Tag Archives: reflection

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

The Cranes Dance

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The Cranes Dance
A group of “dancing” sandhill cranes in early morning light.

The Cranes Dance. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A group of “dancing” sandhill cranes in early morning light.

This photograph is a companion to another that I shared a couple of weeks ago of this same group. It was early on a morning of thin fog, and the first direct sunlight had not yet arrived. As I worked my way slowly along a levee the view of this group of cranes appeared as I passed by some tall reeds. I stopped to watch and photograph. Mostly the birds were quiet, but before long they became more active, eventually taking off and flying away.

For a few minutes before their departure they engaged enthusiastically in the ritual “crane dance.” A group of cranes will assemble and the rise briefly into the air with a flapping of wings and a little hop, and just as quickly land again. Several birds in the group were alternately bending their heads down low, as the crane at the right, and jumping up wards. A few moments later the group took to the air and departed.

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: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Wetlands Cranes, Dawn

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Wetlands Cranes, Dawn
A flock of sandhill cranes at a wetland pond at dawn.

Wetlands Cranes, Dawn. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A flock of sandhill cranes at a wetland pond at dawn.

This group of sandhill cranes was “hanging out” along wetland ponds earlier this autumn, standing quietly in the soft light of a foggy morning. These noble birds are found across vast areas o f America, and at this time of year they visit more southerly locations. When I go out to photograph migratory birds, one of the things I look forward to every time is opening my car door when I arrive before dawn and hearing the distinctive call of the cranes.

From looking at a lot of bird photography (and reading some of the descriptions of it) you might think that it is a thrill-a-minute, non-stop action endeavor. You would be wrong. The reality is that much of the time is spent not photographing the birds! There’s the pre- and post-photography drive to get to these places and home again, usually done in darkness. Then there are often some very busy moments right around sunrise and sunset. Between those times there is a lot of quiet sitting and waiting, wandering around trying to find the birds, napping (!), snacking, followed by more wandering and waiting. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In a world full of constant demands and stimulation, the slow and quiet times with these birds can be restorative.

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

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

Cranes, Pond, Autumn Morning

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Cranes, Pond, Autumn Morning
A small flock of sandhill cranes stands in a wetland pond in early morning autumn light.

Cranes, Pond, Autumn Morning. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A small flock of sandhill cranes stands in a wetland pond in early morning autumn light.

I am a big fan of these flat landscapes of trees and grasses and ponds and birds, especially between the last month or so of autumn and the end of winter. All up and down California (and in many other places, too) migratory and native birds are everywhere, and while it might seem that there isn’t much happening here from the human perspective, the action is almost continuous in the lives of birds. The first thing I do when I arrive in such places before dawn is open the car window or door and listen — the sound may be that of a few far-off birds or it might be the raucous chorus of thousands of them nearby and overhead, but the striking sound of the cranes is almost always somewhere in the mix.

I began photographing before dawn on this morning as I usually do. I slowly worked my way along a levee, pausing to watch for and then photograph birds in the low light. The first big group I spotted was a large flock of snow geese, but they were not in a great spot for photography, so I kept moving. Soon I came upon a huge flock of hundreds of cranes in and around a pond. At first they were mostly standing still in the shallow water, but gradually they began to become restless and then, group by group, take to the air and fly away. I don’t recall now for sure, but judging by their attentive postures, there’s a good chance that this group left shortly after I made the 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.

Blog | About | 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.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Two Shores, Autumn Light

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Two Shores, Autumn Light
Autumn light and atmosphere above water and California mountains.

Two Shores, Autumn Light. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Autumn light and atmosphere above water and California mountains.

Have I mentioned that I like atmospheric haze? Light coming from straight in front of the camera position? Reflections? The large landscape? Strong contrasts between light and dark? Well, I do.

I made this photograph while driving back from an early morning visit to California’s Central Valley. I’ve probably passed this location hundreds of times, and while I always look I rarely stop. I have mixed feelings about the place. On one hand it provides some monumental vistas and at times — such as spring, when the hills are emerald green — the scene is beautiful. On the other hand, it is a reservoir, formed by damming a lovely and, some would have argued, historic valley. (I have a long history with this place. I recall traveling across the now-submerged valley with my father in the pre-reservoir days when we took trips to Yosemite.) This time the light and atmosphere caught my attention, and I had to find a way to reverse course and get back to this overlook to make a few exposures.

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 | 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.