Spring Cloudburst
Spring Cloudburst. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.
A spring cloudburst moves across a Southern California grassland landscape.
On our way back from Death Valley at the end of March we detoured though mountains to the west of the Central Valley, looking for grasslands where the spring wildflower bloom was starting. After a few false starts — two dead ends that forced us to turn around and try different routes — we finally made it to this big valley where wet years can produce a huge carpet of wildflowers.
The tail end of a weather system was passing through, producing conditions that are common here in the spring — mixed sun and rain, sudden cloudbursts, and fascinating light. Here a downpour darkens the sky against a background of intense sunlight on the rain and distant 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.
Spring Cloudburst
Spring Cloudburst. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.
A spring cloudburst moves across a Southern California grassland landscape.
On our way back from Death Valley at the end of March we detoured though mountains to the west of the Central Valley, looking for grasslands where the spring wildflower bloom was starting. After a few false starts — two dead ends that forced us to turn around and try different routes — we finally made it to this big valley where wet years can produce a huge carpet of wildflowers.
The tail end of a weather system was passing through, producing conditions that are common here in the spring — mixed sun and rain, sudden cloudbursts, and fascinating light. Here a downpour darkens the sky against a background of intense sunlight on the rain and distant 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.