Tag Archives: sunset

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

Sea Stacks, Cliffs, Sunset

June 14, 2018 G Dan Mitchell 2 Comments

Coastal cliffs, sea stacks, and beach reflecting the light of a Northern California Pacific Ocean sunset

This photograph illustrates — as do so many others! — the many situations in which a photograph is the result of some combination of planning, experience, patience, “seeing,” and just plain good luck. In the morning I had photographed a few hours north of here at Prairie Creek Redwood State Park. As I worked that area, in the back of my mind I was calculating the driving time (plus eating and photographing time) that would put me at a particular spot along the coastline above Fort Bragg a bit before sunset. It is a spot that I have photographed before and one that both challenges and appeals to me. I knew the features of the spot, but there was no way to know what the conditions might be — in fact, I thought there was a pretty good chance that it might be fogged in.

As I approached this area, passing through inland mountains, it was apparent that fog was going to be an issue. Even inland the coastal fog was obscuring the upper slopes. Arriving at the coast I found “blah,” gray light. But there I was, knowing that this would be my last stop of the day, so I thought I might make something work in black and white. Then I noticed something interesting — the fog bank ended in the distance to the northwest right along the coastline, and right along the horizon there was a thin band of glowing, reflecting water. It occurred to me that this thin band would likely expand toward my position as the sun dropped toward the horizon, and that there could be a short period of special light. Before long the glow on the water came closer and the nearby waves began to pick up some sunset color. Then, as the bottom of the sun started to emerge below the edge of the cloud shield, the mist began to glow and the sun’s light came directly at me between the shadows of sea stacks, something can happen only for a few days during a brief interval or two each year… and only on days when the coastal weather conditions permit it.

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Looking West

April 28, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Looking across Sierra Nevada foothills toward California’s Central Valley at dusk

I didn’t intend the photograph to be such, but it could be at least a bit metaphorical. I made in near the end of my period as a Yosemite Renaissance artist-in-residence, at opportunity that provided me with a total of about two weeks to photograph in the park, mostly in the Valley. (More of the photography from this work will be seen in an exhibit opening at Gallery 5 in Oakhurst in June — stay tuned for the details!) Hence the metaphorical “sunset” on the photography for this project (unless I manage to squeeze in one more quick visit next week!) and “looking west” toward my home in the San Francisco Bay Area, from which I post this image.

I suppose this photograph is also a bit more evidence — as if it were needed! — that Yosemite is far more than just the Valley, as incomparable as that area of the park is. I made the photograph on my evening “commute” between the Valley and my lodging elsewhere in the park, and by this evening I had already selected the location as a likely prospect. Often when I’m in the park my orientation is to the highest peaks lying on its eastern boundary along the Sierra crest. But on this evening I was looking the other way, towards layers of foothills descending toward California’s Great Central Valley to the west.

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

Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Tufa Hill, Twilight

April 4, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Twilight and evening clouds above a tufa hill in the Death Valley landscape

A day or two earlier than this I had been out in a location not far from this spot at the end of the day, hoping to photograph end-of-day color. Just before sunset the sky went “dead” — some haze, no color in the sky, and a generally flat-looking landscape. I was about to pack up when “someone” (thanks, Patty!) pointed out, perhaps more than once, that I really should stick around “just in case.” And, yes, within moments a dull, gray cloud began to pick up pink tones, and before long sufficient color appeared to produce an interesting photograph. I know not to “pack before it is black,” but I need reminding from time to time!

The evening when I made the photograph seen here was challenging in many ways, and it began with perhaps even less promise than that evening a few days earlier. This time the sun went behind clouds to the west as it descended, turning the light completely flat. On top of that, the wind was absolutely howling, and sand was just beginning to blow. If I hadn’t had that reminder a couple of evenings earlier, I would have been out of there! But I stuck around, switching out the long lens that I had been using for a wider lens used for this photograph, and when the post-sunset, early twilight glow and color began I was ready. (A note regarding the title of this photograph. I’ve wondered about the source of these fantastical hills on the floor of Death Valley. As near as I can tell, they were formed many thousands of years ago, at the bottom of what was then a giant prehistoric lake.)

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Avocet, Sunset Reflection

April 3, 2018 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

An avocet feeds in shallow water reflecting sunset light

I remember, many years ago, taking a college class that included a section on birds in the San Francisco Bay Area. The birding gene didn’t initially take for me — that came many years later — but I remember what must have been a very effective presentation on differences among shore birds. The birds found along the edges of bodies of water vary greatly in size and shape, from very small to quite large, and their leg and bill sizes vary, too. What I recall is the obvious point, that I hadn’t thought of before, that each bird, with its long or short legs and its long or short bill, is adapted to a different niche in this environment, and even to differing depths of water.

The avocet is a striking bird in many ways. This one, like most that I’ve seen, was an almost solitary specimen. If another was nearby I did not see it. The bird has long legs, which it puts to use by wading in a few inches of water as it feeds. The long, curved beak allows it to reach down and pluck edibles out of the water. This one was feeding close to the shoreline and moving toward water that reflects the sunset sky, so I held still and waited for it to move into just the right position, where the colors of reflected sky were most strongly reflected in the water.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: sunset

Sea Stacks, Cliffs, Sunset

Looking West

Tufa Hill, Twilight

Avocet, Sunset Reflection

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.