Domes, Haze, Morning

Geese, Sunset Clouds

Kodak Moment

Woman In Polka Dot Dress

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