Not today, Dan… ;)
p.1 #1Not today, Dan… ;)
I’m in the field today, all day. So why am I posting a thread on FM?
I’m at a location where I frequently photograph in the fall and winter months, a place where I can find huge flocks of migratory birds, expansive skies, an often-foggy landscape, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Over the years I’ve made some photographs here that I like quite a lot. That’s why I (relatively) happy to get up between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and drive 100 miles one way in the dark to get her. The location reliably produces ideal conditions.
To encounter those ideal conditions, I have to choose my timing carefully and then repeatedly visit this location. For every unbelievably great day here, there are perhaps 10 times as many that are just… good. But for each of those singular great days there is, not unexpectedly, a compensatory day that is… distinctly un-amazing. That’s the balance in the universe, and I’ve come to expect it.
Today is one of those days. Today at this ever-promising location? Completely gray skies. Drizzle. No big flocks of birds, Flat light.
It day like this could be (OK, it is) a bit frustrating. But it is also a reminder of how exceptional the perfect days are. I’m sure there will be more of those, too, this winter — and I’ll be up and driving way before sunrise yet again, and sometime I’ll see those great conditions again.
Right now? Sitting in my car checking the internet. ;-)
(I do have an alternate plan for a bit later today…)
A photo from this place, but most definitely not from today…
I’m at a location where I frequently photograph in the fall and winter months, a place where I can find huge flocks of migratory birds, expansive skies, an often-foggy landscape, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Over the years I’ve made some photographs here that I like quite a lot. That’s why I (relatively) happy to get up between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and drive 100 miles one way in the dark to get her. The location reliably produces ideal conditions.
To encounter those ideal conditions, I have to choose my timing carefully and then repeatedly visit this location. For every unbelievably great day here, there are perhaps 10 times as many that are just… good. But for each of those singular great days there is, not unexpectedly, a compensatory day that is… distinctly un-amazing. That’s the balance in the universe, and I’ve come to expect it.
Today is one of those days. Today at this ever-promising location? Completely gray skies. Drizzle. No big flocks of birds, Flat light.
It day like this could be (OK, it is) a bit frustrating. But it is also a reminder of how exceptional the perfect days are. I’m sure there will be more of those, too, this winter — and I’ll be up and driving way before sunrise yet again, and sometime I’ll see those great conditions again.
Right now? Sitting in my car checking the internet. ;-)
(I do have an alternate plan for a bit later today…)
A photo from this place, but most definitely not from today…
Dec 08, 2025 at 01:39 PM
p.1 #2Not today, Dan… ;)
gdanmitchell wrote:
I’m in the field today, all day. So why am I posting a thread on FM?
I’m at a location where I frequently photograph in the fall and winter months, a place where I can find huge flocks of migratory birds, expansive skies, an often-foggy landscape, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Over the years I’ve made some photographs here that I like quite a lot. That’s why I (relatively) happy to get up between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and drive 100 miles one way in the dark to get her. The location reliably produces ideal conditions.
To encounter those ideal conditions, I have to...Show more →
Sorry to read this, Dan, both for you and for me. Heading up to, I suspect, the same area or a couple NWR's a bit south of there this Wednesday. Hoping both the weather and birds cooperate.
I’m in the field today, all day. So why am I posting a thread on FM?
I’m at a location where I frequently photograph in the fall and winter months, a place where I can find huge flocks of migratory birds, expansive skies, an often-foggy landscape, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Over the years I’ve made some photographs here that I like quite a lot. That’s why I (relatively) happy to get up between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and drive 100 miles one way in the dark to get her. The location reliably produces ideal conditions.
To encounter those ideal conditions, I have to...Show more →
Sorry to read this, Dan, both for you and for me. Heading up to, I suspect, the same area or a couple NWR's a bit south of there this Wednesday. Hoping both the weather and birds cooperate.
Dec 08, 2025 at 02:02 PM
p.1 #3Not today, Dan… ;)
At the risk of suggesting something to you that you already know...
Are you familiar with Windy.com? It could improve your success rate. In particular, besides rain, it shows a lot more cloud cover information than the more commonly used weather apps. In particular, it differentiates between high, medium and low clouds. Using the "weather picker" it can also show more localized weather conditions than we'd generally see.
Are you familiar with Windy.com? It could improve your success rate. In particular, besides rain, it shows a lot more cloud cover information than the more commonly used weather apps. In particular, it differentiates between high, medium and low clouds. Using the "weather picker" it can also show more localized weather conditions than we'd generally see.
Dec 08, 2025 at 02:31 PM
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p.1 #4Not today, Dan… ;)
StephenS_CP wrote:
At the risk of suggesting something to you that you already know...
Are you familiar with Windy.com? It could improve your success rate. In particular, besides rain, it shows a lot more cloud cover information than the more commonly used weather apps. In particular, it differentiates between high, medium and low clouds. Using the "weather picker" it can also show more localized weather conditions than we'd generally see.
Hadn't heard of this particular app, so thanks for pointing it out. Will compare to what I currently use.
At the risk of suggesting something to you that you already know...
Are you familiar with Windy.com? It could improve your success rate. In particular, besides rain, it shows a lot more cloud cover information than the more commonly used weather apps. In particular, it differentiates between high, medium and low clouds. Using the "weather picker" it can also show more localized weather conditions than we'd generally see.
Hadn't heard of this particular app, so thanks for pointing it out. Will compare to what I currently use.
Dec 08, 2025 at 04:55 PM
p.1 #5Not today, Dan… ;)
Fred Amico wrote:
I’m at a location where I frequently photograph in the fall and winter months, a place where I can find huge flocks of migratory birds, expansive skies, an often-foggy landscape, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Over the years I’ve made some photographs here that I like quite a lot. That’s why I (relatively) happy to get up between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and drive 100 miles one way in the dark to get her. The location reliably produces ideal conditions.
