Tag Archives: light

Photographs: Central California

Two Oak Trees, Morning

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Two Oak Trees, Morning

Two Oak Trees, Morning. Pacheco State Park, California. March 16, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Two oak trees and grassland in morning light. This scene was photographed at Pacheco State Park on the top of the mountain range between Santa Clara Valley and California’s Great Central Valley. This park is a great place to see spring wildflowers, though the persistent winds can make photography challenging.

I always think of one other connection when I pass by this area or, better yet, stop and visit. When John Muir first travelled to the Sierra he came through this pass, and he marveled (as Muir frequently did) at the carpet of wildflowers extending into and across the valley in front of him. While we no longer see the sight the he described, during a few weeks each spring the wildflowers are thick enough that you can almost imagine it.

keywords: oaks, trees, grass, hills, sun, light, morning, early, fence, ridge, sky, silhouette, pacheco, state park, california, pass, usa, travel, scenic, nature, plants, spring, landscape, stock

Photographs: Death Valley

Stovepipe Dunes, Evening

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Stovepipe Dunes, Evening

Stovepipe Dunes, Evening. Death Valley National Park, California. April 1, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Early evening light softly illuminates folded terrain of the Stovepipe Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California.

I’m just back from a four-day trip to Death Valley and this first photo I’ve posted is also one of the first I took – on the first evening after I arrived in the park.

keywords: death valley, national park, stovepipe, wells, sand, dunes, evening, twilight, plants, folds, mountains, waves, ripples, soft, light, desert, grapevine, california, usa, travel, scenic, landscape, stock

Photographs: Yosemite

Winter Grove, Yosemite Valley

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Winter Grove, Yosemite Valley
Winter Grove, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. February 16, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

I’m always looking for different views of the famous – and quite obvious – subjects in The Valley such as Yosemite Falls. Here I was intrigued by the shapes of leafless winter trees with snow in the foreground and the falls and cliffs in the background.

Normally, one would probably regard this as a poorly lit photo of the falls. However, at least in my view, the effect is to treat the typically-central waterfall as part of the background and instead draw attention to the forms of the trees, whose shapes echo the curves of the cliffs and the shadow line across the falls.

keywords: California, Landscape, National Park, Place, Travel, Valley, Winter, Yosemite, valley, usa, travel, scenic, landscape, snow, meadow, merced, river, trees, bare, tracks, footprints, cliff, mountains, rocks, fall, falls, blue sky, lost arrow, ice, sun, light, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Urban/Street

Crane and Building With Green Windows, Night

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Crane and Building With Green Windows, Night
Crane and Building With Green Windows, Night. Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. March 22, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Night color photograph of an old shipyard crane and a building with green windows at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. Photographed during a full moon outing with The Nocturnes SF Bay Area night photography group.

Mare Island at night seems to provide an almost endless range of subjects and lighting. I’ve been there many times and hope to return frequently

Keywords: mare island, naval shipyard, historic, night, nocturnal, photo, photography, crane, structure, builiding, windows, green, light, star, trails, the nocturnes, san francisco, california, usa, vallejo, travel, urban, industrial, stock