Tag Archives: haze

Point Reyes

Point Reyes
Black and white photograph of Point Reyes and the Pacific Ocean with afternoon reflections.

Point Reyes. Point Reyes National Seashore, California. June 1, 2008. © Copyright 2008 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Brilliant afternoon light on the Pacific Ocean near Point Reyes.

Black and white photograph of Point Reyes and the Pacific Ocean with afternoon reflections. This photograph was made in extraordinarily windy conditions from a high point a bit further along the bluffs of the point with late afternoon sunlit brightly illuminating the ocean surface. (There is also a color version of this photograph in the queue, and it should show up here soon.)

There are several things that I like about this photograph. First, the memory of the circumstances of the photograph is a powerful one. Point Reyes is a wild and windy place, well out in the Pacific and facing out to see – usually with strong winds blowing. On this day the winds were incredible; so strong that it was all I could do to get a steady shot even while holding tightly to the tripod, which was lowered down to near the ground. And the reflection off of the ocean surface was astonishingly bright – impressive in its own right and a real photographic challenge. Finally, I like the way that the land of Point Reyes seems to extend only tentatively into what is primarily an ocean photograph.


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.

Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek

Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek
Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek. Big Sur, California. February 9, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek with giant winter surf and low fog.

The conditions were a bit unusual on this winter day. The “fog” is not the usual coastal fog drifting in from the ocean. Rather, it was the result of tremendous amounts of spray being thrown up by the huge winter surf that was rolling in.

keywords: big sur, california, cloud, fog, landscape, morning, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, seascape, seashore, usa, waves, winter, mist, haze, sea stack, fence, rocky creek, highway, one, coast, shoreline

Point Reyes Beach, Sunset

Point Reyes Beach, Sunset
Point Reyes National Seashore, Point Reyes Beach near the lighthouse at sunset, with yellow lupine carpeting the bluffs above the cliffs.

I had hoped to get some photographs of the wonderful fields of yellow lupine at the top of this bluff, but I was stymied by the tremendous winds buffeting Point Reyes. I do have photographs of this scene that show the flowers more clearly, but many of them are blurred from being blown by the wind.

keywords: california, national park, pacific ocean, spring, point reyes, beach, surf, waves, sand, haze, mist, cliff, nature, yellow, lupine, grass, texture, sunset, evening, seascape, landscape, tourism, scenic, travel, stock, usa, national seashore

Point Reyes Headlands

Point Reyes Headlands
“Point Reyes” — oint Reyes with coastal haze, foreground cove with elephant seals, and Drakes Bay in the distance.

I made this photograph in incredibly windy conditions. (I can hear other Point Reyes regulars saying, “duh!” at this point…) It was the kind of afternoon when no tripod is sturdy enough to really hold the camera still – so I waited and shot during relative lulls in the gale. If you look closely at the lower right corner you can see sea lions hauled out on the beach.

To expand a bit, the weather at this spectacular location is often quite different from that in other nearby California locations. The “point” extends a good distance out into the ocean here, with the result being cold temperatures, lots of wind, and frequent heavy fog. The fog was not present on this day, but the wind surely was!


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