Tag Archives: rage

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Winter Surf and Fog

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Winter Surf and Fog
Raging winter surf and low fog along California’s rugged Big Sur coast.

Winter Surf and Fog. © Copyright 2021 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Raging winter surf and low fog along California’s rugged Big Sur coast.

Originally I thought that I might be back at this coastal area or another here in California today. But I’m trying to time things to the light and some incoming “interesting weather” here (potential electrical storms), and the light wasn’t quite cutting it when I got up very early today. It is still possible that I might head out that way before the day is over. California is experiencing a flow of monsoonal moisture today. This is not uncommon in the southern part of the state, but it is somewhat rare to see this here in Northern California. Stay tuned!

This photograph comes from last December, on a visit to the Big Sur coast during my favorite time of year, when the likelihood of big surf and interesting atmosphere and light increases. On this morning the huge surf was enhancing a low fog later right along the coast. (It was sunny just a bit further inland.) The sun was trying to burn off the fog, and the backlight made the atmosphere glow. It isn’t really obvious in this photograph, but the surf was absolutely huge, at times completely overwhelming the offshore rocks. One more thing… I’ll bet you think this is a black and white photograph. It is actually a color 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, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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

Dust Storm, Dunes, Evening Light

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Dust Storm, Dunes, Evening Light
A dust storm rages above sand dunes at the end of the day, Death Valley National Park

Dust Storm, Dunes, Evening Light. Death Valley National Park, California. March 28, 2016. © Copyright 2016 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A dust storm rages above sand dunes at the end of the day, Death Valley National Park

This was a wild evening, featuring an apocalyptic combination of tremendously strong winds, huge clouds of blowing sand and dust, periodic downpours of rain, and light that changed constantly from ominous and dark to luminous clouds backlit by sun to threads of virgo, and more. I had never seen quite this combination of conditions in Death Valley at one time.

Photography was quite challenging. Because sunset was approaching (and I continued to photograph into the dusk), it was often quite dark. The screaming winds made it virtually impossible to shoot from the tripod, so I was mostly reduced to bracing my camera against the window frame of my vehicle and working with the camera handheld. In the rough conditions I was forced to work from a distance with a long lens, since photographing inside the windblown clouds of dust and sand was not a good idea. Here the clouds and the dust above the sand dunes momentarily thinned, creating a backlit glow from the low angle sun about to drop behind mountains to the west.

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.