Tag Archives: sand

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach

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Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach

Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach. Santa Cruz, California. December 29, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Twilight view of a surf filled cove, shoreline ledges, sea stack, beach, and Monterey Peninsula at Wilder Ranch State Beach.

Although I have visited the section of the California Coast Highway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz many times and have driven past this spot frequently, I had never actually stopped at Wilder Ranch State Beach and wandered out the the ocean here. Having seen some interesting photographs of this spot recently, tonight as I drove north from Santa Cruz I decided that there was no time like the present and I pulled over and hiked down to the beach. Compared to many winter evenings along this section of the Pacific coast, it was very calm and almost warm tonight.

This photograph looks south toward Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay – the Monterey Peninsula is visible on the horizon. The sea stack is probably the most recognizable feature of this beach, though the low rock shelfs along the water’s edge are also pretty interesting. This photograph is a fairly long time exposure shot in the post sunset glow.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: sea, stack, cove, rock, ledge, reef, bluff, surf, wave, ocean, pacific, monterey, bay, peninsula, santa cruz, california, usa, sunset, twilight, evening, light, moss, reflection, time exposure, beach, sand, pond, pool, sky, cloud, landscape, seascape, travel, scenic, stock, mist, island, birds

Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Parsons Peak and Tarn, Sunset

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Parsons Peak and Tarn, Sunset

Parsons Peak and Tarn, Sunset. Yosemite National Park, California. September 7, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Alpenglow from sunset on Parsons Peak and surrounding rocky slopes reflected in a small rocky alpine tarn in an alpine meadow above Townsley Lake, Yosemite National Park, California.

I photographed this small tarn at the end of the plateau above Townsley Lake right at sunset as the Sierra alpenglow began to appear on the nearby ridges and higher Parsons Peak. I’ve visited this small pond many times on the walk between Townsley and Ireland Lakes, but this was the first time I managed to be there right at sunset. (I “paid for” the experience with a dark walk back to camp and a dinner by the light of my headlamp. ;-)

(I’ve written a bit about how I get to and across this plateau here.)

keywords: parsons, peak, ridge, mountain, slope, reflection, rock, rocky, boulder, tarn, pond, lake, alpine, meadow, grass, sand, townsley, yosemite, national park, california, usa, landscape, sunset, twilight, alpenglow, wilderness, hike, backpack, stock, forest

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

Big Sur Coastline

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Big Sur Coastline
Big Sur Coastline. Big Sur, California. July 21, 2008. © Copyright G Dan MItchell – all rights reserved.

Black and white photograph of Big Sur coastline with tree covered ridges descending to the shoreline and fading into the distance.

This is yet another in the series of photographs I made on a long drive up the Big Sur coastline during the summer of 2008. The landscape photographer goes into overload on this drive – there is just too much to shoot. This photograph is a stitch of a couple 12MP full frame DSLR images.

keywords: afternoon, atmosphere, bay, beach, big sur, california, cliff, coast, cypress, fog, Forest, haze, kelp, landscape, mist, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, Road, rock, sand, seascape, seashore, sky, summer, travel, tree, usa, water, waves

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Coast Highway – Big Sur

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Coast Highway - Big Sur
Coast Highway – Big Sur. Big Sur Coast, California. July 21, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

Coast Highway (Highway 1) along the Big Sur Coastline of Central California. Photographed during a “photography drive” up this spectacular and rugged route from Southern California in late July.

keywords: afternoon, bay, beach, big sur, california, fog, Forest, landscape, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, Road, rock, sand, seascape, seashore, sky, summer, travel, usa, water, waves, black and white, stock, coast, highway, shore, shimmer, sun, light, mountains, rock