Tag Archives: shadows

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Two Shorelines

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Two Shorelines
“Two Shorelines” — Shoreline trees, meadows, and rocks reflected in the water of a small subalpine Sierra lake.

Many of my photographs from this July backpack trip in the Eastern Sierra featured views of the “grand landscape” — long and high mountain ridges, lakes backed by tall mountains, and so forth. This one focuses on closer subjects including the shoreline that I was standing on and the meadow and sparse forest on the other side of this small bay.

I made the photograph early in the day, at just about the end of my morning photography. The soft and warm light of early morning was fading away and beginning to be more harsh. I was first interested in the little rocky outcropping just to the left of center, and I thought it would be interesting to juxtapose that with the further forest across the water.

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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

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Shoreline in Shadows

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Shoreline in Shadows
“Shoreline in Shadows” — An eastern Sierra lake, surrounded by meadows and forest and reflecting talus slopes, in early morning shadows.

While we love to photograph mountain light, sometimes it can be tricky. I photographed this scene in the early morning. I had gone out well before sunrise, planning to spend some time working with the soft light before the direct sunshine arrived. The the sunlight first touched peaks high above the distant talus slope, then began to descend toward the lake. I made this photograph while the directly-lit talus field was just outside the frame, and moments later things were very bright!

This is, at least for me, the kind of scene that I don’t immediately “see” as a photograph. But when I do I intuitively work out some kind of composition, moving forward and backward, left and right, higher and lower, and adjusting focal length until it just seems to come together.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

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

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Shoreline Forest

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Shoreline Forest
“Shoreline Forest” — Trees grow along the shoreline of a Yosemite high country lake.

When I plan to spend a morning photographing in an area like this in Yosemite, I figure I have perhaps 3-4 hours of interesting light for morning photography. I typically start with a subject that works well in predawn light, move to one that focuses on the actual sunrise, then move around to find other subjects when their best morning light arrives. A subject like this one typically comes later and is often the final one of the morning.

I made the photograph in full sunlight, though it was slightly muted by some thin haze. I was interested in the interplay between the shapes of the trees and their shadows. In order to create this composition I had to photograph essentially directly into the morning sun light, though I positioned myself so that the shadow of one of the trees blocked the direct 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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Oh See O.C.

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Oh See O.C.
“Oh See O.C.” — The O.C. McDonald sign in San Jose, California

This is not the first time I have photographed this sign. I walk a lot, and one of my routes takes me past this place, the site of a venerable light industrial business in San Jose. The accidental abstraction of the shadows from the neon light always gets my attention, and I can barely see the actual sign now that this comes to the foreground of my attention.

This place is located in an area that is rapidly changing. Years ago it was filled with small businesses and light industrial sites, the latter likely because of its proximity to a rail hub. Over time, like so many similar areas, it began to decay — there are now many abandoned buildings and closed businesses. However, this area that was formerly considered to be far enough from the city center to house less attractive businesses now feels like it is in the center of town. It is rapidly become a development site with new apartments and businesses. It won’t be long before places like “O.C. McDonald” are lost to memory.

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

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)