Tag Archives: america

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Pacific Clouds and Sun

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Pacific Clouds and Sun
“Pacific Clouds and Sun” — The sun breaks through storm clouds above the California Pacific coast.

The most remarkable thing about ocean coasts might be the wildly varied effects of light and color. In some conditions there may be intense blue and green colors or the warm tones of early morning and evening. When light is affected by storms and fog, the colors may drain from the scene. This photograph is an example of the latter situation — believe it or not, this is a color photograph.

Like my other recent seascapes, I made this one during the end-of-year period of historically high tides and giant surf along the California coast. While this photograph doesn’t focus on gigantic, impressive waves breaking near the shore, if you look closely you can see that a large swell is distorting the undulating surface of the water.

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

Autumn Chairs, Whitney Museum

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Autumn Chairs, Whitney Museum
“Autumn Chairs, Whitney Museum” — Colorful chairs and an autumn tree outside the New Whitney Museum, Manhattan.

As each season passes, the sensations of the previous season fade. But only a short time ago it was about colorful leaves falling from trees, crunching underfoot, and blowing along sidewalks and trails. I made this photograph as we passed the Whitney Museum at the end of a very long Manhattan walk in late November on one of those beautiful autumn days.

Sometimes the question arises: What is this photograph about? It is hard to be too specific about that. But here the colors are pretty important — the bright yellow of the chairs, the warm orange of the leaves, and the overall cool blue tones of the light. I think it is also “about” the juxtaposition of the constructed urban world and the organic forms of the natural world.

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

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

Black-Necked Stilt In Flight

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Black-Necked Stilt In Flight
“Black-Necked Stilt In Flight” — A black-necked stilt flies above Central Valley wetlands.

This black-eyed stilt was one of a pair of birds I tracked as they flew across this wetland pond. I’m intrigued by the stilts, with their striking black and white bodies set off by orange legs. Their long legs and bills equip them to forage in shallow wetland ponds. The feed quietly for long periods and then suddenly launch into very quick flight just above the water.

These characteristics make them easy to photograph when they are feeding, but very difficult to catch when they are flying. The pair flew across the scene in front of me, and because I was ready for them I managed to get a sequence of photographs. Of course, bird photography is, in my experience, marked by more failures than successes — and there’s a ‘failure story” to accompany this photograph, too! The birds landed in the pond together with ballet-like grace as I squeezed of one final shot — a photograph that was completely out of focus!

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 | Post | 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: Fall, Photographs: Nature

Submerged Autumn Leaves

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Submerged Autumn Leaves
Submerged Autumn Leaves” — Autumn cottonwood leaves submerged in a wetland pond.

A confession: Although these are “submerged autumn leaves,” I photographed them on New Year’s Day. We spent the day in the Central Valley with friends, celebrating the new year and photographing birds and landscape. The location is primarily wetlands terrain, but there are cottonwood trees all around, and their colorful leaves were everywhere.

I stopped here after someone told me that they had spotted a single bird of an interesting and rare sort in an easily accessible spot. I spoke to a fellow who told me the bird had gracioiusly posed on a branch for him for ten minutes before flying away. Of course, it was gone when I got there! As I left I crossed a little bridge right where the bird wasn’t. I looked down into the water and spotted these interesting leaves.

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 | Post | 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.