Tag Archives: island

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Sticky Monkeyflower

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Sticky Monkeyflower

Sticky Monkeyflower. Almaden Quicksilver Park, California. April 18, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Spring sticky monkey flower blooms at Almaden Quicksilver Park, Santa Clara County, California.

This is a very common springtime flower in the hills of central California – it is one of the first flowers that I recall learning to recognize when I was a kid. (Something about that name must have caught my attention.) These were photographed along one of my favorite trails at the Almaden Quicksilver Park in the south San Jose area of Santa Clara County.

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.

keywords: sticky, monkey, flower, Mimulus aurantiacus, Diplacus aurantiacus, bush, island, blossom, wildflower, plant, foliage, leaf, green, orange, bokeh, almaden, quicksilver, santa clara, county, park, mines, california, usa, san jose, spring, nature, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: San Francisco

Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay, Morning Light

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Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay, Morning Light

Alcatraz and San Francisco Bay, Morning Light. San Francisco, California. March 21, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Early mornng sun breaks through clouds over San Francisco Bay and illuminates the water to silhouette Alcatraz Island.

This weekend I visited Muir Woods again. I was on the road early enough to arrive at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge by dawn. Even if I am headed somewhere else, I almost always stop at the north end to see what sort of light is shining on the City and the bay – and this morning low clouds from an incoming weather system were sweeping across the bay as sunlight broke through intermittently to light the water on the bay. Before heading on to Muir Woods I made a series of photographs of this light, including this one of Alcatraz.

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.

keywords: san francisco, bay, california, usa, water, alcatraz, island, prison, park, historic, oakland, treasure island, bridge, golden, light, clouds, beams, silhouette, tower, building, travel, historic, area, storm, birds, landscape, scenic, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach

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Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach

Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach. Santa Cruz, California. December 29, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Twilight view of a surf filled cove, shoreline ledges, sea stack, beach, and Monterey Peninsula at Wilder Ranch State Beach.

Although I have visited the section of the California Coast Highway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz many times and have driven past this spot frequently, I had never actually stopped at Wilder Ranch State Beach and wandered out the the ocean here. Having seen some interesting photographs of this spot recently, tonight as I drove north from Santa Cruz I decided that there was no time like the present and I pulled over and hiked down to the beach. Compared to many winter evenings along this section of the Pacific coast, it was very calm and almost warm tonight.

This photograph looks south toward Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay – the Monterey Peninsula is visible on the horizon. The sea stack is probably the most recognizable feature of this beach, though the low rock shelfs along the water’s edge are also pretty interesting. This photograph is a fairly long time exposure shot in the post sunset glow.

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.

keywords: sea, stack, cove, rock, ledge, reef, bluff, surf, wave, ocean, pacific, monterey, bay, peninsula, santa cruz, california, usa, sunset, twilight, evening, light, moss, reflection, time exposure, beach, sand, pond, pool, sky, cloud, landscape, seascape, travel, scenic, stock, mist, island, birds

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Twilight, Point Lobos

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Twilight, Point Lobos

Twilight, Point Lobos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Silhouette of a tree at twilight over the Pacific Ocean at Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

Point Lobos is open until 30 minutes after sunset these days, providing an opportunity to shoot some really beautiful twilight skies, especially in the fall/winter season. I had just finished shooting along the shoreline and realized that I needed to head back to the car if I wanted to be out of the park on time. As I hurried along the road back to my car I saw this composition – I quickly set my tripod up in the middle of the road and made several exposures, knowing that the dynamic range was far to great to be captured in one shot. Just as I collapsed the tripod the park ranger drove up on her final patrol to make sure that the stragglers – that would be me! – were leaving the park. She graciously waited as I finished my walk to the car, packed up, and headed out of the park.

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.

keywords: twilight, sunset, evening, tree, silhouette, branches, trunk, shore, coast, rocks, island, water, bay, pacific, ocean, sea, orange, blue, clouds, horizon, point lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, carmel, monterey, peninsula, big sur, landscape, seascape, travel, scenic, stock, nature, surf, waves, kelp