Category Archives: Photographs: Architecture

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Rooftops of Cordoba

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Rooftops of Cordoba
Rooftops of Cordoba, Spain, photographed from the tower at the mosque-cathedral.

Rooftops of Cordoba. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Rooftops of Cordoba, Spain, photographed from the tower at the mosque-cathedral.

One of our main reasons for visiting Cordoba, Spain was to visit the famous mosque-cathedral. It is a spectacular site, and I recommend a visit. (I also recommend not going when the weather is like that we encountered — something like 111 degrees!) The mosque portion is astounding. If I recall correctly, at one point it was up to a size that could handle 40,000 worshippers! It stands in sharp visual contrast to the cathedral that was later constructed in the center of the mosque — a light and air structure that towers above.

We began our visit with the climb to the top of the tower along the perimeter of the grounds. Fortunately, we went somewhat early on this hot day, before the temperature really rose. The view from the tower is spectacular. It obviously overlooks the mosque-cathedral grounds, but it also reveals wider views of the city and its surroundings. This photograph looks down and away from the mosque-cathedral, into an area of residences and streets lined by businesses. One striking impression of this city is from the buildings which are predominantly white instead of colors often found elsewhere.

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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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Portugal, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Buildings, Porto

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Buildings, Porto
“Buildings, Porto” — Distressed buildings in Porto, Portugal.

Based on our three-day visit, Porto is a fascinating city. I’m no expert on Portugal, but it is my understanding that the country was one of the least wealthy in Europe and that it was sort of neglected — but more recently it has become quite a popular destination. The attractions are many: fascinating food, sunny shoreline, port (!), general friendliness to English-speakers. We spent time here in Porto and then in Lisbon, and they have so far been among our favorite destinations on this trip.

While Porto has plenty of modern, sophisticated stuff… it is also still full of old, run-down-looking neighborhoods with buildings suggesting better days in the past. (And, from what I hear, now there is a lot of redevelopment of these older areas, which brings its own controversies.) The building in this photograph must have once been quite nice, but today it looks like its best days are behind it — yet, look at that characteristic tile work and more and this building seems like it could be part of the Porto revitalization.

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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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel

Courtyard and Stairs

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Courtyard and Stairs
An arched passageway, a courtyard, and stairs — Orvieto, Italy.

Courtyard and Stairs. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

An arched passageway, a courtyard, and stairs — Orvieto, Italy.

Because we were on such a long trip (ten weeks!), we scheduled some time in quieter, slower places between our visits to the “big name” destinations. After Florence we visited two places that are a bit less overrun, Arezzo and Orvieto. Neither is quite immune to tourism, but the difference is striking — especially in Orvieto, which seems to be visited by a lot of day-trippers. While certain areas are pretty busy in the middle of the day, in the morning and evening the place is quiet.

This photograph comes from Orvieto, a really lovely place. It is a “hill town,” built on the top of a mountain above the surrounding land and surrounded by old walls. While there is more modern stuff outside the walls and on the lower surroundings, the town itself is almost entirely old structures, including a really beautiful duomo. Walking around Orvieto we found little vignette like this at every turn.

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.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Alcove and Wall

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Alcove and Wall
An alcove, a weathered wall, a door, and a sidewalk — Florence, Italy.

Alcove and Wall. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

An alcove, a weathered wall, a door, and a sidewalk — Florence, Italy.

This photograph comes from Florence, Italy. Anyone who has been there, especially in the busy tourist season, knows that the place is incredibly busy and crowded, at least during the hours when visitors are out and about. We escaped the most intense crowds on this morning by heading “the other way,” into a neighborhood that lacked the usual tourist attractions.

Like almost any photographer visiting this part of the world, I cannot resist the colors and the old, weathered surfaces and shapes of the buildings. Back home, old buildings just took… old. But here the Latino of time and wear somehow seems more attractive.

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.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.