Tag Archives: day

Panamint Range Snow, Evening Light

Panamint Range Snow, Evening Light
Late-day light illuminates snow covered ridges and thin forest along the summit of the Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park.

Panamint Range Snow, Evening Light. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Late-day light illuminates snow covered ridges and thin forest along the summit of the Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park.

The reputation of Death Valley National Park is mostly tied to heat — the desert, the dunes, the rare rainfall. I once asked German relatives why they choose to visit in the middle of summer when few of us would choose to go there. The answer, more or less, was that Death Valley is famous for being the hottest place on earth, and that is what they wanted to experience. People who “know” the park from that perspective are often shocked to find that snow is common here in the mountains.

When we visited the Panamint Mountains at the beginning spring the snow was plentiful, and we actually experienced a moderate snow squall. (One of the oddest experiences I’ve had in this park was some years back when we photographed spring wildflowers during a snow storm in Death Valley. Let that one sink in for a moment.) Late on this day we went to a high overlook to wait for sunset, and the warm light illuminated this nearby ridge in the very late afternoon.


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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Rabbit

Rabbit
A rabbit sits in a Central Valley pasture.

Rabbit. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A rabbit sits in a Central Valley pasture.

I have encountered plenty of wildlife before — I’ve gotten up close and personal with black bears and other critters — but this experience was quite different and unexpected, and it left me shaken. At a place where I often photograph it is common to spot rabbits running around, especially early and late in the day. Mostly, they seem like they are trying to get away, scurrying off into the brush somewhere. Perhaps this one has been taking extra vitamins or had a chip on its shoulder about something?

When it did not run away, decided to step out of my vehicle and make a photograph — after all, I don’t have many bunny photos in my archive. The critter immediately bared its teeth, started hissing, and assumed a surprisingly aggressive stance. I was a bit taken aback, but not worried — until the bunny charged me, launching itself in my direction with the obvious intent of doing me harm! I had just enough time to leap back into my vehicle and lock the doors before its body slammed into the side! I’m going to have to see if the damage can be repaired. Don’t let this cute photo deceive you — I barely had time to quickly roll down a window and grab this shot before I was forced to drive off! It was an important reminder that any wild animal can suddenly turn into a vicious predator!


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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New Year’s Morning

New Year's Morning
Early morning clouds and flocks of geese fill the sky above the California Central Valley on New Year’s Day morning, 2023.

New Year’s Morning. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Early morning clouds and flocks of geese fill the sky above the California Central Valley on New Year’s Day morning, 2023.

We spent New Year’s Day in a wild place with friends, sharing food and stories, and photographing birds and the landscape in which they live. I can’t think of a better way to greet a new year, which is why we’ve been doing it for perhaps a decade now. The specific location doesn’t matter all that much — it could be almost anywhere — but the tradition definitely does matter!

Photographically-speaking, the day was sometimes challenging. The weather was transitory, between one gigantic departing storm and another storm that would arrive the next day. While we had a lot of wind (not great for bird photography!) and clouds, there were moments of beautiful light. I made this photograph not long after sunrise, when the light on the high clouds was still a bit colorful and thousands of geese filled the sky.


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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I Choose Culture

I Choose Culture
A man wearing a jacket with the “I Choose Culture” slogan watches that New York Columbus Day Parade pass by.

I Choose Culture. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A man wearing a jacket with the “I Choose Culture” slogan watches the New York Columbus Day Parade.

After five days chasing New England autumn color, we spent a couple of nights in Manhattan. The photograph comes from a morning walk through midtown Manhattan before headed to the airport to fly back to the West Coast. This couple was up against the barricades, watching the “Columbus Day” parade up Fifth Avenue. In addition to the catchy phrase on the man’s jacket, the light was quite special, with reflections coming into the street from almost all directions.

Wandering along the parade route we got a look at a large cross section of the cultures on Manhattan. It is one of the most diverse places I’ve been, in almost every way — ethnically, locals and tourists, rich and poor, you name it. There’s even more political diversity than some would have you believe, with a fair number of rather conservative elements showing up and and in the parade. One surprise — Rudy Giuliani was standing at the front of one of the floats!


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 | Twitter | Flickr | FacebookEmail

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.