Tag Archives: valley

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

California Golden Poppies – Antelope Valley, California

May 17, 2008 G Dan Mitchell 2 Comments

California golden poppy flowers at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve. It was extremely windy on the morning of my visit to the extremely popular Poppy Preserve – which seems to have assumed a significant place on the tourist circuit judging by the number of international visitors and the line of cars waiting to enter as I left. (I got there early and pretty much beat the crowd.)

Nothing is quite as much “fun” as trying to photograph flowers in a 40 mph wind. Eventually I found a few sheltered patches of poppies in small hollows and behind ridges and then waited patiently for the rare moments when the gale briefly diminished.

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

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring

April 12, 2008 G Dan Mitchell 1 Comment

Black and white spring view from the grass and flower covered hills of the Pacheco Pass area across the Central Valley to the snow-covered Sierra Nevada. (I posted a color version of this photograph a few days ago, but I’m pretty sure I prefer this one in black and white.) Yes, the long focal length compresses the distance between the west side of the Valley, where I was as I shot this, and the east side where the Sierras rise.

I always think of John Muir when I pass though this area. As I recall, when he first headed to the Sierra he went through Pacheco Pass and his description remarks on the carpet of flowers extending into and across the great valley.

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

From Pacheco to the Sierra, Spring

April 11, 2008 G Dan Mitchell 1 Comment

Spring view from the grass and flower covered hills of the Pacheco Pass area across the Central Valley to the snow-covered Sierra Nevada. John Muir travelled across this pass to visit Yosemite in the 1800s and remarked on the amazing wildflower displays.

Photographs: Central California

Spring Morning, Calero Hills

April 2, 2008 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

This is a stitch of four 12MP frames, the result being a highly detailed image that should hold up as a 2′ x 4′ print. (It is probably getting a bit “old” to hear me reporting that the actual image contains far more detail that can possibly be shown in a web-sized image… so I won’t. :-)

This photograph was made along a familiar trail – actually a bit off the familiar trail – in a park I frequently visit in the southern portion of Santa Clara County.

keywords: spring, morning, scene, calero, hills, park, santa clara, county, new, leaves, grass, trees, branches, valley, hills, blue, sky, clouds, mountains, nature, landscape, scenic, panorama, oak, buds, log, ridge, grassland, forest, stock, santa cruz mountains, loma prieta, peak

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.