Tag Archives: shore

Photographs: Wildlife

Two Gulls in Formation, Blue Sky

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Two Gulls in Formation, Blue Sky
Two Gulls in Formation, Blue Sky. Pacific Ocean Coastline, California. March 1, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Photographed along the California coast north of Santa Cruz on the first of March. I found a spot at the top of a coastal cliff where the birds flying along the coast came almost directly overhead.

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Photographs: Wildlife

Gull in Flight, Blue Sky

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Gull in Flight, Blue Sky
Gull in Flight, Blue Sky. Pacific Coast, California. March 1, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

On the first day of March I went out for some “target practice” – trying to track gulls in flight from a bluff above the Pacific Ocean north of Santa Cruz, California.

I was using a new zoom that provides a 400mm focal length at the long end. Although I’m not primarily a wildlife photographer – not that I don’t give it a try from time to time – I have to say that trying to photograph gulls as they pass by in flight is a real challenge, and renews my appreciation for the skills of those who do specialize in “birds in flight” (or “BIF,” as they refer to it) photography.

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Photographs: Night, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Moonlit Cove, Thousand Island Lake

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Moonlit Cove, Thousand Island Lake

Moonlit Cove, Thousand Island Lake. Ansel Adams Wilderness, California. July 27, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

I spent a few hours on this cold, clear July evening photographing the light of the full moon, star trails, and reflections on the surface of Thousand Island Lake.

When using a digital camera to make such long exposures one must adopt a very patient attitude. First, find the spot for your photograph and set everything up in the dark. Then make an exposure of perhaps 15 minutes. Because DSLRs are subject to noise on these long exposures, you then wait another 15 minutes while the camera completes a “dark frame” exposure to determine how to compensate for the noise in the original exposure. Yes, it takes 30 minutes (and lots of battery power!) to make a 15 minute exposure.

You could become impatient. Or you could, as I do, sit back and enjoy the peace and quite of a beautiful moonlit Sierra night.

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Bird Rock and Surf, Dusk

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Bird Rock and Surf, Dusk
Bird Rock and Surf, Dusk. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 30, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

Shorebirds on an offshore rock at dusk in winter surf.

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