Tag Archives: reflection

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Sandhill Cranes, Morning Light

Image December 22, 2023 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A small flock of lesser sandhill cranes reflected in a wetlands pond.

It was a relatively slow day of bird photography on my first foray to the Central Valley of the season. Not that this was a surprise — it was still early for the arrival of the big flocks of geese that I look forward to a bit later in the season. So sandhill cranes were my primary subject s— flying overhead or standing in shallow ponds like this one.

While the scene lookS tranquil, I knew that it would not last. Typically, at some point around sunrise or just a bit later, the cranes lift off from the ponds where they spend the night. This does not happen all at once, as it often does with geese. Instead, small groups suddenly take to the air, sometimes leaving their compatriots behind. I stopped to photograph this group because of the reflection, but also because I knew that they would soon fly out.

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.

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

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Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel

The Lake, Autumn

Image December 21, 2023 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Manhattan skyline reflected in the Lake on a hazy November day, Central Park.

We went for a walk in Central Park on the first morning of our November visit to Manhattan. We planned to meet up with family later in the day, but we had free time and the park was only a couple of blocks away. Our New-York-resident (grown) “kids” have occasionally wondered why in the world we always visit the city in the dead of (freezing) winter or the (wilting heat and humidity of) summer — they have suggested a spring or fall visit. And they were right. The weather was pleasant and the fall colors were spectacular.

The body of water is “The Lake” — perhaps not the most creative name, but a lovely place just the same. It is surrounded by paths beneath hardwood trees, and those trees were in full autumn color. I made the photograph from a small bridge, placing a few of the towers of Manhattan between the trees so that they would reflect in the surface of the water.

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.

Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Urban/Street

Gatehouse, Reservoir, and Manhattan Skyline

Image December 20, 2023 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

It was the final morning of our November visit to New York City, and we had a few hours to kill before checking out of the hotel and heading to the airport to catch our flight back to the West Coast. What to do? Given that Central Park was only a few blocks to the east, the answer seemed clear — take a (semi-random) walk! We headed to the park, where the fall colors were still on display, and gradually worked our way north(-ish) toward the reservoir. The photograph features one of the gatehouse buildings along the upper shoreline.

The bit of skyline visible on the right features a few of the super narrow buildings that are appearing in Manhattan. They are somewhat controversial, and there’s plenty to dislike about them. On the other hand, if you imagine this photograph without them and their reflections… you have to admit that in this case they are visually interesting.

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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

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands

Image December 2, 2023 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

There is a seasonal pattern to my photography. One of my favorite subjects from late fall through winter is the return of migratory birds to California. This year’s first outing was near the end of November, when I spent a day in the Central Valley. This photograph isn’t just (almost) my first photograph of the day, but it is also the seasons first photo of this subject. As I expected, the number of birds was lower than it will be later in the season, but the stillness and quiet of the place at sunrise was no less profound.

If you passed by here during one of those oppressively hot Central Valley summer days, you might never imagine that it could be a beautiful place in the right season and at the ideal time of the day. But the transformations of season and time of day can do amazing things, and the annual arrival of the birds amplifies that here. It didn’t hurt that I was listening to the sound of sandhill cranes passing overhead as I photographed.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: reflection

Sandhill Cranes, Morning Light

The Lake, Autumn

Gatehouse, Reservoir, and Manhattan Skyline

Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.