Tag Archives: park

Last Autumn Sunset of 2008 – Point Lobos

Last Autumn Sunset of 2008 - Point Lobos

Last Autumn Sunset of 2008 – Point Lobos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Sunset over the Pacific Ocean at Point Lobos State Reserve on the final evening of autumn 2008.

Sometimes, as hard as you may try to resist, you just have to shoot the sunset.

I was at Point Lobos this afternoon since it was a beautiful, clear day – and rain is coming tomorrow. Earlier I had photographed shore birds and then sea lions, along with the usual assortment of rocks and so forth. Within the past year or so the park’s closing time has been extended until a half hour after sunset, so I wandered up the trail along the coast near the south end of the park. I made some photographs of the rocks around bird island and explored a cove or two, and then after the sun set I saw this amazing reflection on the surface of the water to the west.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: sunset, twilight, evening, last, final, 2008, year, pacific, ocean, sea, rock, horizon, clouds, water, surface, reflection, color, gold, yellow, orange, blue, red, sky, seascape, landscape, travel, scenic, stock, point lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, carmel, big sur, monterey, peninsula, coast

Muir Woods Winter Solstice 2008

Winter Solstice at Muir Woods

Winter Solstice at Muir Woods. Muir Woods National Monument, California. December 21, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Last December I first found out about this wonderful annual event at Muir Woods – a winter solstice festival. Although the event starts in the afternoon (officially at 3:00 p.m.), the real fun at sunset and after dark when the trails are lined with luminaria. (Or “candles in paper bags” to those who don’t speak Latin.)

Depending upon the weather, this could be a good day for SF Bay Area photographers to combine winter photography at Muir Woods with a bit of night photography. 

The following information is summarized from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy events listing:

Celebrate the longest night of the year with the tallest trees on earth!

Sunday, December 21, 2008, 3 PM – 8 PM, Muir Woods. Cost: Free

This outdoor program is suitable for all ages and will begin at the Visitor Center…rain or shine. Activities and events include the making of solstice crowns, a stage performance of songs, stories, and puppetry, and walking the trails of Muir Woods lit by luminaria. No reservations required.

This evening can be dark and chilly; we ask visitors to bring a flashlight, dress warmly (layers/blankets), and bring a mug for warm drinks. For details, please call the hotline at (415) 388-2596 as the date approaches.

Unless the weather is really, really awful I plan to be there.

Egret Feeding in Kelp Bed, Whalers Cove

Egret Feeding in Kelp Bed, Whalers Cove

Egret Feeding in Kelp Bed, Whalers Cove. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. November 30, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.An egret feeds in the kelp bed at Whalers Cove, Point Lobos State Reserved, California.

I’m pretty certain that this will be the final photograph in my recent series of photographs of this egret at Whalers Cove, Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

keywords: egret, bird, white, wildlife, nature, animal, nature, kelp, bed, ocean, water, bay, pacific, point lobos, state, reserve, park, plant, feather, foam, surface, outdoor, shore, beak, bill, neck, eye, leg, g dan mitchell, gdanmitchell, stock, stock photography, california, usa, carmel, monterey, peninsula, big sur

Egret with Wings Unfolding, Whalers Cove

Egret with Wings Unfolding, Whalers Cove

Egret with Wings Unfolding, Whalers Cove. Point Lobos, California. November 30, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

An egret hunting for fish in the kelp beda at Whalers Cover unfolds its wins, Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

OK, I think I’m coming almost to the end of this series – there is one more egret photograph after this one if I’m correct. :-)

keywords: egret, bird, wildlife, animal, wings, feathers, beak, beak, bill, water, cove, bay, pacific, ocean, kelp, bed, point lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, flight, carmel, big sur, monterey, peninsula, stock, nature, g dan mitchell, gdanmitchell