Tag Archives: usa north

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Alpenglow, Meadow

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Alpenglow, Meadow
“Alpenglow, Meadow” — Evening alpenglow comes to high peaks beyond a flower-filled meadoow, John Muir Wilderness.

Since I was unable to get to the Sierra much this season — it is a long story — I’m revisiting the archives, where I find a lot of interesting photographs that were “left behind.” This one comes from a trip into a high backcountry region with a group of fellow photographers a few years back. We set up a basecamp in a high basin just over the crest, and spent a week photographing the heck out of the surrounding terrain.

I made this photograph of evening alpenglow on the surrounding peaks from a stunning meadow that we discovered about 10 minutes walk above our camp. The meadow was open to 360 degrees of alpine terrain, and it was filled with wildflowers, even though it was near the end of August. (One of our group members, stunned when he first saw the meadow, named it “******* Julie Andrews Meadow.” I’ll leave you to guess the missing word.)

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: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Coastal Redwood Forest

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Coastal Redwood Forest
“Coastal Redwood Forest” — A young coastal redwood forest, Pheiffer Big Sur State Park.

Photographing California’s coastal redwood forests can be a (fun) challenge. There is often an overwhelming amount of “stuff” in the scene — trunks, branches, undergrowth, all growing densely. Part of the challenge is finding a workable composition among all of the details. Light can also be tricky. On sunny days light beams fill the scene and pose nearly unsolvable dynamic range issues — shadows go completely black and highlights threaten to blow out. I made this photograph on a cloudy morning when the overcast was thinning a bit, producing some very soft light.

The location is Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Oddly, as a lifelong Californian who has passed by here often, I have barely explored this park. In fact, I can recall only one previous brief visit. Perhaps this is because I’m typically in the area to photograph coastal subjects rather than forests, and perhaps also because there are other redwood parks closer to where I live. This little scene is a obscure one near the main campgrounds and a nature trail.

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

Fern, Detail

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Fern, Detail
Close-up photograph of a spring fern in forest shadows.

Fern, Detail. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Close-up photograph of a spring fern in forest shadows.

Photos are temporarily being shared without additional commentary. Watch for commentary to resume in late summer.

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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature

Across the Valley

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Across the Valley
A desert wash curves past barren desert hills on its way to the salt flats of Death Valley.

Across the Valley. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A desert wash curves past barren desert hills on its way to the salt flats of Death Valley.

Visitors to Death Valley might not immediately realize how much of a role water has played (and continues to play) in shaping the place. I like to point out that this location, known for its heat and aridity, is one of the best places to see the effects of water laid bare. The vast playa and salt plains in the valley are formed by water that settles there and evaporates. The Valley once held an ancient (and quite large!) lake. The alluvial fans — like that in the foreground of the photo — are laced with waterways, small and large. The present-day forms of the mountains result largely from water eroding uplifted blocks.

The location of the photograph is on one of the immense alluvial fans that descend from rugged mountains toward the playa. In this area the fan is interrupted by groupings of mostly-barren hills, many featuring darker rock, and they line up in interesting patterns. In the far distance, perhaps up to 50 miles away, lie mountains at the far southern end of the Valley.

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.