Tag Archives: pacific ocean

Point Reyes

Point Reyes
Black and white photograph of Point Reyes and the Pacific Ocean with afternoon reflections.

Point Reyes. Point Reyes National Seashore, California. June 1, 2008. © Copyright 2008 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Brilliant afternoon light on the Pacific Ocean near Point Reyes.

Black and white photograph of Point Reyes and the Pacific Ocean with afternoon reflections. This photograph was made in extraordinarily windy conditions from a high point a bit further along the bluffs of the point with late afternoon sunlit brightly illuminating the ocean surface. (There is also a color version of this photograph in the queue, and it should show up here soon.)

There are several things that I like about this photograph. First, the memory of the circumstances of the photograph is a powerful one. Point Reyes is a wild and windy place, well out in the Pacific and facing out to see – usually with strong winds blowing. On this day the winds were incredible; so strong that it was all I could do to get a steady shot even while holding tightly to the tripod, which was lowered down to near the ground. And the reflection off of the ocean surface was astonishingly bright – impressive in its own right and a real photographic challenge. Finally, I like the way that the land of Point Reyes seems to extend only tentatively into what is primarily an ocean photograph.


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

Offshore Rocks, Pacific Ocean

Offshore Rocks, Pacific Ocean
Offshore Rocks, Pacific Ocean. Big Sur, California. July 21, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white photograph of the Pacific Ocean with offshore rocks along the Big Sur coastline of California. (Part of a series of minimalist seascapes that I’m working on.)

keywords: big sur, california, landscape, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, seascape, seashore, summer, travel, usa, water, waves, black and white, offshore, rock, coastline, sea, stock, minimalism

Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek

Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek
Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek. Big Sur, California. February 9, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Big Sur Coastline Near Rocky Creek with giant winter surf and low fog.

The conditions were a bit unusual on this winter day. The “fog” is not the usual coastal fog drifting in from the ocean. Rather, it was the result of tremendous amounts of spray being thrown up by the huge winter surf that was rolling in.

keywords: big sur, california, cloud, fog, landscape, morning, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, seascape, seashore, usa, waves, winter, mist, haze, sea stack, fence, rocky creek, highway, one, coast, shoreline

Winter Surf – Point Lobos

Winter Surf - Point Lobos
Winter Surf – Point Lobos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. February, 9, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white photograph of huge winter surf crashing over Point Lobos rocks.

In February of 2008 I visited the Big Sur area and then stopped at Point Lobos on the way home. The Pacific coast is often at its most impressive in winter and this was an exceptional day, with absolutely huge waves rolling in from the winter Pacific Ocean. At the actual Point Lobos (an area of rocks extending a good distance out from the shoreline) we were able to get very close to the roiling surf and huge crashing waves.

keywords: california, landscape, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, point lobos, rock, seascape, seashore, travel, usa, water, waves, winter, surf, crash, punta, lobos, marinos, monterey, peninsula, stock, spray, foam