Tag Archives: plants

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Salt Creek, Sunrise

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Salt Creek, Sunrise
“Salt Creek, Sunrise” — Salt Creek flows past low hills and toward salt flats, Death VAlley.

Salt Creek is a remarkable place, a perpetually flowing creek in the middle of the hottest place on earth and the home to thousands of endangered pupfish. But I’ve also found it to be a pretty difficult place to photograph. Light is challenging, especially late in the day, when tall mountains block the light. But I return and keep working at it!

I made this photograph as the first direct light was arriving. Just beyond the area accessible via a winding boardwalk, the creek flows in many branches through this eroded terrain. From here (behind my camera position) it passes through the area where pupfish are found, and shortly after that it flows out into the salt flats.

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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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks

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Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks
“Desert Gold, Snow-Capped Peaks” — Desert Gold flowers bloom with snow-capped desert mountains in the distance.

This photograph epitomizes the extraordinary diversity of Death Valley National Park. It includes two subjects that might surprise those unfamiliar with the place — wildflowers and snow. Because it is known as the place registering the world’s highest recorded temperature, many imagine it to be a place of sand dunes and barren salt playas. Those are part to its landscape, but they are far from the “all of it.”

These wildflowers are desert gold, which was blooming in great fields of yellow in many lowland locations when we visited in late February. I spotted these flowers on a small rise and set up my camera so that they were backed by Telescope Peak, the highest point in the snow-capped Payment Range of desert mountains.

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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: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Wetland Plants, Fog

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Wetland Plants, Fog
“Wetland Plants, Fog” — Plants growing in the shallow water of a wetland poid on a foggy morning.

This is another of my “too foggy to photograph birds” photographs from California’s Central Valley. Back in mid-January I headed out there after reading reports of tule fog, something that attracts me to the area in winter. The fog can produce a wonderful, mysterious atmosphere, and as conditions transition from thick fog to sunlight there are diverse photographic opportunities. Unfortunately, that transition never came during this visit, and it was thick fog all the way!

As I write this in early March we are likely days away from the departure of migratory geese, who head back north every year by mid-month or so. I’m hoping to squeeze in one more visit before they depart, but there’s not much time left. (Depending on where you see this post, the date may have already passed!)

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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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Dark Terrain, Evening Light

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Dark Terrain, Evening Light
“Dark Terrain, Evening Light” — Evening light and distant clouds above scattered desert plants growing on dark soil.

On this afternoon we decided to make a late run toward the northern end of Death Valley to photograph a particular feature. We perhaps got of to a slightly late start, but the light was still interesting as we approached. Nearby there is an area of very dark soil (which I assume may have volcanic origins) with very sparse plants. I’ve tried to photograph it before but with limited success. There was lovely cloud-dappled side light when we passed so we stopped to photograph.

The plan was for a brief stop before continuing to our planned destination while the light was good. But “the best laid plans” and all of that… Once I wandered into this spare landscape I found more and more interesting things to photograph — the plants on the rolling hills, tiny wildflowers just poking up through the soil, small playa-like areas of dried mud, and more. Before long we noticed the sun dropping behind nearby mountains… and by the time we got to our planned destination the light was fading.

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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.