Tag Archives: grass

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

New Spring Growth, Dana Fork, Tuolumne River

August 4, 2009 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

New spring growth comes to life in a waterlogged meadow along the Dana fork of the Tuolumne River beneath snow-dusted summits of Mounts Dana and Gibbs, Yosemite National Park, California.

I think I shot this scene as much for reasons of recording nature as for any aesthetic reasons. It is a bit unusual for me to get to Tuolumne so early in the season – though it isn’t the first time, and I’ve even been there when snow was still on the ground – so I thought it was interesting to catch this meadow while it was still completely waterlogged from spring runoff and before the more familiar lush green growth of the high season had appeared.

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.

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

Spring Azaleas, El Capitan Meadow

August 3, 2009 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Spring azalea blossoms beneath the black oaks in El Capitan Meadow, Yosemite Valley.

I found these white azaleas growing beneath the black oaks in El Capitan Meadow during my early June visit to the Valley. I photographed these same flowers last year during the fall when the flowers were long gone and the leaves were turning gaudy shades of red and yellow and eventually brown.

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.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

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

Tarn and Forest, Tioga Pass Road

August 2, 2009 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Rocks and their reflections in the still water of an early season meltwater tarn in the high elevation forest along Tioga Pass Road, Yosemite National Park.

I’ve driven past this small seasonal pond alongside Tioga Pass Road many times, and I’ve stopped on occasion. It tends to be a tough subject for me. Either I’m there at the wrong time of day or later in the season when the pond completely dries up. However, the interesting rocks and boulders set in the tarn and the background forest keep drawing me back, and I always cast a glance at it as I drive this road.

It was midday when I passed by on this early June day. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted a group of deer at the far side of the pond, feeding on new grasses against the background of the forest. It took me a moment to find a place to pull over and park, attach my longest lens, put the whole mess on the tripod, grab my pack, and walk back to the tarn. I managed to get everything set up and a nice composition including the deer set up… when they left. Ah, well! I decided to stick around a bit and see what else I could find even though it was midday and the light was somewhat tough.

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.

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

Lodgepole Forest, Evening, Tioga Pass

July 27, 2009 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

The edge of the lodgepole forest near Tioga Pass in evening light – Yosemite National Park, California.

I drive past this grove of trees just inside the Yosemite National Park boundary near Tioga Pass many times each season as I cross the pass. I especially like these densely growing trees in the evening and early morning light when the detail of many trees and even more branches merges into darkness in the distance. I stopped on this evening when the trees at the edge of the forest were mostly illuminated by light reflected from the lower slopes of Mt. Dana.

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.

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