Category Archives: Photographs: Europe

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

Window 15

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Window 15
“Window 15” — A window in a stone wall in the Alfama, Lisbon.

This is another photograph from our stroll through Lisbon’s Alfama district — the oldest part of the city, and a place of narrow, twisting walkways and steep hills. It is also an area with a history of poverty. Here a window is open to reveal plants growing in pots.

I have a theory about a difference between dwellings in places like this and in American suburbia. In the US, where people may have front yards, a few trees, and possibly a single-family dwelling, they use that front space to present themselves — decorating, maintaining, and designing it with appearance in mind. In places like Alfama, the opportunities to do this area far more limited — and my notion is that perhaps more attention is spent on the interior space and that front exterior is often left as is.

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

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Portugal, Photographs: Travel

Alfama and Panteão Nacional

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Alfama and Panteão Nacional
“Alfama and Panteão Nacional” — The dome of the Panteão Nacional rises above Alfama, Lisbon.

The Panteão Nacional is one of several sites along this ridge above the Alfama district of Lisbon. It and the others command a sweeping view of the city and the water, but they also form focal points for views of the area from elsewhere in the city. I photographed this view from the Portas do Sol viewpoint area.

As striking as the building and its dome are, the Alfama itself is really the show here, in my view. The colorful buildings with their red roofs are packed tightly together along narrow and curving streets.

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

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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Cathedral and Dark Sky

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Cathedral and Dark Sky
“Cathedral and Dark Sky” — The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela on an evening of dramatic light and clouds.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is a remarkable structure, with its intricate towers looming over Obradoiro Square. This is the end point for walkers “doing a camino” from locations in France, Spain, and Portugal. You can watch them arrive and imagine what it must be like to finally reach this point after weeks or more than a month of walking.

Every so often conditions produce some remarkable light — this was one of those times. It had been cloudy, and the sky was still dark with just a hint of sunset color. But far to the west the cloud shield ended and a beam of warm evening light fell on the cathedral, highlighting it against that dark and dramatic sky.

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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: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Stairs, Parque de la Alameda

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Stairs, Parque de la Alameda
“Stairs, Parque de la Alameda” — A person on stairs at th Parque de la Alameda, Santiago de Compostela

While visiting Santiago de Compostela this past spring we wandered a bit outside the confines of the central old town, including a visit to the Parque de la Alameda. The large park is easy to access and features everything from statues to groves of trees and (at least during our visit) a carnival. Its open spaces provided a pleasant break from the narrow and sometimes crowded streets of the old part of town.

Our walk began on a wide route passing beneath groves of large, old trees. Eventually we arrived at a sort of platform at the top of these old stairs, which lead to a lower terrace of gardens. While all of the forms in this scene would be quite “square” and angular if viewed from directly above, here the effects of a lower angle and looking downward distort that regularly in fascinating ways.

Leave a comment or question using the form. (If you are reading this on the home page, click the article title to see the full article and the comment form.

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.