Tag Archives: orange

Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Hernshead, Autumn

Image Leave a comment
Hernshead, Autumn
A person sits on the Hernshead outcropping among fall colors, Central Park, Manhattan.

Hernshead, Autumn. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A person sits on the Hernshead outcropping among fall colors, Central Park, Manhattan.

We were in New York City for a few days before Thanksgiving. (We left early to avoid the holiday rush.) Our two sons and daughters-in-law live and work there, and they have told us for years to come during spring and autumn instead of our usual winter and summer visits. They are right. — Manhattan was full of lovely fall colors, not just here in the “wilds” of Central Park,” but even along busy streets and avenues. This photograph juxtaposes one of the park’s rocky outcroppings, “The Lake,” autumn trees, and a bit of the Manhattan skyline.

There is always something new to discover or learn about the place. For example, take the name “Hernshead.” Before sharing this photograph I looked at maps to see if the spot has a name, and I discovered that it does. But it is a strange word. If you asked me what “Hernshead” means I might have said, “Don’t know, but maybe someone’s name?” I would have been wrong. According to the Park Conservancy, it was named when the park was created in the 1800s because the outcropping’s shape suggested the form of a heron’s head… and “hern” is apparently an old, alternate spelling of “heron.”

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 | Email

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

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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

Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Autumn Aspens in a Row

Image Leave a comment
Autumn Aspens in a Row
A row of autumn aspens in evening light, Eastern Serra Nevada.

Autumn Aspens in a Row. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A row of autumn aspens in evening light, Eastern Serra Nevada.

After years of photographing near her, this row of tall and straight aspens is almost an old friend. I visit every fall, trying to time my arrival for the best color — well into the colorful phase, but with most leaves still intact. I also time it for late in the day, when this canyon falls into shade and the light softens, revealing colors and shadow details that are lost in bright midday light.

This group of trees is a welcome exception to the typical Sierra patterns of aspen growth. In photographs from other parts of the American West you may see extensive groves of tall straight aspens extending into the distance. That sort of thing is extremely rare here. The trees are often much shorter and they are frequently twisted and bent. But occasionally, where the conditions are right, the Sierra manages to produce some of the tall and straight specimens… like those seen here.

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.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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

Photographs: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature

Dawn Reflections, Mono Lake

Image Leave a comment
Dawn Reflections, Mono Lake
Colorful dawn light reflected on the surface of Mono Lake.

Dawn Reflections, Mono Lake. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Colorful dawn light reflected on the surface of Mono Lake.

On this morning I had a particular scene in mind to photograph at Mono Lake, so I was at that location before sunrise. I worked that subject until just before the sun actually rose, as planned, and then I turned to something different — the surface of the huge lake itself, slightly disturbed by morning breezes, with waterfowl here and there, as the sun was just about to top a mountain range fare to the east. I angled the camera downwards to keep the sky out of the frame, including just a bit of the distant mountains many miles away beyond the far shore.

On a clear morning like this one, the most intense sky color comes before sunrise, after which the brilliant sun washes out the colors that are visible earlier. To make this photograph I aimed the camera directly toward the point on the horizon where the sun would rise, so the very brightest portion of the colorful sky was strongly reflected on the lake’s surface.

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.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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

Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

All The Colors

Image Leave a comment
All The Colors
A large grove of multi-colored autumn aspen trees in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

All The Colors. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A large grove of multi-colored autumn aspen trees in the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

When aspen trees transition from their summer green to their brief autumn show they can produce a diverse range of colorful foliage. Most of the trees turn yellow/gold, but the other colors can range between orange and several shades of red. I know some photographers look for the uniform golden colors — and they can certainly be spectacular — but I’m drawn to scenes that include the full spectrum. This is one of those scenes. In fact, here the orange trees predominate, along with green shades on trees that are yet to change. But look closer and you’ll find plenty of gold… and a few bits of red foliage, too.

Soft, shaded light with a bit of directionality is my favorite for photographing this subject. I made this photograph late in the day, just after the sun had dropped behind mountains to the west, but while the sky (and a few white clouds) still provided that slightly directional light. In these conditions the colors may not be quite as saturated, but the soft light fills that shadows and renders more of the details visible.

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.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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