Tag Archives: dawn

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

Dawn Fog and Wildfire Smoke

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Dawn Fog and Wildfire Smoke
“Dawn Fog and Wildfire Smoke” — Fog hovers over a meadow, wildfire smoke fills the sky as trees are silhouetted by first dawn light above the Sierra Nevada crest.

In the mountains I usually awaken while it. is still dark outside, and on my most recent visit I was camped in a forest. So I have virtually no idea of the specific conditions I will find when I head out. Will there be clouds? Frost? haze? I won’t know until I get to a location and the light begins to appear. I can anticipate the range of possibilities to some extent ,but occasionally I am completely surprised. That was the case on this morning when I emerged from the forest campground, arrived at a meadow, and found it filling with beautiful ground fog.

Such conditions often are very transitory — all it takes is a little breeze or a slight increase in the temperature and fog is gone. So I quickly headed to a spot I know of where I thought some trees might be silhouetted against the pre-sunrise sky and fog. It was my lucky morning… the fog continued to thicken and spread for a while, and I managed to make this photograph of those trees and a distant Sierra crest peak as the fog drifted my way.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

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

Trees, Boulders, and Dawn Fog

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Trees, Boulders, and Dawn Fog
“Trees, Boulders, and Dawn Fog” — Trees silhouetted against dawn light as fog rises above glacial boulders.

Late in the first half of September I spent a few days camping and photographing in the Yosemite high country. The weather was a bit challenging — cold, cloudy, and with rain at times. But those conditions are often more photographically interesting than typical summer blue sky days. I was up before dawn on this morning, and I was thrilled to discover thick fog blanketing frosty meadows.

My favorite Sierra Nevada season begins in September and can extend into the beginning of November. The pleasant, easy-going summer conditions begin to fade as the days get shorter, vegetation dries out, crowds disappear, weather fronts approach more often, and fall colors arrive.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

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

Morning Alpenglow, Sierra Crest

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Morning Alpenglow, Sierra Crest
“Morning Alpenglow, Sierra Crest” — Before sunrise, alpenglow subtly colors peaks of the Sierra Crest on the Yosemite boundary.

We usually think of “alpenglow” as an evening thing, probably because that’s when almost everyone who visits the mountains sees this post-sunset soft and colorful light on the highest peaks. But it is just as much a feature of the early morning, though you’ll have to rise early to see it!

Before dawn I walked the short distance from my tent to this nearby pond. I had scouted it the previous evening and was sure that it was a good place to photograph the reflection of the morning light on the Sierra Crest. The direct sunlight had not yet arrived, as sunrise was still a few minutes away, but the highest peaks were turning softly pink.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

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

Dawn, Pond and Mountains

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Dawn, Pond and Mountains
“Dawn, Pond and Mountains” — Sunrise light strikes Sierra Crest peaks and is reflected in the surface of a subalpine pond.

I recently spent a few days backpacking with long-time friends and few new friends. We headed into the mountains just east of Yosemite and the Sierra crest, spending days in a high place — we were just above 10,000′ the entire time. We camped near this pond, so I was up before dawn to be here for the sunrise show as the first light appeared on the high peaks to our east.

Traveling in the backcountry with non-photographers is always a different experience. During the past few decades I have mostly backpacked by myself or else gone out with other photographers. We photographers have our odd rituals: up in the darkness, breakfast at mid-morning, dinner before the good evening light, then out to photograph and not back until dark. Sometimes I wonder if the others think I’m some kind of ghost.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.