Tag Archives: fog

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Above the Fog

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Above the Fog
A monterey cypress on a rocky hill a obove fog shrouded coastline, Point Lobos.

Above the Fog.. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A monterey cypress on a rocky hill a obove fog shrouded coastline, Point Lobos.

This was a beautiful morning at the Point Lobos State Reserve along the upper Big Sur coast south of Monterey, California. I arrived to find thick fog — which is a good thing! It stuck around longer that usual, gradually lifting and thinning, starting to allow a bit of filtered, directional light in, and then dissipating. When I made this photograph the fog was still low, so low that at times it drifted below my camera position along the edge of a coastal cliff.

In different light this tree might produce a bright scene, but in this fog the effect is darker. I positioned myself just to the side of the tree, enough to make the far headland visible. It isn’t easy to see from the photograph, but to my left here was a substantial drop-off straight to the ocean.

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: Ocean & Coast

Headlands and Fog

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Headlands and Fog
A series of fog-shrouded headlands above the Pacific Ocean shoreline, Point Lobos.

Headlands and Fog. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A series of fog-shrouded headlands above the Pacific Ocean shoreline, Point Lobos.

This photograph comes from a lovely day at Point Lobos State Reserve. It began with very thick fog that gradually thinned, producing beautiful soft and slightly directional light that remained much longer than usual. I made this photograph somewhat early in the day, when the fog was still relatively thick and low enough to obscure the tops of promontories and trees.

This hike along the shoreline follows the tops of rugged cliffs that drop steeply into the ocean. You don’t want to wander off the trail here! This section of the shoreline is cut by a series of successive coves that extend a good distance into the land. The cliffs are massive and undercut in places, yet somehow plants and even trees thrive on their faces.

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: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Monterey Cypress, Clearing Fog

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Monterey Cypress, Clearing Fog
Morning fog clears around a stand of Monterey cypress trees along rocky cliffs, Point Lobos.

Monterey Cypress, Clearing Fog. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Morning fog clears around a stand of Monterey cypress trees along rocky cliffs, Point Lobos.

Shortly after my parents moved the family to California, so many decades ago, we started visiting Point Lobos. The biggest adventure in those days was exploring the tide pools. Only later did I branch out and begin to explore the rest of the park, though I was making photographs at the place before I was in high school. Let’s just say that this park and I have a very long history.

I made this photograph on what might be the perfect sort of Point Lobos day. It started with low, thick morning fog that covered everything. Instead of suddenly “burning off,” as is often the case, the fog hung around and only dispersed slowly. As I hiked past this section along the upper edges of north shore cliffs, a hint of blue was beginning to appear and the light was starting to become a bit directional, but there was enough fog to obscure anything very far away.

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: Agriculture, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Orchard, Morning Fog

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Orchard, Morning Fog
Morning fog begins to form about a Central Valley orchard.

Orchard, Morning Fog. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Morning fog begins to form about a Central Valley orchard.

While I think this may be just about the last photograph to emerge from this season’s trips to photograph migratory birds, there’s always a chance that I’ll return to the file archive and find another. During this early March trip to California’s Central Valley the birds were more widely dispersed than usual, and I found myself looking for other subjects late in the morning. That took me to nearby agricultural country and the Valley’s immense orchards.

I saw this orchard in the distance as I drove down a (sort of) main road, so I found a turn-off onto a beaten-up old side road that took me that direction. A fog bank was developing as I approached, and it dramatically darkened the sky beyond the trees full of white blossoms.

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.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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