Tag Archives: nature

New Years Day 2009: Oak Trees and New Grass, Winter

New Years Day 2009: Oak Trees and New Grass, Winter

New Years Day 2009: Oak Trees and New Grass, Winter. Calero Hills, California. January 1, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Early evening on the first day of 2009; winter oak trees and new grasses in the Calero Hills, California.

As in my tradition, I started the new year with a hike today – in this case a short hike in my favorite local Calero Hills. It was late in the day and foggy when I got there, so the conditions were what I think of as typical California winter weather. These trees are on a hillside on a trail that I frequently travel. This is a typical California scene in that you see simultaneously what would be regarded as two separate seasons in many other places – the last colorful leaves of autumn and the first new grass of spring.

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: oak, trees, grove, forest, meadow, grass, brown, gold, green, new, trunk, branch, fog, mist, ravine, hill, slope, calero, santa clara, county, park, central, california, usa, nature, landscape, scenic, travel, season, stock

Trading Prints: Jim Goldstein

During the latter part of 2008 I posted more than once about my participation in Jim M. Goldstein’s Buying Prints project. I’m a bit slow about this stuff, but I get to it eventually!

Earlier this fall I wrote about meeting up with Edie Howe in Yosemite to trade one of my aspen photographs for one of her images from Mono Lake. Last week I finally managed to connect with Jim to make our trade – a copy of my Submerged Boulders, Lake, and Cliffs for a copy of his Primitive Coastline. Jim is a fine landscape and nature/wildlife photographer and also quite the photography writer, blogger, and podcaster. (Follow the link in the first paragraph back to his web site to find out more.)

One of the great things about doing the print exchanges for me is that I get to meet photographers who I otherwise only know from their online personalities. It was a special pleasure to meet Jim and his wife Cindy in their home, talk photography a bit, take a look at some of Jim’s work that currently only exists on his computer, and then to accompany the two of them to a holiday party where I met more photographers. Thanks Jim and Cindy!

Twilight, Point Lobos

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

Bird Island, Bay, and Coastal Cliffs – Last Light

Bird Island, Bay, and Coastal Cliffs - Last Light

Bird Island, Bay, and Coastal Cliffs – Last Light. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Bird Island, coastal cliffs, and Pacific Ocean on the last evening of fall, 2008 – Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

This is a photograph was made just as the sun began to dip below the horizon over the Pacific Ocean on this final evening of fall 2008. A moment later the light on the cliff at center right was gone.

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: big sur, california, carmel, Fall, monterey, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, point lobos, seashore, bird, island, surf, wave, evening, sunset, twilight, sky, rock, bay, water, light, time exposure, scenic, travel, landscape, seascape