Tag Archives: oak

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Oak Trees, Snow, Clouds

April 23, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Tall winter oak trees silhouetted against granite cliffs and snow-storm clouds

Recently I spent a few more days in Yosemite, mostly in Yosemite Valley, working on my Yosemite Renaissances artist-in-residence project. We have settled on a theme for the exhibit, which will open on June 2, with a June 9 public reception. Since the timeline extended, I’ve decided to go beyond winter images and instead look at the transition from winter to spring. Hence, the title: “Transitions: Winter To Spring.” A group of friends and fellow photographers will also be part of the exhibit, and I’ll share more information very soon.

This week probably (though you can never be totally certain) marked the final real winter weather of the season in the Valley. A quick weather front swept through with surprising amounts of precipitation over a brief period, and it was cold enough for snow in the Valley. The snow wasn’t deep, but the cold temperatures allowed it to cover everything, including these lovely old black oak trees, photographed here against the background of clouds and mist and some of the rocky walls of The Valley.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Utah, Photographs: Yosemite

Old Tree, Snow Flurries

March 24, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Snow flurries begin around an old tree, Yosemite Valley

In the latter part of February I was very fortunate to be able to spend a full week in Yosemite National Park, mostly photographing in the Valley. (Thank you to Yosemite Renaissance for sponsoring my stay.) It was a cold week with a fair amount of snowy days — no heavy snow, but with the cold it fell all the way down to the elevation of the Valley and even lower nearby.

Late on this afternoon I had finished up some earlier projects and I was casting about for a final subject before the light faded. Since I was in this area I went to where I knew I could find this magnificent old tree, along with some other smaller trees growing along the Merced River. On this very cold afternoon the scene was quite gray, with clouds above and light snow beginning to fall, muting the details of the background forest and almost completely hiding the granite walls of the Valley.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Trees and New Snow

March 17, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Trees with new snow in sun and shadow at the base of a Yosemite Valley cliff

During this weeklong late-February visit to Yosemite National Park (thanks to an artist-in-residency from Yosemite Renaissance) the weather was quite cold, even for the Sierra Nevada in winter, and there was light snow at times throughout the period. In many ways, this is almost idea for photography in Yosemite Valley — although the snow and cold complicate the process of making photographs, they also have some beneficial effects. Obviously, the snow changes the appearance of the landscape in many ways, and the cold weather tends to reduce the number of people who are out and about.

It had snowed a few inches in the Valley since the previous afternoon. (The storm was varied, and I work up to considerably more snow than that where I was staying, outside the Valley.) Because of the unusual cold — it barely got out of the teens — the snow stayed “dry” and didn’t immediately melt out of the trees. In the photograph you can see a bit of snow in the meadow on the Valley floor, but there was more up higher, and the trees ascending the further slope all were fringed with it.

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Oak Tree, Falling Snow

March 12, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Snow falls around a black oak and a grove of trees with autumn leaves, Yosemite Valley

It was a cold week in Yosemite Valley, which was actually positive news following a string of too warm days on which not enough precipitation fell in January and February. But during this week near the end of the month, someone flipped the on switch for winter. It turned cold — highs in the low twenty degree range — and there was intermittent snow. On this afternoon a small weather front arrived, and quickly scattered snow showers began around the Valley.

Photographing in falling snow can be a beautiful experience, but it is also presents some challenges. Not only is it cold, but the snow collects on lenses and other gear, and it can be hard to operate the equipment. And, unlike rain, the white flakes and pellets of snow can obstruct the view of the subject. Later in the day I found myself along a Yosemite Valley meadow as a heavy snow shower passed by. I made this photograph as the snow came down harder, muting the colors and details of the scene A single old oak tree stood against the storm, collecting new fallen snow on its trunk and branches.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: oak

Oak Trees, Snow, Clouds

Old Tree, Snow Flurries

Trees and New Snow

Oak Tree, Falling Snow

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.