Tag Archives: north

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

Western Horizon

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Western Horizon
“Western Horizon” — Thin clouds above afternoon sunlight reflected on the Pacific Ocean

This photograph begins a series from recent photographs of the Big Sur coast along the Pacific Coast Highway in California. After a week of being cooped up at home (which construction work was underway) I was itching to get out into the (more) real world, so I took a day for a long, all-day trip down this coast and back to make photographs. The trip reminded me of a lot of things, but among them was how wonderful it is, on a day of terrible inland heat, to be able to hug this coast where it remained cool and damp!

I’m one of those who is fascinated by the brilliant sunlit ocean surface and the way that it can recede towards an almost invisible horizon when the combination of light and atmospheric haze is just right. The high bluffs along this route can be excellent places to observe this and more.* At times the surface of the ocean takes on the appearance of molten metal and is almost too bright to look at. I always watch for these conditions when I am in this area, and I was not disappointed on this visit. In this scene, a group of passing thin clouds provides a visual counterpoint to the brilliant reflection on the ocean’s surface.

  • The “and more” I’m thinking of refers to an unbelievable California coastal experience that I shared with a number of other visitors at the end of this day. There are few other places in the world where you can pause at the top of cliffs hundreds of feet above the open sea at sunset, and watch for perhaps a half hour as a pod of gray whales assembles to feed, periodically breaching.

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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: Northern California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Winter Dusk, Pacific Ocean

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Winter Dusk, Pacific Ocean
Winter Dusk, Pacific Ocean

Winter Dusk, Pacific Ocean. Golden Gate, Marin Headlands, California.January 17, 2014. © Copyright 2014 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Winter dusk light on the Pacific Ocean near the Marin Headlands

This is a photograph from all the way back in January, when we had driven north across the Golden Gate with no particular plan in mind, but perhaps thought about making some photographs. We had been in San Francisco for some other purpose, had some time, and figured we use it by crossing the bridge. By the time we ended up north of the bay, we discovered that the day was going to end very soon, and that we would run out of light. Yes, we were not really prepared! We quickly got back to the car and headed to a familiar iconic location, the Conzelman Road area of the Marin Headlands, from which panoramic views of the entrance to San Francisco Bay are available.

When we arrived I was initially not very excited about the photograph potential. I know this probably sounds odd to some who have longed to see that view back toward San Francisco, or who have perhaps only seen it once or twice. But I pass this way fairly often, and after a while the novelty of a typical day here wears off and I begin holding out for more special conditions. So where we stopped I did not initially take out my camera gear — instead I simply played tourist and enjoyed the spectacular scene. However, as I looked at it I began to notice a few things that seemed interesting. At first there were some light beams coming across the dark land at the lower left, though they are no longer really visible in the photograph. They I began to notice the turbulent patterns on the surface of the water passing through the Golden Gate as the tide turned. And then I could see that there was going to be some interesting color in the winter sky above the ocean. So, in the end, I did get the camera out to make a few photographs.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Flight, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Wildlife

White-Fronted Geese in Flight

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White-Fronted Geese in Flight
White-Fronted Geese in Flight

White-Fronted Geese in Flight. San Joaquin Valley, California. February 14, 2014. © Copyright 2014 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Four white-fronted geese in flight about California’s San Joaquin Valley

I do have to confess that one reason for sharing this photograph is that I don’t believe I have previously posted photos of white-fronted geese. This is an oversight and a bit strange, since they are very common in many of the place where I photograph winter migratory birds. I suppose that my main excuse is that the white Ross’s and snow geese tend to attract my attention a bit more, with their very visible white coloration and habit of appearing in very large flocks.

I’ve written before that I do not regard myself as remotely close to being any sort of bird expert. In line with my typical difficulty remembering the accurate names of trees and flowers — I can describe them, tell you where to find them, and when they will appear… but often not name them — it is a challenge for me to identify birds accurately. I’ve learned a few tricks, especially with geese, but I’m still more likely to shout, “look at the dark-colored ones” than “look at the white-fronted geese!” Fortunately, there is the internet. And, even better, I have friends who know the birds very well, and I photograph in their company quite often. One swears that he can tell by the sound whether the geese are Ross’s or snow varieties. I’m impressed!

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
Blog | About | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | 500px.com | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Clouds Rest, With Resting Clouds

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Clouds Rest, With Resting Clouds
Clouds Rest, With Resting Clouds

Clouds Rest, With Resting Clouds. Yosemite Valley, California. March 1, 2014. © Copyright 2014 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Winter evening clouds swirl around the snow-covered ridge of Clouds Rest, Yosemite

This will be the final photograph in this recent series of winter Yosemite Valley photographs from our late-winter 2014 visit to the park. As I hope for when I go there at this time of year, there was interesting and variable light, clouds that ranged from scattered to socked-in, the usual assortment of meadows and trees and rocks. We had the better part of three days to explore.

On this evening we ended up at that most iconic of iconic landscapes in Yosemite, the Tunnel View overlook. I often either pass by Tunnel View, or perhaps stop and get out to look around a bit before heading on. Being lucky enough to live a reasonable drive from the park and to visit the Sierra often, I’ve become a bit more selective about when I’ll stop there and take out the camera. On this visit, as clouds came in, many of the other potential subjects in the Valley were under rather poor light, so I guessed that there was a chance that we might “get something” (or maybe not) from this higher overlook. The clouds were challenging. At times they obscured many interesting things, and most of the time the interesting light was blocked. However, for a few moments they cleared partially at the far end of the Valley and it was briefly possible to see the sunlit and snow-covered slopes of Clouds Rest and a few other points in the distance.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
Blog | About | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | 500px.com | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.