Tag Archives: branches

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

Old Tree, Central Park

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Photograph: Old Tree, Central Park
“Old Tree, Central Park” — A gigantic old tree with spreading branches in Central Park, Manhattan.

We were in New York City during the holidays this past December. We had just the right amount of snowfall, an inch or so to create a mood but not enough to bring things to a standstill. We stayed not far from Central Park — perhaps a ten minute walk from the west past the natural history museum — and we visited on several mornings. I’ve come to understand how Manhattanites value the place as their portal to nature.

Much of the snow had melted by the time of this visit, but if you look closely you may notice a bit left on the grassy area under the tree. The park is full of remarkable groves and individual trees, but this specimen especially caught my attention. It is a very big tree and its branches spread widely over this area of meadow.

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

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: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Fog and Tree at First Light

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“Fog and Tree at First Light” — A winter tree silhouetted against foggy dawn sky in California’s Central Valley.

I photographed this tree on the last morning of our New Year’s visit to California’s Central Valley. We were out there for three days — New Year’s Eve through January 2. Our targets were migratory birds (geese, cranes, and more) and the often-foggy valley landscape. Unlike most of the people who live out there — who prefer sunshine — we seek out the mysterious and moody qualities of the fog.

We arrived here right around the very first faint pre-dawn light — a slight glow in the eastern sky. It was foggy, just as we hoped, but the fog wasn’t all that dense or deep. We could see the sky overhead and there was enough visibility (barely) to drive safely. In places the fog thinned and we could see more of the landscape, albeit muted by haze. I photographed this tree well before sunrise and against the first color in the morning sky.

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

Trees and Smoke

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Trees and Smoke
“Trees and Smoke” — Smoke from a managed fire drifts among Yosemite Valley autumn trees.

I have told the story of this series of photographs before, but here is a reminder in case you missed it. I was in Yosemite for a day of autumn color photography, but when I arrived I found the Valley full of smoke from a managed fire, set to burn off accumulated undergrowth. The Park Service does this regularly these days in autumn. It isn’t pleasant for visitors, but it makes for a healthy forest that is less likely to be destroyed by wildfires in the future. But it does pose some challenges for photographers!

Fortunately, with the right subjects and light it is possible to make photographs in smoky conditions. This isn’t the first time I’ve photographed in smoke, and I have shot actual wildfires in the past. I decided that here the drifting smoke was actually kind of moody, almost like fog except with bright sunlight streaming down from above. Here I centered a tree with autumn leaves inside and arch of thicker trunks.

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.