Tag Archives: mitchell

Photographing Spring Wildflowers

Photographing Spring Wildflowers
Photographer Patricia Emerson Mitchell photographing the spring wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Photographing Spring Wildflowers. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Photographer Patricia Emerson Mitchell photographing spring wildflowers at Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Although our decision to visit the Carrizo Plain came at the last minute and took us on a route that was affected by road closures, when we finally arrived it was well worth the effort. It was one of those prototypical early-spring days in California — a weather front had passed through, it was windy, cloudbursts and cloud shadows moved across the landscape, wildflowers were in bloom, and at times there was sun.

Of the two of us, Patty is the more accomplished flower photographer. I dabble in this subject from time to time — and enjoy it! — but it is her primary subject. We took a gravel side road to get out into this valley that was carpeted with wildflowers leading off into the distance.


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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Patty Photographing London

Patty Photographing London
Patricia Emerson Mitchell photographing in London

Patty Photographing London. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Patricia Emerson Mitchell photographing in London

Our opportunities for international travel have been pretty limited since the beginning of the pandemic. We had a big trip scheduled late in the first year of the event, but that had to be cancelled. We might have considered going this year, but instead extended family members decided on an American meet-up. So we’re still looking forward to future international travel, hopefully by next summer.

For a bunch of reasons, we often start in London, so we’ve been there a few times now. We like to wander, carrying cameras, looking for interesting things, and stopping for refreshments and meals whenever the urge takes us. And, yes, we sometimes photograph one another!


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

Photographing the Canyon

Photographing the Canyon
Patricia Emerson Mitchell photographing in a desert canyon, Death Valley National Park.

Photographing the Canyon. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Patricia Emerson Mitchell photographing in a desert canyon, Death Valley National Park.

My photographs of desert canyon landscapes are virtually always devoid of people. Without some frame of reference it is difficult or even impossible to judge the scale of these places — a cliff could be four feet high or forty, a rock might be a pebble or a boulder. This photograph includes my wife, Patricia Mitchell, at work photographing a section of a narrow desert canyon in Death Valley back in late March.

I often favor longer lenses for landscape photography, but in these canyons I usually use an ultra-wide lens. The canyon walls are only feet apart in the narrowest places, and often the view forward and backward may stretch no more than a few dozen feet. Photographing as a duo in such a place requires teamwork, and each person typically must work alone — or all of the photographs will feature other photographer! She went first as we re-entered this canyon. I followed, and initially photographed back in the direction from which we came. Once she moved forward I turned my attention into the canyon and then kept my distance so that we would not interfere with one another’s compositions.


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 | 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.

Desert Lunch

Desert Lunch
G Dan Mitchell and Patricia Emerson taking a break from photography in the backcountry of Death Valley NP.

Desert Lunch. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

G Dan Mitchell and Patricia Emerson take a break from photography in the backcountry of Death Valley NP.

This is not the kind of photograph I typically post here, but why not!? On our late-March visit to Death Valley National Park we headed up this backroad for the day after morning photography in another location. While midday photograph is sometimes possible in the desert, these aren’t typically the best hours from a visual perspective. So midday is a great time to explore, to scout locations, to travel to places for photography later in the day… and sometimes just to take care of camp business or hang out.

We drove slowly up this road, stopping along the way at various points of interest. (Despite the midday light, we did make some photographs along the route, too.) As so often in Death Valley, the road ends at the remnants of the historical mining era. We explored a bit and then it was time for a backcountry lunch. (It looks pretty meager, but it was good. And those oranges? It is a tradition to bring oranges from my trees on these winter and spring Death Valley trips.)


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 | Flickr | FacebookEmail

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

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)


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