Tag Archives: travel

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

New Years Day 2009: Oak Trees and New Grass, Winter

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New Years Day 2009: Oak Trees and New Grass, Winter

New Years Day 2009: Oak Trees and New Grass, Winter. Calero Hills, California. January 1, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Early evening on the first day of 2009; winter oak trees and new grasses in the Calero Hills, California.

As in my tradition, I started the new year with a hike today – in this case a short hike in my favorite local Calero Hills. It was late in the day and foggy when I got there, so the conditions were what I think of as typical California winter weather. These trees are on a hillside on a trail that I frequently travel. This is a typical California scene in that you see simultaneously what would be regarded as two separate seasons in many other places – the last colorful leaves of autumn and the first new grass of spring.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: oak, trees, grove, forest, meadow, grass, brown, gold, green, new, trunk, branch, fog, mist, ravine, hill, slope, calero, santa clara, county, park, central, california, usa, nature, landscape, scenic, travel, season, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach

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Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach

Sea Stack and Cove, Wilder Ranch State Beach. Santa Cruz, California. December 29, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Twilight view of a surf filled cove, shoreline ledges, sea stack, beach, and Monterey Peninsula at Wilder Ranch State Beach.

Although I have visited the section of the California Coast Highway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz many times and have driven past this spot frequently, I had never actually stopped at Wilder Ranch State Beach and wandered out the the ocean here. Having seen some interesting photographs of this spot recently, tonight as I drove north from Santa Cruz I decided that there was no time like the present and I pulled over and hiked down to the beach. Compared to many winter evenings along this section of the Pacific coast, it was very calm and almost warm tonight.

This photograph looks south toward Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay – the Monterey Peninsula is visible on the horizon. The sea stack is probably the most recognizable feature of this beach, though the low rock shelfs along the water’s edge are also pretty interesting. This photograph is a fairly long time exposure shot in the post sunset glow.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: sea, stack, cove, rock, ledge, reef, bluff, surf, wave, ocean, pacific, monterey, bay, peninsula, santa cruz, california, usa, sunset, twilight, evening, light, moss, reflection, time exposure, beach, sand, pond, pool, sky, cloud, landscape, seascape, travel, scenic, stock, mist, island, birds

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Twilight, Point Lobos

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Twilight, Point Lobos

Twilight, Point Lobos. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Silhouette of a tree at twilight over the Pacific Ocean at Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

Point Lobos is open until 30 minutes after sunset these days, providing an opportunity to shoot some really beautiful twilight skies, especially in the fall/winter season. I had just finished shooting along the shoreline and realized that I needed to head back to the car if I wanted to be out of the park on time. As I hurried along the road back to my car I saw this composition – I quickly set my tripod up in the middle of the road and made several exposures, knowing that the dynamic range was far to great to be captured in one shot. Just as I collapsed the tripod the park ranger drove up on her final patrol to make sure that the stragglers – that would be me! – were leaving the park. She graciously waited as I finished my walk to the car, packed up, and headed out of the park.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: twilight, sunset, evening, tree, silhouette, branches, trunk, shore, coast, rocks, island, water, bay, pacific, ocean, sea, orange, blue, clouds, horizon, point lobos, state, reserve, park, california, usa, carmel, monterey, peninsula, big sur, landscape, seascape, travel, scenic, stock, nature, surf, waves, kelp

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Bird Island, Bay, and Coastal Cliffs – Last Light

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Bird Island, Bay, and Coastal Cliffs - Last Light

Bird Island, Bay, and Coastal Cliffs – Last Light. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 20, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Bird Island, coastal cliffs, and Pacific Ocean on the last evening of fall, 2008 – Point Lobos State Reserve, California.

This is a photograph was made just as the sun began to dip below the horizon over the Pacific Ocean on this final evening of fall 2008. A moment later the light on the cliff at center right was gone.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: big sur, california, carmel, Fall, monterey, nature, ocean, pacific ocean, point lobos, seashore, bird, island, surf, wave, evening, sunset, twilight, sky, rock, bay, water, light, time exposure, scenic, travel, landscape, seascape