Tag Archives: color

Autumn Moon

When I arrived at a Central Valley location where I photograph migratory birds on this late-November morning I was a bit disappointed to not have thick tule fog. I love to photograph in those conditions, partly because of the atmosphere they provide and partly because they often extend useful photography hours later into the day. But on this morning there was only the tiniest hint of incipient fog, and the view to the sky was rather clear.

I began by photograph ing birds before sunrise. As the sky begins to lighten the birds (mostly geese and cranes) become restless and eventually take off, often in large groups. During a pause in the passage of the birds I noticed the thinning clouds passing in front of the full moon as pink dawn light struck the edges of the clouds.


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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Aspens, Living and Dead

Aspens, Living and Dead
A dense grove of aspens including living and dead trees, east of the Sierra Nevada.

Aspens, Living and Dead. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A dense grove of aspens including living and dead trees, east of the Sierra Nevada.

If you are familiar with Sierra Nevada aspens, some things about this grove will feel familiar, yet you might get the feeling that something is a bit different. Regarding the latter, you are correct — this grove is technically not in the Sierra Nevada. It is in a range of mountains not too far to the east of the range, where the drier climate contributes to both the “sagebrush country” appearance and the twisted and often stunted trees.

We visited this general area early one October morning, planning to photograph from a point providing an unobstructed view of a fascinating section of the Sierra crest. After photographing that scene around sunrise, we turned our attention to this nearby subject, working quickly to make pictures before the intense direct sunlight arrived. Note the mixture of very colorful small trees and older snags.


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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High Desert Aspens in Transition

High Desert Aspens in Transition
A grove of high desert aspens in transition to autumn color.

High Desert Aspens in Transition. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A grove of high desert aspens in transition to autumn color.

Although my first inclination has always been to think of aspens as being trees of the high, subalpine zone, in fact they grow right down into the high desert, including along the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. As such the trees are often found juxtaposed with what seem more like desert landscapes than the mountain scenes we might expect. I’m fascinated by these places, and I’ve long looked around for more examples.

This little winding grove sits near the bottom of a shallow valley that likely holds a stream during the spring melt. Here most of the trees are the typical small and sometimes stunted type, but the skeletons of a few taller trees are mixed into these little groves.


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

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Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands

Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands
Autumn sunrise over California Central Valley wetlands.

Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

The sun rises over California Central Valley wetlands.

There is a seasonal pattern to my photography. One of my favorite subjects from late fall through winter is the return of migratory birds to California. This year’s first outing was near the end of November, when I spent a day in the Central Valley. This photograph isn’t just (almost) my first photograph of the day, but it is also the seasons first photo of this subject. As I expected, the number of birds was lower than it will be later in the season, but the stillness and quiet of the place at sunrise was no less profound.

If you passed by here during one of those oppressively hot Central Valley summer days, you might never imagine that it could be a beautiful place in the right season and at the ideal time of the day. But the transformations of season and time of day can do amazing things, and the annual arrival of the birds amplifies that here. It didn’t hurt that I was listening to the sound of sandhill cranes passing overhead as I photographed.


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 | PostEmail

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.