Tag Archives: san joaquin

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Wetland Trees

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Wetland Trees
“Wetland Trees” — Wetland trees and brush growing near a Central Valley pond.

I made this photograph on New Year’s Day, when we joined friends to photograph and celebrate the first day of 2024. Mostly we photographed birds, but the landscape was never far from our minds. This is a simple photograph of a non-epic scene, but I think that this image of wetland trees has a lot to say about this area and season.

Notice the autumnal colors? In California’s Central Valley, these colors continue right on into winter and even the beginning of the new year. I love the quality of light here, too. The atmosphere in the valley is often a combination of hazy and foggy, producing a soft glow. It also can warm the colors and soften the contrasts of these subjects, producing a kind of quiet beauty that you might not expect here.

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: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Black-Necked Stilt In Flight

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Black-Necked Stilt In Flight
“Black-Necked Stilt In Flight” — A black-necked stilt flies above Central Valley wetlands.

This black-eyed stilt was one of a pair of birds I tracked as they flew across this wetland pond. I’m intrigued by the stilts, with their striking black and white bodies set off by orange legs. Their long legs and bills equip them to forage in shallow wetland ponds. The feed quietly for long periods and then suddenly launch into very quick flight just above the water.

These characteristics make them easy to photograph when they are feeding, but very difficult to catch when they are flying. The pair flew across the scene in front of me, and because I was ready for them I managed to get a sequence of photographs. Of course, bird photography is, in my experience, marked by more failures than successes — and there’s a ‘failure story” to accompany this photograph, too! The birds landed in the pond together with ballet-like grace as I squeezed of one final shot — a photograph that was completely out of focus!

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 | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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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

Submerged Autumn Leaves

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Submerged Autumn Leaves
Submerged Autumn Leaves” — Autumn cottonwood leaves submerged in a wetland pond.

A confession: Although these are “submerged autumn leaves,” I photographed them on New Year’s Day. We spent the day in the Central Valley with friends, celebrating the new year and photographing birds and landscape. The location is primarily wetlands terrain, but there are cottonwood trees all around, and their colorful leaves were everywhere.

I stopped here after someone told me that they had spotted a single bird of an interesting and rare sort in an easily accessible spot. I spoke to a fellow who told me the bird had gracioiusly posed on a branch for him for ten minutes before flying away. Of course, it was gone when I got there! As I left I crossed a little bridge right where the bird wasn’t. I looked down into the water and spotted these interesting leaves.

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 | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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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: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Ground Squirrel

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Ground Squirrel
“Ground Squirrel” — A ground squirrel perched on winter plants.

This time of year I head to the flatlands of the Central Valley, looking for migratory birds to photograph. But these are not the only critters I see. As I drive along backroads and levees and across pastures I see some distinctly less exotic animals such as ground squirrels. At one location they make their holes everywhere, including next to and under the gravel roadway. I’m used to watching them race away as a I approach. But not this one.

This squirrel had climbed up the stem of a dried plant, positioned itself in the “v” between two branches and under a loop of dried seeds. It was just… sitting there. It didn’t react to the presence of our vehicle, it didn’t appear to be feeding. Other than providing an excellent target for hungry raptors, I have no idea what it was up to.

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 | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

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