Tag Archives: mist

Winter Seascape – Near Waddell Beach

Winter Seascape - Near Waddell Beach
Winter Seascape - Near Waddell Beach

Winter Seascape – Near Waddell Beach. Pacific Ocean Coastline, California. December 20, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell

A mininalist evening seascape photographed from high bluffs above the Pacific Ocean near Waddell Beach, California.

After photographing beautiful sunset clouds at Waddell Beach I packed up and started south on my drive back home. From Waddell the road rises to pass along the edge of a high bluff with an open view to the west and over the Pacific. I often stop here to photograph shorebirds as they pass right along the edge of the cliff. Although I didn’t have a plan to stop on this evening, I almost intuitively pulled off the road at the first stop and saw this very quiet and still image of the post-sunset Pacific Ocean minimalist seascape – the large swell was coming slowly straight towards the shoreline and everything from the water to the clouds had taken on blue tones in the subdued evening light.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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keywords: winter, seascape, waddell, beach, pacific, ocean, coast, coastline, shore, shoreline, wave, swell, sea, vast, expanse, sky, cloud, blue, surface, storm, evening, twilight, sunset, nature, minimalist, bluff, above, curve, horizon, fog, mist, reflection, scenic, travel, landscape, west, highway, one, san mateo, county, stock

Gulls Taking Flight, Near Waddell Creek

Gulls Taking Flight, Near Waddell Creek

Gulls Taking Flight, Near Waddell Creek. Pacific Ocean Coastline near Santa Cruz, California. December 4, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Flock of gulls takes flight over dark and cloudy Pacific Ocean near Waddell Creek.

This is a second photograph from the same location where I made the motion-blur pelican shot posted previously, the Waddell Creek Beach (part of Big Basin State Park) along the Pacific Ocean coastline on Highway 1 (the “coast highway”) north of Santa Cruz. When I shot this the light was truly dismal from a combination of ocean spray, foggy haze, and high clouds above.

Working quickly – fortunately my long lens was already on the camera – I pivoted and tracked this large group of gulls as they lifted off from the beach near the creek and headed north. Although I’m posting this small version of the photograph, it really is intended to be seen large – I’m thinking it might make an interesting print in a width of two to four feet.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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Sea Lions and Gulls, Sunset – Point Lobos

Sea Lions and Gulls, Sunset - Point Lobos

Sea Lions and Gulls, Sunset – Point Lobos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. November 22, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Sea lions and gulls on offshore rocks at sunset in heavy surf – Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

As I photographed this group of offshore rocks in heavy surf near sunset, a group of gulls suddenly came into the scene and tried to land on the sea-lion-covered rocky island. The season beginning at about this time of year until early spring is my favorite for photographing the California coastline – the time when the great Pacific Ocean weather fronts roll through and bring huge surf conditions.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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Rocks, Spray, and Gulls – Punta de los Lobos Marinos

Rocks, Spray, and Gulls - Punta de los Lobos Marinos

Rocks, Spray, and Gulls – Punta de los Lobos Marinos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. November 22, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Two gulls on offshore rocks, engulfed in ocean spray and illuminated by the light of the setting sun, Punta de los Lobos Marinos, Point Lobos State Reserve. California.

Shooting almost directly into the setting sun, I photographed the wild spray as a weather front departed, leaving waves, wind, and spray it its wake. I was amazed that the two birds remained perched and completely immobile as the wind and surf raged around them.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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