Tag Archives: thick

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Sea of Dogwood Blossoms

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Sea of Dogwood Blossoms
A dense expanse of spring dogwood blossoms.

Sea of Dogwood Blossoms. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A dense expanse of spring dogwood blossoms.

This amazingly thick mass of dogwood blooms comes from a tree I mentioned in an earlier post. We had gone to a location where we sometimes photograph dogwoods (and many other things), but we knew that the trees we usually look for would have almost completely dropped their blossoms by now. However, to our surprise and pleasure, there was a tree that we did not know about, and it had more dogwood blossoms than any tree I’ve seen before.

The light was extremely soft due to the late hour. I would usually photograph smaller groups of flowers or even individual blossoms, typically in a more straight-on fashion. But these branches were at eye level and higher, so I decided to photograph across them and show their extent.

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: Nature

Conifer Bark and Moss

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Conifer Bark and Moss
Most grows on the thick bark of a Yosemite Valley conifer.

Conifer Bark and Moss. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Most grows on the thick bark of a Yosemite Valley conifer.

Sometimes the texture of tree back can almost take on the appearance of a landscape, especially when it is the thick and textured bark on large, old trees. This example, from alongside a trail in Yosemite Valley, almost looks to me like a set of parallel valleys, with forest or meadows represented by the green most growing in the darker cracks. I’m also fascinated by the texture of the lighter sections, which seem to be build up in layers.

I suppose, to some extent, that this photograph may be yet another in the “record shot” category, at least if you don’t find the textures and shapes of the bark fascinating.

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: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Yosemite Valley Forest

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Yosemite Valley Forest
A Yosemite Valley forest of conifers and spring dogwood trees.

Yosemite Valley Forest. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A Yosemite Valley forest of conifers and spring dogwood trees.

In an earlier post I described my “typical day” on one of my long, one-day visits to the Sierra. (I don’t recommend this approach, and I’d rather have had time to stay longer — but it was a choice between a quick visit and no visit.) I mentioned that, unsurprisingly, the early morning and evening hours are the most conducive to photography. But if I keep at it during the midday hours I can usually find some things that are worth the effort.

I made this photograph on a midday ramble. The goal was partly to scout potential subjects for later in the day, partly to enjoy a walk, and partly to make a few photographs if anything turned up. I stopped on a bridge over the snowmelt-swollen Merced River and as I contemplated the scene I thought this little bit of Yosemite Valley forest looked interesting with its tall conifers, open light, and scattered blooming dogwood trees.

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

Late Winter Flocks

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Late Winter Flocks
Huge numbers of sandhill cranes and several varieties of migratory geese in late winter.

Late Winter Flocks. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Huge numbers of sandhill cranes and several varieties of migratory geese in late winter.

Yes, another “sky full of birds” photograph! It may seem that I”m sharing a lot of them… but it is not anywhere near all of them. And that, of course, brings up one of the great “secrets” of photographing birds: for every good image that “works” there are dozens of others that never see the light of day. Landscapes don’t move (much), so they are more predictable. But most of the time birds are in motion — at least when they are doing interesting things — and it is impossible to control or predict everything that will happen. You can improve your odds over time… but there is still an element of chance..

These fields were full of late season birds — mostly various kinds of geese, but also lots of sandhill cranes and even a few egrets here and there. At this time of year — just before the long migration back to the north — they seem to become extremely active. At the least provocation huge numbers of birds will suddenly and noisily take to the air and circle before finally returning to the field for a while… and then repeating the process a bit later.

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.