Tag Archives: water

Photographs: Nature

Water Plants, Fog

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Water plants
“Water Plants, Fog” — Water plants in a wetlands pond enveloped by tule fog.

When I photograph in the wetlands I am always fascinated by plants that grow in the shallow water, and especially by the stark forms of winter-dormant plants. The background of water — often reflecting sky — lets us see the forms of the plants without the distractions that would render them hard to see in dry areas.

Here I had an added advantage from tule fog that obscured anything more than a few yards away from me. (The slightly more distant plants at upper left are already muted by the fog.) The air was also still — or the fog would have dissipated — and this helped smooth the surface of the water, leaving just enough rippling to add a bit of texture suggesting the watery background

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

Wetlands, Clearing Fog

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“Wetlands, Clearing Fog” — Morning tule fog clears to reveal wetlands ponds, grasses, and distant winter trees.

I made this photograph during a fortuitous moment of light and atmosphere. We were in California Central Valley wetlands primarily to photograph migratory birds. The tule fog was thick when we began our work before sunrise. But later on, as we came to the edge of this pond, the fog thinned around us, producing a bit of clear air even as more distant surroundings remained shrouded in fog.

In direct sunlight the effect can be somewhat harsh and stark, but since everything around from this little area was still shrouded in fog and mist (even the sky above contained clouds) the overall light was still soft. I got down low to position the darker foreground water and grasses in front of the more distant wetlands terrain and the distant trees barely visible in the fog.

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 | BlueSky | Email

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

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Germany, Photographs: Travel

Fleisch Bridge, Pegnitz River

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“Fleisch Bridge, Pegnitz River” — The Pegnitz River flows through Nürnberg near the Fleisch Bridge.

This photograph comes from our late-autumn visit to Nürnberg, Germany.. This is a large city, but we spent the entire time within the confines of the old city. We were there for three days, on a visit timed for the city’s famous Christmas market. It is our understanding that many regard this as the biggest of the German holiday markets, and it certainly draws a lot of people. Many streets were very crowded, especially in the main area of the market square.

However, it was possible to escape the crowds. One way, of course, was to go out very early in the morning before they arrived. Another was to seek out less-traveled streets and walkways. I made this photograph on a quiet bridge across the Pegnitz River, which flows through center of the town. Here the water moves slowly, there are few people, and there are even some trees along the water.

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 | BlueSky | Email

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

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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Germany

The Pegnitz, Nürnberg

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“The Pegnitz, Nürnberg” — Buildings along the Pegnitz River in Nürnberg, Germany.

While we were in Heidelberg, Germany back in November and early December, we took several side trips. Early on we spent three nights in Alsace, and we visited Munich before we moved on to France. Midway through the stay we took a side trip to Nürnberg, the site of one of the largest and best known German Christmas markets. While there we saw much more than just the holiday festivities — there is a lot to see in this city.

Nürnberg is a very large, modern city, but it is built around the original old town, a central area within the original city walls. (Much of the old town was destroyed in WWII, and today it holds some old buildings, some modern reconstructions, and a lot of newer buildings.) The Pegnitz River runs through the center and bridges frequently cross it. It seems to be a pretty sedate river, and the water is still enough to reflect the old buildings that stand along its banks.

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 | BlueSky | Email

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

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