Tag Archives: sunset

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Cathedral and Dark Sky

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Cathedral and Dark Sky
“Cathedral and Dark Sky” — The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela on an evening of dramatic light and clouds.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a remarkable structure, with its intricate towers looming over Obradoiro Square. This is the end point for walkers “doing a camino” from locations in France, Spain, and Portugal. You can watch them arrive and imagine what it must be like to finally reach this point after weeks or more than a month of walking.

Every so often conditions produce some remarkable light — this was one of those times. It had been cloudy, and the sky was still dark with just a hint of sunset color. But far to the west the cloud shield ended and a beam of warm evening light fell on the cathedral, highlighting it against that dark and dramatic sky.

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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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

After the Storm — Tuolumne Sunset

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After the Storm — Tuolumne Sunset
“After the Storm — Tuolumne Sunset” — Sun comes out after a summer storm in the Tuolumne Meadows High Sierra.

Decades ago I started visiting places like this when I was very young. (My first visit to Tuolumne Meadows was almost certainly before I was 10 years old.) In my “early mountain years” — which I think of as roughly the first three decades — it was all about discovery. I went to places I had not been before, saw new sights, experienced things for the first time. Everything was new… which, of course, was kind of the point. But now, a few more decades along life’s path, I see these places differently. To a great extent they are old friends whose acquaintance I renew on each visit.

There are three high points in this photograph — Lembert and Dog Domes in the foreground and the distant summit of Mount Dana at over 13,000’. I’ve stood on all of them. Today they are no longer romantic new objectives, but rather familiar places that are part of my Sierra world. Yet somehow, I still find ways to see something new in them every time I visit.

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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

After the Storm — Mt Dana and Mt. Gibbs

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After the Storm: Mt Dana and Mt. Gibbs
“After the Storm: Mt Dana and Mt. Gibbs” — Mounts Dana and Gibbs in sunset light as a summer storm dissipates.

The best light often comes during or after photographically-challenging conditions. This view was no exception. It had rained for half of the day, hard at times, and I had been more or less pinned down, unable to do much photography. I watched and waited, ready to go, but it wasn’t until perhaps an hour before sunset that the rain finally stopped and it began to clear a bit.

I was camped just outside Yosemite’s eastern boundary, near Tioga Pass, so I quickly loaded up and went into the park. As I arrived in the Tuolumne Meadows area the clouds to the west were thinning and late-day light was staring to illuminate peaks, forest, and meadows, while the remaining clouds in the east made for a dramatic sky.

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: Sky, Photographs: Southern California

Just a Cloud

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Just a Cloud
“Just a Cloud” — Sunset clouds over Death Valley, February 2025.

I spotted this cloud at the end of a very long day that began in the San Francisco Bay Area. I was on the road before sunrise, heading for Death Valley National Park. I crossed the Diablo Range, continued south on Interstate 5, then crossed the Great Central Valley through Bakersfield to climb Tehachapi Pass. From there I dropped into high desert, took route 14 north along the “baby Sierra,” then followed backroads up past Trona, eventually entering the park and crossing Towne Pass. It was after 3:00 when I finally got a campsite and started setting up.

Once I had established my camp, it was time for photography. On one hand I was excited to get started. On the other hand, after that long day it would have been easier to just enjoy a quiet evening in camp. But off I went, to an elevated position from which I could photograph sunset light on desert mountains. After the light left those peaks, it still produced some color on a few dissipating lenticular clouds high above the Panamint Mountains.

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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