Tag Archives: surface

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Dormant Wetlands Plants

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Dormant Wetlands Plants
“Dormant Wetlands Plants” — Dormant and dried wetlands plants reflected in the still water of a quiet pond.

My first “real” visit of the season to my favorite migratory bird photography location did not go as planned. (Actually, I did stop briefly a month ago and a half earlier, but things were still slow back then.) I was hoping for luminous tule fog and lots of geese and sandhill cranes. Instead I got thick gray elevated overcast and fewer birds than expected. Ah, well, it happens… and when it does I look for something else to photograph.

This is one of the “something else” photographs. This area is full of shallow seasonal ponds, and when they fill the summer’s plants still emerge from the still water and make fascinating reflections. For this subject the very soft light from the overcast worked well and revealed a more of the plants’ details.

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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: Chicago, Photographs: Travel

Bean People

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Bean People
“Bean People” — Visitors in front of and reflected in the surface of “Cloud Gate” (aka “The Bean”) in Chicago.

The “Cloud Gate” sculpture is an icon in Chicago. Located in Millennium Park, it attracts hoards of visitors. I’ve been there more than once, and I encountered crowds each time — including on this rather cold November day. It seems that no one can resist interacting with their distorted reflection!

We had wandered through less crowded parts of the park — and those were easy to find in the cold weather. We saw beautiful rows of trees, some shedding autumn leaves, and then walked out to the Lake Michigan shoreline. We headed back into the more popular areas of the park looking for something warm to drink and paused for a few minutes at “Cloud Gate” to see the object and, perhaps even more, watch the people.

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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


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Reeds, Sky, Reflecting Pond

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“Reeds, Sky, Reflecting Pond” — The sky above reed-covered wetlands islands is reflected in the surface of a pond.

On the right day, in the right conditions, these wetlands can sometimes feel like they are all about the sky. Standing next to a large pond that extends into the distance, the sky above and its inverse reflective twin stretch out in front of you. They meet at the horizon, with may be defined by a thick line of vegetation, as here, or the water and the sky may merge into a single thing.

It may not be immediately apparent, but a conjunction of atmospheric effects is behind this photograph. Above, the sky is filled with thin blue-gray clouds. Lower down in the distance, a rather thick fog bank still lurks. The foreground reeds are catching a beam of direct sunlight, almost appearing stark against the background of clouds and fog ad their reflection in the pond.

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: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature

First Light, Mono Lake

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First Light, Mono Lake
“First Light, Mono Lake” — Colorful dawn light over Mono Lake just before the rising sun clears the mountains.

Arising for dawn is a challenge for many people. I understand, but I think the rewards earned by getting up early are worth it — though I do have to remind myself or this sometimes as I contemplate my alarm going off a few hours before sunrise. But once I’m up and on my way, I actually enjoy the entire experience — the pre-dawn travel in darkness, the first glow in the eastern sky, the anticipation as the light builds, the first direct light on peaks, and eventually the sun itself. If you can’t imagine getting up that early, just try it a few times. I suspect you might get hooked.

I was in the Eastern Sierra to photograph fall colors, camped up some high valley on the east side of the range near the entrance to Yosemite National Park. On this morning I ended up at Mono Lake, where I set up and watched as the sky filled with intense color and the first rays of the sun peeked over the distant desert mountains beyond the lake.

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 | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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