Tag Archives: trees

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

Forest Above Loch Ness

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Forest Above Loch Ness
“Forest Above Loch Ness — “Forest with green moss along the Great Glen Way above Loch Ness, Scotland.

This photograph comes from the second-to-last day of our walk on Scotland’s Great Glen Way . Every day was different, but this one stood out in several ways. First of all, we hiked it “backwards.” On every other day we hiked toward our destination of Inverness. But this time we were dropped off north of Lewiston, where we were staying, and we walked back toward town. A few miles into the walk we encountered our most exposed highland terrain as we crossed a high, windy ridge and then descended to re-enter forest.

This spot along that descent was a lovely surprise. Much of the forest land we had walked through was dense with trees, blocking the light and cutting off distant views. But on this bench high above Loch Ness we found this open and softly lit section of forest carpeted with green moss. Through the trees and far below we could see Loch Ness.

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, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

A Storm Approaches

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A Storm Approaches
“A Storm Approaches” — Forest trees stand in sunlight while distant ridges are darkened by the clouds of an approaching Sierra storm.

At first look this might just seem like a photograph of a row of trees. It is late in the day, and the warm light lends color to this forest at Tuolumne Meadows, and it looks like a pleasant early evening. But that bluish strip at the top of the frame tells a different story. Look closely and you can make out a peak, and the peak is backed by higher peaks that are partially obscured by the dark clouds from an incoming storm.

We hear all the time that photography is about light, and there’s truth to that claim. (I would hold that it isn’t always “just” about light, but subjects usually benefit a lot from wonderful light.) One of my favorite situations is the one shown here — something nearby in lovely, warm light, but in the background a darker and more dramatic effect.

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

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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

Shoreline Trees, Loch Lochy

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Shoreline Trees, Loch Lochy
“Shoreline Trees, Loch Lochy” Tall shoreline trees at Loch Lochy, Scotland.

To this Californian, familiar with rugged Sierra Nevada landscapes and the dry and golden terrain of Western summer, Scotland was a surprising contrast. With the exception of the high, open terrain, much of the country we visited was lush and green and downright bucolic. The closest American analog that comes to mind for me is some of the coastal sections of Washington state or even some areas of southern Alaska.

The Great Glen Way follows a historic system connecting long lakes (or “lochs’) with sections of the Caledonian Canal. This provides a water route between Inverness and Fort William. In this photograph we see Loch Lochy, the first of the three lochs along our northward walk. (The other two are the much smaller Loch Oich and the gigantic Loch Ness.)

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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Photographs: Mono Lake Basin, Photographs: Nature

Ponderosa Pines, Mono Basin

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Ponderosa Pines, Mono Basin
“Ponderosa Pines, Mono Basin” — A group of ponderosa pines on slopes leading toward Mono Lake in distant haze.

Mono Lake is a remarkable place. Lying in a relatively high, desert basin, it covers a huge area. It is so big that it is just about impossible to get a solid impression of its vast size. While you can drive past its west side and access a few spots along the north and south shores, much of it is essentially inaccessible, at least without a lot of very difficult travel. Because its level has fluctuated over time, much of the surrounding area has been submerged in the past, and the evidence of this is everywhere.

The lake itself is set in an even larger basin surrounded by mountains — the Sierra to the west and various desert ranges to the north, east, and south. I made this photograph near the base of one of those, the Mono Craters. Here an extensive ponderosa pine forest spills down from the heights and spreads across the shallower slopes of the basin, eventually fading out within sight of the lake. These trees are some of the furthest vanguards of that forest. Beyond you see the final descent the lake, the lake itself, and in the far distance the faint outlines of distant desert 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” 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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