Tag Archives: bush

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Shoreline, Upper Young Lake, Sunset

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Shoreline, Upper Young Lake, Sunset

Shoreline, Upper Young Lake, Sunset. Yosemite National Park, California. July 29, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Sunset light on shoreline trees and rocks below rocky hillside above Upper Young Lake, Yosemite National Park.

This is another in the series of photographs I made on this late-July evening at Upper Young Lake, my favorite of the three in this string of Young Lakes in the Sierra Nevada back-country out of Tuolumne Meadows. This photograph was shot in the last moments before the sun, shining through a bit of smoke from a wildfire in the park, dropped below the rim of the high meadow holding the lake.

I probably could have stayed at this lake and photographed post-sunset light for another half hour beyond sunset. However, the thought of hiking in the dark down a mile-long trail that in places is more cross country than actual trail convinced me to pack up and leave shortly after this.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: shoreline, upper, young, lake, tree, grove, forest, flora, grass, plants, flower, meadow, rock, boulder, talus, scree, cliff, bush, water, surface, reflection, ripple, pink, light, sunset, dusk, evening, yosemite, national park, california, usa, hike, backpack, wilderness, nature, landscape, sierra nevada, range, mountains, snow, stock, travel, scenic, stock, Pinus contorta, murrayana, lodgepole, pine, tamarack

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Sticky Monkeyflower

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Sticky Monkeyflower

Sticky Monkeyflower. Almaden Quicksilver Park, California. April 18, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Spring sticky monkey flower blooms at Almaden Quicksilver Park, Santa Clara County, California.

This is a very common springtime flower in the hills of central California – it is one of the first flowers that I recall learning to recognize when I was a kid. (Something about that name must have caught my attention.) These were photographed along one of my favorite trails at the Almaden Quicksilver Park in the south San Jose area of Santa Clara County.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: sticky, monkey, flower, Mimulus aurantiacus, Diplacus aurantiacus, bush, island, blossom, wildflower, plant, foliage, leaf, green, orange, bokeh, almaden, quicksilver, santa clara, county, park, mines, california, usa, san jose, spring, nature, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Redwood Grove, Filtered Light

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Redwood Grove, Filtered Light. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell - all rights reserved.
Redwood Grove, Filtered Light. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell - all rights reserved.

Redwood Grove, Filtered Light. Muir Woods National Monument, California. February, 28, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Gentle light filters through overcast sky and the forest canopy to illuminate redwood trees of Muir Woods National Monument, California.

I saw this beautiful soft light on the trees from across the valley and quickly moved over here to photograph this scene last weekend. Although I exposed quite a few frames here and tried a few different compositions, the irony is that so far my favorite is this one, the first shot I did. The lighting was really interesting. A Pacific winter storm was just starting to come in and for the most part it was quite overcast. However, from time to time a thinner spot in the clouds would pass by and doubly-filtered and doubly-diffused light would hit these trees – filtering and diffused by the overcast and then again by the forest canopy.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: muir, woods, national, monument, park, marin, forest, nature, california, usa, redwood, tree, grove, trunk, vertical, morning, overcast, filtered, light, canopy, marin county, usa, fern, oxalis, sorrell, branch, bush, stump, moss, scenic, landscape, travel, stock, quiet, green

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Redwood Forest and Ferns

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Redwood Forest and Ferns

Redwood Forest and Ferns. Muir Woods National Monument, California. February 29, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Ferns carpet the forest floor beneath redwood trees at Muir Woods National Monument, California.

I spent a lot of time shooting in this particular spot at along the trail at Muir Woods. I had been on the other side of the creek when I noticed some interesting light striking the trunks of the trees, light that was filtered through both the forest canopy and the developing overcast from an approaching Pacific weather system. I crossed the creek and found this scene, set up a shot, and waited. Most of the time the light was pretty flat, but occasionally the clouds would thin a bit and the light would light the trees a bit. While I was waiting I realized that there was a fire-hollowed tree nearby that is apparently one of those “photo opportunities” that everyone simply must stop for! Couples and small groups were virtually lined up to stand in the hollow of the tree and have their photograph taken. So I did as I often do when I’m waiting for light… I offered to shoot a few shots for these folks using their cameras: “Hey, would you both like to be in the shot?” Many seem a bit surprised that the “Guy With The Tripod” would do this, and I enjoy the pleased reactions – though I’m often slightly embarrassed by my inability to operate their point and shoot cameras! ;-)

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: muir, woods, national, monument, park, marin, forest, nature, california, usa, redwood, forest, fern, grove, tree, trunk, moss, bush, sun, light, nature, landscape, foliage, travel, scenic, stock