Tag Archives: clearing

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

Desert Peak, Clearing Storm

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Desert Peak, Clearing Storm
“Desert Peak, Clearing Storm” — Clearing clouds swirl around the summit of a desert mountain following overnight snowfall.

If you are unfamiliar with the place, you may be surprised that this scene is in Death Valley National Park. That desert park is famous for recording the hottest recorded temperature on planet, known for its arid playas and immense sand dunes. But there are mountains, too, some of which reach as much as 11,000′ above that dry valley. During the winter they are cold places and snow is common.

In mid-March I arrived at the park at the tail end of a series of stormy days. It had rained in the valley — apparently enough that some campers departed early — and snowed at the higher elevations. The Panamint Mountains towered to my right as I drove into the park through the Panamint Valley. Although the rain had mostly stopped at the lower elevations, snow flurries continued among the peaks.

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

Sprawling Tree, Clearing Fog

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Sprawling Tree, Clearing Fog
“Sprawling Tree, Clearing Fog” — An old, sprawling tree emerges from thinning morning tule fog, Central Valley.

Trees like this sprawling, old giant are remarkable fixtures in this flat landscape. Not only do they stand out visually against the surrounding flatlands and marshy ponds, but they support their own plant and animal communities. It is common to find raptors perched in their branches. Their decaying autumn leaves and dropped branches nourish the soil. And on hot summer days they provide cooling shade.

This one is an old friend by now, as it is along a route that I often follow when photographing winter birds. This morning began with very dense tule fog, but as I worked my way to the location of this tree it began to break up and thin. The sun was breaking through and turning the remaining fog luminous.

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

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Old Tree, Sunrise

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Old Tree, Sunrise
“Old Tree, Sunrise” — Winter sun rises through tule fog behind an old tree along a Central Valley backroad.

Once again the weather reports predicted tule fog in the Central Valley, so I was up and on the road early. My hope was that I’d find more geese and cranes to photograph this time — there weren’t as many as I expected on my previous visit. At the same time, I knew that the wet conditions might diminish their numbers. It turned that this was the case, and there were almost none of the birds I came for in the morning. But there was fog!

It was almost a perfect foggy morning. Most of the drive was in clear air, but I hit heavy fog perhaps ten minutes from my destination, so thick that photography was initially a challenge. I photographed this tree later as the fog thinned. It still was around, but so close to the ground that the blue sky was visible above this sprawling old tree as the sun rose beyond.

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

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

Winter Surf, Clearing Sky

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Winter Surf, Clearing Sky
“Winter Surf, Clearing Sky” — Skies clear above winter surf as a Pacific Coast storm dissipates.

This photograph of winter surf and clearing sky was the culmination of a day-long weather transition. We heard reports of record-high surf along the Pacific coast, so we headed right over to see it. When we arrived, the surf was huge, but it was raining, producing a dark and ominous scene. As the day wore on those clouds began to thin, and before long the sun began to poke through. By the time I made this photograph there was more sun than shadow.

The surf is the main character in this scene. As we watched from the shore, the waves rose to impressive heights in the distance, producing monumental spray as the crashed ashore. But the light was nearly as interesting. This close to the water, the mist-filled atmosphere had a glowing, luminous quality.

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.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

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