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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Bear Gulch Reservoir

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Bear Gulch Reservoir
“Bear Gulch Reservoir” — Spring at Bear Gulch Reservoir, Pinnacles National Park

This small reservoir sits at the upper end of a very popular trail through caves at Pinnacles National Park. The area has been in my consciousness for decades. The caves were perhaps the “main attraction” when my family visited the park (then a national monument) when I was just a kid, so I distinctly remember emerging from the canyon at the upper end of the caves to arrive at this reservoir. I’m not sure of its history, but I suspect that the reservoir has been there a very long time, certainly before it was even a a national monument.

The reservoir is relatively sheltered in the bottom of this canyon, and the water was very still on the day of this recent visit. The surrounding terrain is filled with the pinnacles that give the park its name. If you look closely, you may be able to see a couple of fellow hikers taking a rest in the shade next to the water in the lower left corner of the scene.

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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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

Photographs: Nature

California Golden Poppies

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California Golden Poppies
A group of California Golden Poppies, Pinnacles National Park

California Golden Poppies. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A group of California Golden Poppies, Pinnacles National Park.

California Golden Poppies are everywhere in this state — which is not surprising, given that this is the official state flower. The plant comes up every spring, eventually producing these striking flowers. They may grow in small clusters or, in a few places, they can fill entire mountainsides and valleys. They like the drier climates of the state, so they are often found in places that turn brown (or as we prefer to say, “golden”) before spring is over.

I photographed these specimens while hiking in Pinnacles National Park. The wildflowers were largely responsible for the timing of my one-day visit. (I can get there from my home in a bit more than one hour.) As I climbed the trail to the High Peaks Trail junction I passed lots of wildflowers — lupine, paintbrush, and others… and in one notable spot, a whole lot of these poppies.

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 and Amazon.

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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Sunlit Mountains, Sand Storm

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Sunlit Mountains, Sand Storm
A desert sand storm spreads dust high into the air above a sunlit mountain range

Sunlit Mountains, Sand Storm. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A desert sand storm spreads dust high into the air above a sunlit mountain range.

You might imagine that this was a quiet and peaceful landscape scene, judging by the sort light and static nature of the photograph. You would be wrong. I was standing in gale force winds, with windblown sand flying everywhere, out of my vehicle just long enough to make a few exposures.

The haze filling the air is from a sand storm that was emanating from more or less my location, and which then carried the blown sand and dust northeast into desert mountains. In some places the cloud seemed to make it all the way to the summit of the mountain range, but in this spot it was clear, even through this thick air, that the sun was still shining on the ridgeline.

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 and Amazon.

Blog | About | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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, Photographs: Southern California

Strata

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Strata
S”Strata” — ort morning light illumnates rugged desert strata

Desert landscapes can have an almost surreal quality, with features that are close to unbelievable. (I suspect that this happens in most landscapes, but the “barren” desert reveals them more clearly.) The landscape is laid bard, and we get a clear view of eroded features, twisted rock strata, contrasting colors produced by layers of different materials.

In certain places, in the right light, the contests and patterns become even more striking. This is one of those locations, and it was a day with that kind of light. These eroded hills are threaded with both very light and very dark strata, sometimes directly juxtaposed. On this morning the low-angle, directional light was softened a bit by high clouds.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.