Tag Archives: sky

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel

Chateau d’Eau

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Chateau d'Eau, Montpellier
“Chateau d’Eau” — Chateau d’Eau (water tower) at the end of the Roman aquaduct at Place du Peyrou, Montpellier, France.

On our first full day in Montpellier, France we went for a long walk, heading gradually uphill from the central square near our hotel and eventually arriving at this impressive monument, the Chateau d’Eau. (In American English, we’d say “water tower.”) Behind it — and not visible in this photo — an old Roman aqueduct extends into the distance. The tower is at its termination and I assume that the aqueduct once supplied the pond with water.

The area around the structure is quite interesting, and there was a lot to see. Behind my camera position is the Place du Peyrou, a large public square on the top of this hill — where the town’s Christmas Market was in full swing . Beyond that is the Montpellier’s own Arc du Triomphe.

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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Desert Mountains, Evening

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Desert Mountains, Evening, Death Valley
“Desert Mountains, Evening” — Desert mountains tower above a huge fan and hills, Death Valley National Park.

First days in Death Valley are always a bit of a challenge. The day typically starts before dawn with a very long drive from the San Francisco Bay Area. It is at least mid-afternoon by the time I get to the park and find a campsite, and it takes an hour or so to get things set up. By this point evening isn’t that far away, so I usually pick a fairly reliable location for the first evening shoot. (I come back to camp for late dinner after dark.)

This time I headed for an area that I know pretty well, along a route that eventually leads out of the park and into Nevada. There are several locations here that I’ve been “working” for years, photographing them regularly on most visits. So I decided that the goal this evening would be to find different views in that familiar area. At my first stop I hiked to the top of a nearby hill without camera gear, just to get the lay of the land. From that elevated vantage point I could see this scene, so I headed back to my vehicle, got my gear, and set up as evening shadows stretched across 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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

2 responses to “Desert Mountains, Evening”

  1. G Dan Mitchell Avatar
    G Dan Mitchell

    Hi Greg. Thanks for following my blog and for leaving a comment!

    I probably haven’t reached that 75 visit milestone yet, but I’d guess I’ve been there 35 or 40 times, most often for stays of five days or so. My first visit was in the mid to late 1990s, when I went with one of my kids’ school hiking clubs. In some ways, given the near disasters on that trip (it is a long story… ;-) it may be surprising that I ever went back. But as a long time High Sierra backpacker and cross-country skier, there was something magically different about this landscape. I still vividly recall my very first view of Death Valley itself. On the first morning I opened my tent door and looked down into the valley in the early morning light — I had never seen anything quite like it before, and I was hooked.

    As to what inspires me to go back, that’s perhaps a complex thing. I love the immense space of the place and the profound silence and stillness once you get away from the more popular locations. I’m attracted to the way that this desert landscape is laid bare, not covered by trees and brush, letting us see the geology directly. It also appeal to me that we can go almost anywhere our feet will take us in this wide open landscape.

    But this landscape is also incredibly diverse. People tend to associate Death Valley with sand dunes and barren places, and those certainly are found there. But there are also beautiful canyons, and high mountains. And there are fascinating examples of earlier human presence, ranging from the precious and fragile marks left by the first people who were already there when Europeans first arrived, up through the miners and prospectors, evidence of whose time there is all over the park.

    Photographically, this is an outstanding place to work with light. It changes all day and between seasons, and because much of the terrain is not intensely colorful the light takes over and often becomes the main show.

    I could go on, but I’ll stop there for now… :-)

    Dan

    Reply
  2. Greg Avatar
    Greg

    Dan, I have been following your blog for a few years. Amazing photography. Thanks for sharing your experiences. It looks like you have been to Death Valley
    75 times or so over the past couple of decades. I have only been 5 times in my lifetime. What inspires you to go back year after year. It is a very visual
    landscape. I find it to be very peaceful. Have a great day. Greg

    Reply

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Winter Trees, Dusk

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Winter Trees, Dusk
“Winter Trees, Dusk” — A row of bare winter trees silhouetted against the a colorful dusk sky.

This photograph lets me recall how we greeted the New Year. It was the same way we’ve done it for the past decade or so — joining a group of photographer friends to photograph migratory birds in the winter landscape. A few of us arrived the day before, but everyone showed up before dawn on New Year’s Day to greet the first sunrise of the new year together.

This photograph comes from New Year’s Eve. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon, in time for the late-day light. It was a quiet evening, with a few clouds forming when I made this photograph of a row of winter-dormant trees in the post-sunset dusk 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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Snow Geese in Formation

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Snow Geese in Formation
“Snow Geese in Formation” — A group of snow geese in flight and lined up vertically.

Most of these migratory birds will likely have departed from their winter homes in Central California by the time you see this photograph. They arrive in the fall, overwinter, and then depart some time in early March. Back in the pandemic year of 2020 I visited one of the places where I photograph them about one week into March, and they were still there. I went back one week later, and they had all departed. The place seemed awfully lonely!

This group was part of a much larger flock that was in motion above wetland ponds — thousands of birds swirling around as they contemplated where they might land. The light was just right for this group — it came from the side and from down low, illuminating the birds’ undersides. (Often photos of birds overhead end up too dark against the bright sky.) I also like the fact that the five of them together demonstrate every phase of their wing flapping.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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