Tag Archives: mountains

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

First Light, Panamint Mountains

Image Leave a comment
First Light, Panamint Mountains, Death Valley
“First Light, Panamint Mountains” — The first sunrise light on Rogers Peak and the Panamint Mountains, Death Valley National Park.

How many times have I watched for this first light as it touches the peaks and ridges of the Panamint Mountains before working its way down to the floor of Death Valley? I have no idea, but I’ve been going there for something like 25 years now, so it must be quite a few times! It never gets old.

The highest point in this photograph is snow-capped Rogers Peak. The highest summit in the park, Telescope Peak, is just out of sight to the left. Surprisingly, there are communications facilities on top of Rogers Peak, and in a higher resolution version of this photograph you can see the towers on the very summit.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

At the Edge of the Salt Flats

Image Leave a comment
At the Edge of the Salt Flats, Death Valley National Park.
“At the Edge of the Salt Flats” — Panamint mountains tower above as a small wash runs to the edge of the salt flats, Death Valley.

During my late-February visit to Death Valley National Park I spent two early mornings photographing this location. It is generally most interesting at dawn, when the morning light shines on the distant Panamint Mountains, so I was there well before sunrise. In order to find ideal locations here you really have to scout ahead of time. On the first of the two visits I slightly missed my target location in the darkness. I still got photographs, but before my return on the last morning of my trip, I checked it one more time and determined that following this runoff gully would get me where I needed to be.

There was another benefit from following the little gully. The soil on the higher ground to either side is quite soft and walking on it leaves obvious footprints. In many places the bottom of the gully is covered with small rocks, and it is easier (on me and the landscape1) to walk on this harder surface. Distances here are deceiving. If you started at sunrise (and could find a route) it would take you an entire, long day just to get the base of those mountains.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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

Photographs: Albania, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Travel

Afternoon Shower, Albanian Alps

Image Leave a comment
Afternoon Shower, Albanian Alps
“Afternoon Shower, Albanian Alps” — An afternoon shower in the Albanian Alps of the Valbona Valley.

My experience in Albania is extremely limited — a single day driving from Kosovo up into the Valbona Valley, to what I believe was the end of the road. We started in Kosovo lowlands, gradually ascended, and passed through small towns. Eventually the land became more rural, somewhere we crossed the border, and we saw signs of past military conflicts in the valley. At the end of the road there is a big lodge where we stopped to eat and admire the stunning panorama of alpine peaks looming above us.

The weather was the sort where it is sunny but there’s so much humidity that a shower could develop at any moment. That’s precisely what happened here as we headed back toward Kosovo – a cloud passed by and surprised is with some rain. (“Hey, it is raining! And the sun is out!”) This is some of my favorite light — dappled sunlight moving across the landscape of mountains and trees, with peaks looming overhead as mist swirls and gentle rain falls.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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

Photographs: Albania, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Travel

Albanian Alps, Valbona Valley

Image Leave a comment
Albanian Alps, Valbona Valley
“Albanian Alps, Valbona Valley” — Rugged Albanian alps rise above the Valbone Valley.

We visited Kosovo and Croatia and briefly entered a few other Balkan countries back in the summer of 2023 during a very long trip to Europe. There’s a lot to say about this remarkable and complex part of Southern Europe — more than will fit in one post. We stayed in Kosovo, at the home of people with extended family connections. Our closest Kosovo family contact enthusiastically showed us many places we would not have seen had we traveled on our own. One day we headed briefly into the mountains of Albania.

I have to admit to almost complete ignorance about this part of the world. Like most Americans, my knowledge was limited to very outdated Cold War history and a vague recollection of the war there during the Clinton administration. I knew literally nothing of the people or the landscape. Imagine my surprise when our drive took us deep into the Albanian Alps, where the scenery competes with the most spectacular mountains of my California Sierra Nevada.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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