Tag Archives: mountains

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: The Southwest, Photographs: Utah

Virgin River, Zion Canyon

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Virgin River, Zion Canyon
“Virgin River, Zion Canyon” — The Virgin river flows past trees and sandstone formations, Zion National Park.

Judging from the muddy water, a substantial amount of Utah landscape appears to be disolved in the Virgin River and flowing out of the park! A walk through the bottomlands of Zion Canyon reveals a riparian landscape subject to periodic flooding. Seeing this, you can begin to understand the role that water has played in forming this remarkable landscape.

On this morning we left our vehicle behind, shouldered photographic gear, and crossed to the far side of the canyon and the river, then followed a trail upstream. It was quiet and there was a lot to see, including a lovely little waterfall at one point.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Manly Lake, Mountains and Clouds

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Manly Lake, Mountains and Clouds
“Manly Lake, Mountains and Clouds” — Distant desert mountains and clouds reflected in the surface of Manly Lake, Death Valley.

Lake Manly, the ancient body of water that occasionally reestablishes itself on the floor of Death Valley in wet years, has many moods. Before sunrise or at sunset, if there are clouds, it can reflect intensely colorful light from the sky.. As sunlight strikes the peaks of the Panamint Range, their golden light colors the water. Later in the day, especially if it is hazy, the scene can become soft and pastel.

On this winter solstice morning we began photographing before sunrise and continued through all of the light phases. I made this photograph after the warm sunrise light had dissipated, and when haze made blue the predominant color. The symmetry of the reflections abstracts the shapes of mountains and clouds.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Peaks and Clearing Storm

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Peaks and Clearing Storm
“Peaks and Clearing Storm” — Rain clouds move to the east and sunshine lights desert peaks, Death Valley National Park.

We almost came home early from our recent visit to Death Valley National Park. A significant rainstorm was forecast overnight, and the daytime light was already mostly gray. We decided to stay — after all, we had already paid for our accommodations. We visited a few interesting places in the poor light, and were about to visit one more location and photograph sprouting plants in the soft light. But suddenly and with little warning the sun came out! We changed plans and went looking for subjects in this light, backed by the dark, departing clouds.

The light seemed like it would be transient — after all, the forecast was still for rain. So we took advantage of the first light we saw, and I first set up my tripod literally in front of our lodgings. The light was very beautiful, and not just because it was such a surprise. This late day light was warmer in color, and it contrasted with a dramatic backdrop of darker clouds.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Lake Manly Sky

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Lake Manly Sky
“Lake Manly Sky” — Early morning clouds and the Panamint Mountains reflected in Lake Manly, Death Valley.

As a landscape photographer I spend a lot of time trying to predict the light. But it is a fickle thing, and it often changes in ways that cannot be anticipated. That was the case on this winter solstice morning in Death Valley. We drove down to Badwater to photograph Lake Manly, the occasional lake that forms on the playa after heavy rains. We arrived before sunrise, and for a brief moment the light was brilliantly intense… before the sun moved behind clouds to the east, laving a softer effect.

The mountains fell mostly into shadow, and because of their distance the details were obscured, leaving us with the shape of the range and its reflection in the water of Lake Manly. Some of the first dawn color remained, but the effect was more subtle and muted, with colors ranging from warm tones in the brightest areas of clouds to deep blue in the far distance beyond the mountains.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.