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Black Oaks, Smoke

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Black Oaks, Smoke
Smoke from a management fire surrounds autumn black oak trees in Yosemite Valley.

Black Oaks, Smoke. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Smoke from a management fire surrounds autumn black oak trees in Yosemite Valley.

Smoke drifted in and out as I photographed trees in this meadow. The light changed as beams passed through a gap in the ridge and moved across the landscape. I moved from position to position, trying to keep up with the unfolding scene. Landscape photography can be less of the sedate and quietly thoughtful experience than some assume. We work with the conditions we are given, and sometimes they are quite dynamic. Recently I shared another photograph of this same group of trees, made at almost the same time. Even disregarding the slightly different compositions, a comparison shows how much the light and haze changed between the two exposures.

How we regard fire in a place like this is a complex subject, especially for those of us who were brought up during the decades when Smoky the Bear told us that the only good fire is no fire at all. It turns out that Smoky was wrong, and too much fire suppression allowed extremely flammable undergrowth and detritus to build up, and when fire did inevitably arrive it consumed forests whole, utterly destroying them in many cases. New, enlightened policies recognize that fire is a natural part of forest ecology, and that it keeps the forest healthy. The smoke in this photograph comes from a managed fire, designed to clear out the built-up undergrowth. Yet, while I know this is a good thing, I can’t say that I enjoy working in the smoke!

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: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Black Oaks, Drifting Smoke

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Black Oaks, Drifting Smoke
Seasonal fire smoke drifts through a grove of Yosemite Valley black oak trees in morning light.

Black Oaks, Drifting Smoke. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Seasonal fire smoke drifts through a grove of Yosemite Valley black oak trees in morning light.

This photograph comes from my early-November one-day marathon up-and-back photography visit to Yosemite Valley, timed to photograph the fall colors. Since I start these trips hours before sunrise, I can never be sure of what conditions I’ll find in the Valley. I knew it would be clear weather with relatively warm temperatures… but I did realize until I arrived and saw the smoke that there would be management fires in the Valley. These fires are a good thing — they reduce the dead vegetation that can lead to extremely destructive fires — but they can make photograph difficult. As I arrived in the Valley it was obvious that I’d be dealing with smoke!

At this time of year the colors of backlit black oaks trees can glow, so I headed to a place where I know that there are some good specimens and excellent opportunities for that backlight. Arriving there, I discovered that the fire was right next to and almost surrounding the location. This could have been a very bad thing, but I soon realized that the light passing through the smoke was glowing beautifully and producing light beams. I found a spot with this composition and waited for the light to move across this spot.

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 to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: People, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Woman in Dry Cleaner Doorway

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Woman in Dry Cleaner Doorway
A woman stands n the dorrway of a dry-cleaners and smokes, Fiesole, Italy.

Woman in Dry Cleaner Doorway. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A woman stands n the doorway of a dry-cleaners and smokes, Fiesole, Italy.

During this summer’s lengthy European travels, one of our longest stays was in Florence. There’s a lot to see there — much of which we had missed on our previous visit in the pre-pandemic era, when we barely did more than pass through on our way to and from other places. So one reason for the longer stay was that we had some catching up to do. In more practical terms, we feel that after a lot of active travel it is good to stop and stay in one place a bit longer — and Florence was that place. But this photograph is not in Florence…

… which might lead you to wonder why I’m posting it here. Well, it is very close to Florence! Friends had recommended a visit to Fiesole, a smaller town in the hills above Florence. So one morning we caught the bus up there for a partial day of wandering and looking at long views of the Arno Valley and Florence. This was a quick photograph I made while wandering through the town — a woman taking a cigarette break outside her dry cleaning shop.

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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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: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Patterns In Water and Stone

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Patterns In Water and Stone
Granite shapes, colors, and textures reflected in still water, Sierra Nevada.

Patterns In Water and Stone. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Granite shapes, colors, and textures reflected in still water, Sierra Nevada.

Back in September I made my first summer visit of the year to the Yosemite high country. It isn’t ‘like me to miss almost an entire season up there, but we were traveling elsewhere this summer. To say the least, I was overdue to a visit to “my” mountains! I spent a few days camped just below the crest outside of Yosemite, and photographed both inside the park and along the eastern escarpment of the range.

This photograph comes from inside the park, at a place that has a bit of history in our family. When our (now grown) “kids” were very young, it was my tradition to introduce them to backpacking when they were three-years-old, and the trips always started at the trailhead next to this pond. The hike to our overnight camp was all of 1.2 miles, but to a small child I’m sure it counted as a major expedition. So, having an afternoon free during last month’s visit, I decided to go back and day-hike this little route. I made the photograph as I returned from the walk.

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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