Tag Archives: shrouded

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Marsh, Dawn Fog

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“Marsh, Dawn Fog” — Winter trees silhouetted against the dawn on high clouds above a wetlands marsh shrouded in tule fog.

Bird photography is my excuse for going to this place in the winter. But the truth is that when the birds aren’t around I am happy to photograph this quiet and mysterious landscape, especially when morning tule fog drifts in and out. On this morning there were birds, but they weren’t where I was. So I paused in this spot and others like it and photographed the subtle light and colors of the early morning foggy landscape.

A bit more about the bird photography: I’m not sure how people imagine the process of photographing migratory birds, but I suspect that they might be surprised at how it actually works. Believe me, it is not a case of spending hours clicking off perfect exposures of astonishing wildlife. That happens, but there’s a lot of “slow time” between those moments, when the experience is more about the quiet and the slowing of time and about the landscape.

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: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Rainy Day, Central Park

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Rainy Day, Central Park
A Manhattan schist outcropping, spring trees, and cloud-shrouded buildings on a rainy day in Central Park.

Rainy Day, Central Park. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A Manhattan schist outcropping, spring trees, and cloud-shrouded buildings on a rainy day in Central Park.

In the past I have tried to explain how and why a “landscape photographer” (a designation that can be problematic…) might find urban photography interesting. Often I point out the appeal of the differences between the two types, but I’ve also noted similarities. I think this photograph gets at the latter. Rather than explaining, I’ll just ask you to imagine replacing those buildings with appropriate mountains or cliff faces.

The photograph comes from my recent “spring” weekend in Manhattan,… during which I experienced three days of pretty continuous rain. I went out on this morning specifically to photograph the low clouds that were enveloping the upper stories of the tallest buildings. I ended up at the lower end of Central Park, where it was possible to juxtapose a natural scene (spring trees and exposed schist outcroppings) with the characteristic Manhattan buildings.

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: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Headlands and Fog

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Headlands and Fog
A series of fog-shrouded headlands above the Pacific Ocean shoreline, Point Lobos.

Headlands and Fog. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A series of fog-shrouded headlands above the Pacific Ocean shoreline, Point Lobos.

This photograph comes from a lovely day at Point Lobos State Reserve. It began with very thick fog that gradually thinned, producing beautiful soft and slightly directional light that remained much longer than usual. I made this photograph somewhat early in the day, when the fog was still relatively thick and low enough to obscure the tops of promontories and trees.

This hike along the shoreline follows the tops of rugged cliffs that drop steeply into the ocean. You don’t want to wander off the trail here! This section of the shoreline is cut by a series of successive coves that extend a good distance into the land. The cliffs are massive and undercut in places, yet somehow plants and even trees thrive on their faces.

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 | Twitter | 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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Meadow, Forest, Cloud-Shrouded Peak

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Meadow, Forest, Cloud-Shrouded Peak
Cloud-shrouded Mount Conness towers above the domes and forest of Tuolumne Meadows

Meadow, Forest, Cloud-Shrouded Peak. Yosemite National Park, California. July 12, 2015. © Copyright 2015 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Cloud-shrouded Mount Conness towers above the domes and forest of Tuolumne Meadows

I’ll take a break from the recent urban, night, and street photography and go back to the high country with a photograph from about this time a year ago. I spent a few days in the Tuolumne Meadows area, photography in the high elevation areas of the park. This was a particularly memorable evening that started without a specific plan, led to a surprise meeting with friends and photographs, including a hike down a river to a lovely area of granite slabs, and concluded with sunset back in the big meadow.

As we came back up the river we split up — some heading up onto a nearby high prominence and others (that would be me!) hanging out along the edge of the meadow, between the base of a granite dome and a large herd of grazing deer. As the final sun light touched the tops of the highest peaks, fog formed around the summit of Mt. Conness up along the Sierra crest.

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 and Amazon.
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