Tag Archives: trail

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: The Southwest, Photographs: Utah

Utah Backroad

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Utah Backroad
“Utah Backroad” — A Utah backroad ascends into a steep canyon at Capitol Reef National Park.

This track turns off from another gravel backcountry road and then winds its way into the high sandstone mountains of Capitol Reef National Park. There are roads like this all over Utah, and they lead to some incredible country. This one is in a national park, but many are not — yet they traverse country that would be worthy of such a designation. Fortunately the rough (sometimes very rough) routes minimize tourist impact.

This one rises in a huge Utah feature called the Waterpocket Fold, a long line of rising strata that form a valley and adjacent mountains. The scene has most of the typical Utah backcountry features — a large butte, dry flatland, sandstone towers, and even some nearby canyons.

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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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Trees, Meadow and Path

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Trees, Meadow and Path
“Trees, Meadow and Path” — A wilderness path leads past a small creek, meadow, and trees to the shoreline of a subalpine Sierra Nevada lake.

In late July I headed into the Sierra Nevada backcountry on a short backpack trip with a group of friends. The trip was special, as I first backpacked with some of them decades ago. It had been quite a while since I went into the wilderness with this gang — so it was something of a reunion. Of course, being the only photographer on the trip meant that I did end up spending some time alone, especially in the early mornings.

Why is that? Well, apparently normal people do not climb out of their sleeping bags when it is still cold and dark outside, and then head out carrying photography gear to look for composition in the pre-dawn light. I hear that most o them, in fact, stay in their sleeping bags, waiting for the sun to warm their tents! I spent a couple of early hours wandering this alpine landscape, making this photograph before the direct sunlight had yet arrived here.

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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: Europe, Photographs: Kosovo, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Travel

White Drin Waterfall

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White Drin Waterfall, Kosovo
“White Drin Waterfall” — The White Drin Waterfall , near Peja, Kosovo.

For this American, used to spending time in our national parks and in our wilderness areas, my visit to this place was a bit of a culture shock. This waterfall and a nearby cave complex are part of a “natural monument” in Kosovo, at the village of Radac a few miles west of Peja, Kosovo. Much to my surprise, the crowds here were absolutely huge. The first challenge was finding a place to park, and it turned out to be almost impossible. It seemed like everyone in Kosovo was walking this trail — families, foreign visitors, you name it. Booths along the trail sold food, drink, and trinkets.

On one hand, this was not exactly a wilderness experience. On the other hand… people clearly love this place. And it is quite beautiful. The river flowing below this waterfall is full of picturesque boulders, and lush trees overhang the water. My understanding is that this waterfall is regarded to be the source of the White Drin River, which flows from here into Albania.

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: Southern California

Canyon Narrows Light

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Canyon Narrows Light, Death Valley
“Canyon Narrows Light” — Soft, filtered light illuminates the walls of a Death Valley slot canyon.

Desert canyon light is remarkable. A canyon like this one is a huge contrast with the world outside — the intense, harsh desert light gives way to soft, gentle light and shade. The temperature drops. The color of the ight changes, too. Deep in the canyon it often shifts to ward blue, especially when the canyon walls are black or gray. There are also changes and contrasts where different softs of light come together — as in this photograph where the deeply shaded blue tones contrast with the warmer tones of the higher walls.

I walked quickly to get to these narrows, but once I arrived I stopped, took out my tripod, attached my camera, and ambled slowly while searching for photographs. New possibilities appeared at every bend in the canyon, and my progress stalled to a near standstill as I stopped every few feet to look at a new composition.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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