Morning tule fog clears beyond a pair of Central Valley trees next to a levee road.

love tule fog and the mysterious atmosphere it creates. But even more, I love what happens as it clears. Out here in the valley the fog often seems to drift and thin unevenly. It moves away in one place to reveal a hazy landscape, but nearby the fog lingers and blocks longer views. Overhead there is a combination of blue morning sky, high clouds, and sometimes soft remnants of the dissipating fog.

This scene is along a levee road, one of a seemingly infinite number of similar roads out in the wet parts of the valley. Many Californians, including me, tend to think of the summertime Central Valley, a place that is known for heat and dryness. But in the winter it can be the opposite, a cold and damp place, often dotted by seasonal ponds and lakes.

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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Make:	Canon
Model:	Canon EOS 5DS R
Exposure:	0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture:	f/11.0
ISO Speed:	200
Focal Length:	42 mm
Lens:	EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM