Tag Archives: range

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Spring Bloom, Temblor Range

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Spring Bloom, Temblor Range
Spring wildflowers carpet the Carrizo Plain and the Temblor Range

Spring Bloom, Temblor Range. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Spring wildflowers carpet the Carrizo Plain and the Temblor Range.

When I first looked out over this section of the Carrizo Plain and saw the blue coloration along the lowest area I initially thought that I might be seeing one of the shallow, seasonal lakes that forms in this playa-like terrain. The color was almost right, and the purple-blue color had the shape of a large pond. But something looked wrong about it, and when I found a higher and closer vantage point it became obvious that I was looking at a very large and very dense field of Phacelia blooms.

I was probably there just a few days before the peak of wildflower color, and it almost seemed to me that I could see the difference in the extent and intensity of the bloom from one day to the next. Some of the largest displays are in the flat terrain right down on the plain, but higher up in the surrounding mountains there were also brilliant patches of yellow flowers. Some of them are visible in the creases and folds of the Temblor Range on the far side of this valley.

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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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Spring Wildflowers, Temblor Range

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Spring Wildflowers, Temblor Range
Spring wildflowers in bloom at the base of the Temblor Range

Spring Wildflowers, Temblor Range. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Spring wildflowers in bloom at the base of the Temblor Range.

Let’s start with the “Temblor Range.” (First a confession: I’ve always thought that the word referring to earthquakes should be “tremblor,” not temblor. Don’t judge me!) The area of the Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of those locations where the monumental nature of the San Andreas earthquake fault, arguably the most consequential bit of geology in the state, lies out in the open where it is easy to see. The Temblor Range runs from northwest to southeast along the edge of the plain, and its base marks the precise location of the fault. Visitors can easily observe some very powerful evidence of fault movement where creeks have been offset to the north over many thousands of years. From what I read, the geological record shows a leap of over 20 feet in the 1800s and a prior movement of well over 40 feet!

Earthquake faults aside, during the spring this can be the site of truly stupendous wildflower displays. The area is normally very dry and very hot. Most summer or early fall visitors would be struck by how empty and arid the place looks — little vegetation, most of it appearing to be dead, evaporated lake beds, and lots of dust. But when the winter rains are exceptional – as there were during the middle and latter parts of this season — there can be an explosion of wildflowers. This year’s display is quite impressive, though it may not quite equal the “super bloom” of a couple of years ago. The wildflowers were my main reason for going this time, so I headed over towards this likely spot late in the day. Clouds blocked the light an hour or so before sunset, but I thought there might be a bit of light at the last minute when the sun dropped below the cloud’s lower edge before setting. It turned out that this happened… and I had all of about two minutes of soft, warm-colored light.

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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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature

Autumn Tree, In The Light

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Autumn Tree, In The Light
An autumn tree emerges from fog and haze in morning light

Autumn Tree, In The Light. © Copyright 2018 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

An autumn tree emerges from fog and haze in morning light.

I found this tree, still with full late-season fall color, standing in the middle of a pasture. (If you look very closely you just might be able to spot some cattle.) It was a very foggy morning — mostly quite gray and colorless — until the fog finally began to thin and filtered light started to break through.

It is easy to pass through California’s Great Central Valley and miss its beauty. It is true that the air can become stagnant and that freeway driving isn’t conducive to seeing beyond the traffic in front of you. But get off the main roads, drive a bit more slowly, start very early and stay out until the sun sets, and there is a lot to see.

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

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.

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Desert Wash and Mountains, Evening

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Desert Wash and Mountains, Evening
Cloudy evening light on Mountains, Death Valley, and a desert wash

Desert Wash and Mountains, Evening. © Copyright 2018 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Cloudy evening light on Mountains, Death Valley, and a desert wash

When people ask for advice about how to photograph Death Valley, one thing I tell them is to think a lot about the relationships between the landscape and light throughout the day. Many features align along a generally north-south line, so you can figure out fairly quickly when a location may be in direct sun or produce dramatic shadows. (I also suggest heading into narrow canyons when the sun gets a bit higher in the sky — here the higher sun position may send welcome light into their depths, which can otherwise be a bit murky sometimes.

I made this photograph late in the day after emerging from one of those canyons near the top of a large wash. The wash and the nearby hill face to the west and, as you can see, receive that late afternoon light — at least until the sun dips behind the mountain range on the other side of the valley.

See top of this page for Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information and more.

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.