Fluidr / Harold Davis's favorites

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.

Tags: levee road gravel two trees pond wetlands morning winter season light sky clouds blue tule fog clears san joaquin central valley mnwr california usa north america merced county