Yosemite, California

The setting sun lights up trees along the Merced River, creating glowing reflections in the river’s waters. The granite background is the north wall of Yosemite Valley.

Explored January 1, 2025

Tags:   California Merced River USA United States Yosemite Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley autumn evening fall landscape national park park reflection river sunset

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Tags:   Bald Eagle Eagle Raptor NIkon Nature NaturesFinest Wildlife Nikon Z8 Nikkor 180-600 Mike Gass Photography

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I was lucky to experience this unique reverse flow fog event close to home on the California coast. A 13s exposure allowed me to smooth out the fog as it flowed over the nearby headlands.

Tags:   fog coast ocean beach blind sonoma sonoma coast sunrise nature landscape seascape mist michael ryan photography

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Tags:   Bald Eagle Eagle Raptor Birds Nature NaturesFinest Wildlife Nikon Z8 Nikkor 180-600 NIkon Mike Gass Photography

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It has been a brutal year, with wars, political upheaval, extreme weather, and famine. If only the change of a year could bring relief... but alas, I fear it won't.

Here is a sunset from a few weeks back with scattered lenticular clouds on the east side of the Rockies. The stacked clouds in the center were remarkable in remaining in place for 3 or 4 hours, suggesting the velocity of the high winds responsible for their formation was relatively constant. Alternatively these might be some of the UFOs reported in the skies above New Jersey, parked while their owners shred the ski slopes.

Wishing everyone heath, happiness, and good light in the coming year.

Tags:   Sunset lenticular clouds Coot Lake Boulder Colorado UFOs

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