Tag Archives: point lobos

Stones and Pebbles

Stones and Pebbles
“Stones and Pebbles” — Colorful stones and pebbles washed up against coastal formations, Point Lobos.

The rocks in the center of this photograph are large enough that it is hard to believe that they were washed into this position by heavy winter surf along this section of the Pacific coastline. But that’s the fact of the matter. That surf erodes the underlying rocks, moves large rocks and even boulders around like toys, and deposits layers of multi-colored pebbles like those caught between these rocks and the underlying stratified formations.

Photographing at this cove at Point Lobos is always an invitation to slow down and just look. There are potential subjects everywhere, many of them rather small, but they are easily overlooked if you don’t adopt a very contemplative and quiet perspective. And because the area is right at the surf line and often overrun by high waves, I find something new and interesting every time I visit.


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.

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Cormorant Colony II

Cormorantn Colony II
Cormorant colony and rookery on a rocky prominese, Point Lobos.

Cormorant Colony II. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Cormorant colony and rookery on a rocky prominese, Point Lobos.

This cormorant breeding colony was on a rocky prominence a short distance away from a trail I followed along a coastal bluff. Perhaps the birds felt safer with an uncrossable gulf between us. In any case, they mostly went about their business even though I was close enough to photograph them, positioned on the rock above Monterey Bay on a foggy morning.

Not all of their activities made sense to me, though some did. Half the birds were adults and half were (very large!) juveniles — the latter visible by means of their mottled feathers, their shorter beaks, and their incessant “feed me!” clamoring. From time to time one of the adults would arrive with a prize and the young birds became very interested!


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.

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

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Cormorant Colony

Cormorantn Colony
A Brandt’s cormorant colony on a rocky prominence at Point Lobos State Reserve.

Cormorant Colony. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A Brandt’s cormorant colony on a rocky prominence at Point Lobos State Reserve.

I have been aware of California’s cormorants for years, but I have not photographed them much. I’m not sure why, except that they are often too far away or in rapid flight over the water. There are a few places at Point Lobos — and no doubt other coastal locations — where they establish colonies on outcroppings and islands like this one. Here they were close enough to the shore that I could photograph them with a long lens.

This is apparently a breeding colony. If you look closely you can see some slightly smaller birds with somewhat mottled feathers and shorter beaks — these are juveniles, waiting rather impatiently for a parent to come and deliver food.


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.

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

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Above the Fog

Above the Fog
A monterey cypress on a rocky hill a obove fog shrouded coastline, Point Lobos.

Above the Fog.. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A monterey cypress on a rocky hill a obove fog shrouded coastline, Point Lobos.

This was a beautiful morning at the Point Lobos State Reserve along the upper Big Sur coast south of Monterey, California. I arrived to find thick fog — which is a good thing! It stuck around longer that usual, gradually lifting and thinning, starting to allow a bit of filtered, directional light in, and then dissipating. When I made this photograph the fog was still low, so low that at times it drifted below my camera position along the edge of a coastal cliff.

In different light this tree might produce a bright scene, but in this fog the effect is darker. I positioned myself just to the side of the tree, enough to make the far headland visible. It isn’t easy to see from the photograph, but to my left here was a substantial drop-off straight to the ocean.


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.

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