Tag Archives: new

Photographs: Nature

Japanese Maple, Spring

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Japanese Maple, Spring
“Japanese Maple, Spring” — New spring growth on a Japanese maple tree, Hakone Gardens.

We have a couple of Japanese maple trees that we planted many years ago at our home. (We thought they were small trees, but we now know from practical experience that they can grow to be very large!) They are beautiful trees, with lovely green foliage that is thick enough to provide deep shade in summer. They produce beautiful fall colors, and their seeds “fly” though the air — our kids called them “helicopter” seeds.

I photographed this branch of a Japanese maple during our spring visit to the Hakone Estate and Gardens, where there is a beautiful Japanese garden. We were there to celebrate the cherry blossoms, but there was much more to see as we wandered the grounds as the day ended and evening arrived.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Agriculture, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Coastal Gully

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Coastal Gully
“Coastal Gully” — The jagged ravine of a coastal creek crosses a pasture before reaching the sea, Big Sur coast.

Recently a meme about California seasons has been circulating on social media. The idea is that our weather always tricks us — we see early signs of spring only to be hit with a cold winter-like storm. The end of winter is an odd one in the state. It is still the rainy (and snowy in the mountains) season, but unlike many other states, here it is the green season. This process of turning green accelerates in March, and it looks more like spring than winter.

This striking, zig-zag gully crosses a bit of level land above the Pacific Ocean along the Big Sur coast near Point Sur. In this season, it is a jagged and dark gash in a remarkably green landscape. A close look reveals the history of this spot as pasture-land, evidenced by the fact that it is criss-crossed by fencing.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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

Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Autumn Chairs, Whitney Museum

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Autumn Chairs, Whitney Museum
“Autumn Chairs, Whitney Museum” — Colorful chairs and an autumn tree outside the New Whitney Museum, Manhattan.

As each season passes, the sensations of the previous season fade. But only a short time ago it was about colorful leaves falling from trees, crunching underfoot, and blowing along sidewalks and trails. I made this photograph as we passed the Whitney Museum at the end of a very long Manhattan walk in late November on one of those beautiful autumn days.

Sometimes the question arises: What is this photograph about? It is hard to be too specific about that. But here the colors are pretty important — the bright yellow of the chairs, the warm orange of the leaves, and the overall cool blue tones of the light. I think it is also “about” the juxtaposition of the constructed urban world and the organic forms of the natural world.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Nature

Spring Plants

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Spring Plants
Spring plants at the Filoli Garden.

Spring Plants. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Spring plants at the Filoli Garden.

Considering the weather California has been having, you’d have to forgive us for not remembering that spring is just around the corner. We’ve had weeks of colder than normal temperatures, lower than normal snow lines, and greater than normal rain. A few months ago we were hoping that there might be enough rain to curtail our drought, but now many are starting to say, “enough, already!” But when I look past the wintry weather I see that the green world is coming back to life.

Recently we headed to a nearby garden that features blooming bulbs at about this time each year. The blooms were starting, but seem to be a bit behind schedule. (You’ll like see photos or those flowers here soon.) But the plants are definitely emerging from winter slumber and growing like crazy. I photographed the green leaves of these bulbs in soft sunlight.

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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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