Tag Archives: america

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Sandhill Crane Flying Low

Image Leave a comment
Sandhill Crane Flying Low
“Sandhill Crane Flying Low” — A lesser sandhill crane flies low above a Central Valley field.

I had been trying to find the right time to head to California’s Central Valley to photograph migratory birds again. I was last there around New Year’s Day, but since then various things have kept me away — mostly that the times I ‘ve been free were the times when my favorite foggy conditions were not in place. I finally gave up on waiting and went on a sunny day. After all, many of the migratory birds will only be there for a few more weeks!

Late in the winter bird season it always seems like the “bird action” picks up out there. At the beginning of the season much of that happens at the morning/evening fly-ins and fly-outs, with a lot of quiet time between. But by February the birds seem to be more active during the day. On this early-February visit both cranes and geese around all day long. I made this photograph in the early afternoon as a flock of nearby cranes began to gradually move from one spot to another.

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” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
Articles | Sales | Sierra Nevada Fall Color | Contact Info

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

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Birds, Rising Sun

Image Leave a comment
Birds,Rising Sun, Fog
“Birds, Rising Sun” — Passing geese and cranes fly in front ot the rising sun on a foggy morning in Central Valley wetlands.

A photograph like this isn’t always possible and is never easy. Obviously, the sun is extremely bright, and this presents some major exposure challenges. At the same time, the sides of the birds and plants facing the camera is in the darkest possible shadow, being on the opposite side of the sun. But on this morning several factors haled out. the high clouds interfered with the sun just a bit, and closer to the ground a bit of tule fog was still hanging on.

Early morning may be the most compelling time in these wetlands. (Though I’ll hear you out if you want to argue for evening.) After arriving in darkness, the sky begins to glow and the light slowly increases. Fog may mute the light and add a sense of mystery. And the birds are coming to life, warming their wings in the first sunlight and then flying out for the day’s activities.

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” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
Articles | Sales | Sierra Nevada Fall Color | Contact Info

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

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

Wetlands, Winter Sunset

Image Leave a comment
Wetlands, Winter Sunset, California's Central Valley
“Wetlands, Winter Sunset” — Sunset beyond Central Valley wetlands on a winter evening.

This was just about the final photograph I made on this past New Year’s Day. We had actually started the previous afternoon, come back before dawn, and worked the subject all day long. We photographed the landscape and thousands of migratory birds. As the day drew to a close I found a location with a view of the sunset sky reflected in the surface of nearby pond.

While this is mainly a landscape photograph, if you look very closely you may be able to to spot a group of (most likely) snow geese on the water. Many of their partners had already flow away for the evening, but this final group stuck around bit longer.

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” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
Articles | Sales | Sierra Nevada Fall Color | Contact Info

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

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Levee Road, Winter

Image 1 Comment
Photo: gravel road along a levee in California's Central Valley.
“Levee Road, Winter” — A gravel levee road winds through California Central Valley wetlands.

Driving through California’s Great Central Valley, you might think that the place consists of freeways, scattered towns, and distant views. These are port of the experience, but if you get off of the Interstates and poke around in more rural areas you find a very different world. Here we were following a gravel road along a flood control levee on on an early-winter morning.

Roads like this are all over the Central Valley. In the wetter areas they follow levees, but elsewhere they might track along property lines. When I made the photograph a weather front was passing nearby, and the sky was full of impressive 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” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email
Articles | Sales | Sierra Nevada Fall Color | Contact Info

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