Tag Archives: clouds

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Wetlands, Winter Clouds and Fog

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Wetlands, Winter Clouds and Fog
“Wetlands, Winter Clouds and Fog” — Winter clouds and fog mute the colors and details of a wetland landscape.

Who can resist the symmetry of clouds and their reflections in still water? I know I cannot. I have photographed such things many times, but more typically the photographs feature some kind of overpowering sky — thunderstorms or a brilliantly colorful sunrise or sunset. (In fact, I’ve made a few of the latter at this very location.) But here I wanted to focus on something different, a subject that suggests the quiet and stillness of this wetlands landscape.

It was a foggy winter morning. As the fog began to thin the high clouds and their reflections became visible, although the horizon just beyond the rushes was still obscured by tule fog. Aside from the sounds of birds, it was quiet. The air was nearly still, and the scene was almost static — though to be accurate, it was simply changing very slowly.

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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

September Rain

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September Rain
“September Rain” — A late-season rain shower over Sierra Nevada crest peaks and a stand of trees.

This photograph comes from that wonderful late-season time when the crowds diminish, the temperatures drop, things seem to slow down, and there are clear signs that the summer weather is coming to an end. I had gone to the Sierra just east of Yosemite for a few days of camping and photography. The weather was cold and blustery, and the sky was spitting rain as I set up my tent.

With camp set up, I had time to look around and notice the veil of rain draped across the rugged features of this nearby mountain, lit by soft light coming through the showers. I walked a short distance from my camp, found some interesting foreground trees, set up, and made this photograph before the rain arrived in camp.

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: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

Oban Waterfront, Dusk

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Oban Waterfront, Dusk
“Oban Waterfront, Dusk” — Waterfront buildings reflected in smooth water at dusk, Oban, Scotland.

Our recent visit to Scotland included jet lag adjustment time before our Great Glen Way walk. It did not seem wise to get off our 11-hour flight, eight time zones away from home and immediately start walking! We spent our first night near the airport in Glasgow, then took a train to Oban for a couple of nights before heading to our trailhead in Fort William. Oban was a wonderful surprise — a lovely, walkable town on the waterfront. And, of course, the Oban Whisky distillery is in town. And, yes, we visited!

We stayed at a B&B about ten minutes from the center of town. As we walked back from dinner we came upon this lovely dusk light over the waterfront. I had not thought much about it before the trip, but Scotland is so far north (the northern tip is about as far north as Juneau, Alaska) that the daylight lasted until nearly 10:00pm.

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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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Winter Cloudscape

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Winter Cloudscape
“Winter Cloudscape” — Clouds and their reflections produce a minimalist landscape on a foggy winter morning in Central California.

Recently I went back and reviewed photographs from the winter migratory bird season, a time when I head to California’s Central Valley as frequently as possible. The birds are the trigger for this annual focus, but my interests go well beyond the wildlife. I’m fascinated by the flat, wide-open landscape, the immense sky, the long views, and the fantastic tule fogs. “Normal” people steer clear on foggy days out there, but that’s my cue to head to the Valley!

This morning began with fairly thick fog. But as is common, it began to clear shortly after sunrise. This is a slow process. The fog may thin in one area but remain impenetrable nearby, or after clearing it may drift back again. Because tule fog isn’t very deep, the sky above is often visible before the surrounding land. That’s the case here, as the soft overhead winter clouds are visible against a blue sky, even as the horizon is obscured by fog. One thing that seems magical about these scenes is that almost nothing is solid and tangible — it is a vague landscape of mist, clouds, and reflections.

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.