Tag Archives: fog

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Geese, Clearing Fog, Light

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Geese, Clearing Fog, Light
A band of light through thinning fog falls across a flock of geese

Geese, Clearing Fog, Light. © Copyright 2018 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A band of light through thinning fog falls across a flock of geese

I’m often surprised that many people who love the outdoors in the warmer months don’t spend more time outdoors in the winter. At least in my part of the world, the light is often much more varied and compelling this time of year — with dramatic storm clouds, mysterious fog, beams of light appearing, and more. And, in practical terms, I’d rather have to layer up to stay warm than contend with too much heat!

In addition, in much of the United States this is the season to find large flocks of migrating birds. If you only go out in the warm season… you might never see them! Fortunately I learned this lesson a few decades ago. I had lived in California for a long time, but I had no idea about the birds of the flyway until one long drive far up into Northern California in late autumn when I first saw the huge flocks in twilight sky.

See top of this page for Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information and more.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Egret Among Clouds

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Egret Among Clouds
An egret flies into early morning winter sky with fog and clouds

Egret Among Clouds. © Copyright 2018 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

An egret flies into early morning winter sky with fog and clouds

In some ways the great white egrets seem less special than some of the birds that arrive and depart in huge flocks each season. The first sight of these birds in impressive — whether it is a solitary bird flying past with its characteristic slow wing motion, a bird hunting in grassland or shallow water, or perhaps a small group in a winter field. But eventually you figure out that they are far from rare, and you can find them in many areas that have the right combination of water and food.

However, in flight they have a remarkable degree of gracefulness. They almost always fly alone, and they tend toward slow-moving, steady flying, often coasting or moving wings slowly. There landings are momentarily very beautiful as wings flare just as they hit the ground. This bird took to the air nearby and then flew slowly into a cloudy golden hour sky.

See top of this page for Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information and more.

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 and Amazon.
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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

Beneath The Fog

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Beneath The Fog
Pacific Ocean bluffs beneath summer fog, Big Sur coast

Beneath The Fog. © Copyright 2018 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Pacific Ocean bluffs beneath summer fog, Big Sur coast

We often photograph this coast when it is sunny, and even then we tend to photograph at the colorful early morning and evening hours. The light at those times and in those conditions is, indeed, amazing, and who could blame photographers for seeking it out? In addition, along the Big Sur coast the clearer skies often produce great vistas that stretch over immense distances.

I often wonder how people who are familiar with this area from photographs and guide books — with their sunny photographs — must respond when they discover that fog is very common, especially during the prime summer tourist months. In fact, much of the California coast is like this — it can be (and was on the day I made this photograph) ninety degrees or hotter a few miles inland and cold, windy, and foggy along the immediate coast.  I made this photograph right at one of the best known and most iconic locations along the Big Sur coast, but in these more typical foggy conditions.

See top of this page for Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information and more.

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

Photographs: Nature

Spring Morning, Carrizo Plain

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Spring Morning, Carrizo Plain
An exceptional spring wildflower bloom in the arid Carrizo Plain

Spring Morning, Carrizo Plain. © Copyright 2018 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

An exceptional spring wildflower bloom in the arid Carrizo Plain

Most of the time — and all of the time in many typical years — this location would strike a visitor as being pretty much a desert. This is a hot and dry place, with playas that remind one of areas of Nevada or even Death Valley. It is a long ways from any towns, and there are virtually no amenities there. In other words, just the sort of place I like to visit.

Every so often, when California’s winter rains are heavier than usual, and when the rest of the factors work out just right, such arid locations can break out with astounding displays of wildflowers. I was fortunate to time a visit to one such location just right. On this morning the yellow flowers seemed to extend all the way toward the  mountains shrouded in glowing fog.

See top of this page for Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information and more.

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 and Amazon.
Blog | About | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email

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