To encounter those ideal conditions, I have to choose my timing carefully and then repeatedly visit this location. For every unbelievably great day here, there are perhaps 10 times as many that are just… good. But for each of those singular great days there is, not unexpectedly, a compensatory day that is… distinctly un-amazing. That’s the balance in the universe, and I’ve come to expect it.
Today is one of those days. Today at this ever-promising location? Completely gray skies. Drizzle. No big flocks of birds, Flat light.
It day like this could be (OK, it is) a bit frustrating. But it is also a reminder of how exceptional the perfect days are. I’m sure there will be more of those, too, this winter — and I’ll be up and driving way before sunrise yet again, and sometime I’ll see those great conditions again.
Right now? Sitting in my car checking the internet. ;-)
(I do have an alternate plan for a bit later today…)
A photo from this place, but most definitely not from today…
https://gallery.gdanmitchell.com/gallery/var/albums/NaturalWorld/TheLandscape/California/NorthernAndCentralCalifornia/Central-Valley/CranesSunriseCloudsSierraCrest21022023.jpgSorry to read this, Dan, both for you and for me. Heading up to, I suspect, the same area or a couple NWR's a bit south of there this Wednesday. Hoping both the weather and birds cooperate.
Things may be a bit more interesting on Wednesday, at least if you like tule fog. (I do!) I managed to pick the day between two foggy days!
- - -
Thanks. I'm pretty obsessive about watching conditions, and I can usually manage to get there at the right time. Last night, when I packed for the day, things were looking a bit (but only a bit) more positive, but when I checked the report this morning at 4:00AM I was afraid that things were evolving in the wrong way. But since I was all ready to go, I figured what the heck. in the end, I think I managed to get a few good photos out of the day, and at least it was nice to be out in the field.
(By morning, the weather discussion was talking about an inversion that was trapping a cloud layer at about 1000-2000 feet, thus turning the world gray without the benefit of moody fog... except in the hills on the way over and back.)
- - -
Bottom line is philosophical — I figure that a few less-than-optimal days are a sort of down payment on eventual incredible days. ;-)
gdanmitchell wrote
I’m in the field today, all day. So why am I posting a thread on FM?I’m at a location where I frequently photograph in the fall and winter months, a place where I can find huge flocks of migratory birds, expansive skies, an often-foggy landscape, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Over the years I’ve made some photographs here that I like quite a lot. That’s why I (relatively) happy to get up between 3:00AM and 4:00AM and drive 100 miles one way in the dark to get her. The location reliably produces ideal conditions.
To encounter those ideal conditions, I have to choose my timing carefully and then repeatedly visit this location. For every unbelievably great day here, there are perhaps 10 times as many that are just… good. But for each of those singular great days there is, not unexpectedly, a compensatory day that is… distinctly un-amazing. That’s the balance in the universe, and I’ve come to expect it.
Today is one of those days. Today at this ever-promising location? Completely gray skies. Drizzle. No big flocks of birds, Flat light.
It day like this could be (OK, it is) a bit frustrating. But it is also a reminder of how exceptional the perfect days are. I’m sure there will be more of those, too, this winter — and I’ll be up and driving way before sunrise yet again, and sometime I’ll see those great conditions again.
Right now? Sitting in my car checking the internet. ;-)
(I do have an alternate plan for a bit later today…)
A photo from this place, but most definitely not from today…
https://gallery.gdanmitchell.com/gallery/var/albums/NaturalWorld/TheLandscape/California/NorthernAndCentralCalifornia/Central-Valley/CranesSunriseCloudsSierraCrest21022023.jpg
Things may be a bit more interesting on Wednesday, at least if you like tule fog. (I do!) I managed to pick the day between two foggy days!
- - -
Thanks. I'm pretty obsessive about watching conditions, and I can usually manage to get there at the right time. Last night, when I packed for the day, things were looking a bit (but only a bit) more positive, but when I checked the report this morning at 4:00AM I was afraid that things were evolving in the wrong way. But since I was all ready to go, I figured what the heck. in the end, I think I managed to get a few good photos out of the day, and at least it was nice to be out in the field.
(By morning, the weather discussion was talking about an inversion that was trapping a cloud layer at about 1000-2000 feet, thus turning the world gray without the benefit of moody fog... except in the hills on the way over and back.)
- - -
Bottom line is philosophical — I figure that a few less-than-optimal days are a sort of down payment on eventual incredible days. ;-)
Dec 08, 2025 at 10:26 PM
p.1 #6Not today, Dan… ;)
We have ALL encountered days like these Dan!
Here is a lyric for these times brother:
When the sun hangs low, the world turns gold,
A photographer's dream, a story to be told.
The light is soft, no shadows harsh and deep,
A gentle warmth while the world is half-asleep.
At dawn's first kiss or sunset's soft embrace,
The atmosphere is magic in time and space.
The light diffused, through air so thick and vast,
A perfect moment for a memory to last. I do not know who the author is.
Dan2
I am still roaming the cellphone world with a "flipper". No smartphone....yet!
Here is a lyric for these times brother:
When the sun hangs low, the world turns gold,
A photographer's dream, a story to be told.
The light is soft, no shadows harsh and deep,
A gentle warmth while the world is half-asleep.
At dawn's first kiss or sunset's soft embrace,
The atmosphere is magic in time and space.
The light diffused, through air so thick and vast,
A perfect moment for a memory to last. I do not know who the author is.
Dan2
I am still roaming the cellphone world with a "flipper". No smartphone....yet!
Dec 09, 2025 at 09:43 AM