Tag Archives: soft

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

Marshland, Winter Sky

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Marshland, Winter Sky
Hazy winter sky over Central Valley marshlands.

Marshland, Winter Sky. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Hazy winter sky over Central Valley marshlands.

This is what I think of as a “quiet photograph.” It is more about the whole of the scene than any particular element or subject, and the relatively centered composition would not be described as “dynamic.” However, that is more or less the essence of the experience in this place at times like this. Things change slowly or not at all. It is quiet. Scenes are often devoid of obvious icons. I would argue that, at least in part, this is what defines the experience of such places.

When I started doing to such places to photograph birds a couple of decades ago, my first visits were full of Big Moments and surprises — seeing some kind of bird for the first time, learning their calls, experiencing the thick winter tule fog. But over time elements that didn’t register initially became primary features of these visits. These included quiet stillness, long waits between remarkable moments, and the quality of light and atmosphere.

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: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Point Sur, Winter

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Point Sur, Winter
Winter light and haze at Point Sur, California.

Point Sur, Winter. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Winter light and haze at Point Sur, California.

This is not the first photograph of this subject from this camera position, to say the least. (Earlier today I ran into an Ansel Adams photograph of essentially the same subject, photographed from a position a short distance to the left.) The feature at the far right is Point Sur, the site of a historic lighthouse that was once one of the most isolated places along this part of the California coast.

Recently I’ve been pondering — not for the first time! — working in ways that focus on the larger forms in a scene and minimize the small details. I’m also interested in how I can produce the glowing, luminous effect of fog and haze that is backlit by low angle sun. This scene seemed right for the approach, since the atmosphere was filled with diffuse fog, and thin high clouds softened and diffused the 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” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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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: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Wave, Horizon, and Clouds

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Wave, Horizon, and Clouds
A wave close to shore, the distant horizoon, and clouds from an approaching Pacific storm.

Wave, Horizon, and Clouds. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A wave close to shore, the distant horizoon, and clouds from an approaching Pacific storm.

This peaceful looking scene may perhaps mislead just a bit — but not completely. I stood along the edge of a beach north of Santa Cruz to make this photograph, on a hazy, cloudy day when a Pacific weather from approached and the surf rose. I intentionally left out anything that would give a sense of scale here, so you are free to regard the height of the wave subjectively.

After decades of living close enough to the Pacific Coast to visit the shoreline regularly, sometimes I think that I may start to take it for granted. It happens. But inevitably I’ll look out toward that far horizon — whether from a high overlook or down near the water — and again ponder the immensity of the sea and the timelessness of these scenes. All of which seems like a fine thing to consider as we complete yet another loop around the sun.

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: Architecture, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Blue Door, Le Marais

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Blue Door, Le Marais
A blue entrance door on a narrow street in Le Marais, Paris

Blue Door, Le Marais. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A blue entrance door on a narrow street in Le Marais, Paris

This is another of the “found it while working on something else” photographs from Paris that I’ve unearthed this past week. I’m writing something about another photograph that I made on this day, and when I went back to look at the original of that photograph and others made around the same time… I was pleasantly distracted by going through a bunch of related photographs.

Like those other photographs, this one comes from Le Marais, a beautiful (and today quite popular) older section of Paris that retains very narrow streets and a time worn character, despite being somewhat gentrified now. There’s a lot to see here, and this is even more true when you carry a camera. Among other things, the beautiful soft light on this bit of old architecture attracted me.

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 | 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.