Tag Archives: america

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Wetlands Morning, Tule Fog

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Clearing fog at dawn in California wetlands.
“Wetlands Morning, Tule Fog” — Tule fog begins to clear above wetlands just beore a winter sunrise.

Some of my favorite photography conditions happen when it is difficult to see. I love photographing directly into the sunlight, in fog and mist, in marginal light, and at night. This is partly just my fascination with the complex lighting. But I think it is also about making photographs that don’t quite show it all, and which leave it to the viewer to wonder about the subjects and imagine what else might be there.

This is another of my winter Central Valley photographs, made in a place I often visit to photograph migratory birds in the late autumn and winter months. In full sunlight these landscapes can sometimes feel rather mundane. But at dawn or dusk, especially when tule fogs forms, they are transformed into moody and mysterious places.

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

Wetlands Birds, Dawn Fog

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“Wetlands Birds, Dawn Fog” — Black-necked stilts and other wetland birds in a quiet pond as dawn fog begins to thin.

Believe it or not, I still have more photographs from our three days of photography around New Year’s Day. To recap, a group of friends and fellow photographers assembled before dawn to greet the first sunrise of the new year. We spent the rest of the day sharing food and good times and photographing this landscape and its wildlife.

The photograph was made quite early, well before the fog began to clear. This is shallow tule fog, which can be dense enough to hamper driving, but shallow enough that you can look up and see the sky directly overhead. The fog glowed with the colors of the overhead sunrise sky as a few black-necked stilts went about their morning business in the pond.

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.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | BlueSky | Email

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

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

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

The Blackbird Tree

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“The Blackbird Tree” — Redwing blackbirds perch momentarily on the branches of an old tree above wetland ponds.

This tree and I have a long history. I have photographed at this location for a years, certainly longer than a decade. It is one of my favorite places to photograph in the winter, when migratory birds arrive in California. This normally involves driving very slowly along rural roads in wetlands while watching for photographic opportunities. Way back when I started I used to stop frequently at this tree at the corner of a large pond. One winter, I was disappointed when the top half of the tree broke off, leaving a pretty ugly little snag.

But fast forward a number of years and the broken snag has sprouted brand new branches which now almost mirror the shape of the original tree. It seems to be a favorite hangout for small blackbirds, especially the redwing and tricolor blackbirds that are so common in this area — birds that sing perhaps the most exuberant bird song I know of.

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.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | BlueSky | Email

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

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Winter Oak and Fog

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“Winter Oak and Fog” — An old winter oak tree silhouetted against clearing fog glowing in morning sunlight.

Plans change. On this morning I was going to take a walk in the neighborhood, but low fog seemed to be sticking around longer than usual so I decided to go for a more extensive hike at a location that I thought might be interesting in these conditions. I drove that direction and saw the fog doing all sorts of interesting things — so I abandoned my hiking plans and instead devoted the morning to chasing that boundary between the fog and the sunlight. I caught a glimpse of this tree as I passed a crossroad.

I was on a narrow road with no turnouts, so I continued for a distance until I found a place where I could turn around and head back to the tree. Arriving there I discovered that the best viewpoint didn’t permit parking, but I spotted a pull-out nearby on the other side of the road. This entailed more driving to find a suitable turn around point. I finally got back and parked my vehicle and got out with my gear… just as the first blue sky was starting to appear behind this lovely old oak tree as the fog began to thin.

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.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | BlueSky | Email

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

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

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