Category Archives: Photographs: People

Photographs: New York City, Photographs: People, Photographs: Urban/Street

Balloon Vendor

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Balloon Vendor
A Manhattan street vendor selling balloons.

Balloon Vendor. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A Manhattan street vendor selling balloons.

There was a lot going on in the vicinity of this colorful little Manhattan scene. It was a few days after Christmas, during the period between then and New Year’s Day when it seems that tourists and other visitors take over the sidewalks and streets of New York City, at least in the most popular areas. This is one of those areas, right near Rockefeller Center. Basically, the sidewalks were packed with people and at times it was difficult to move forward.

Along this block there were many street vendors, selling the usual assortment of Manhattan items: cheap knock-off watches, umbrellas and warm hats, food, souvenir shirts, and balloons. The balloons, leaning into the passing crowd, were quite a colorful diversion. That aside, as I see the street vendors I always wonder who they are, how they make a living doing this, and what sort of lives they must lead… and how all of that fits together in a place like Manhattan.

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 and Amazon.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: People, Photographs: Urban/Street

Halal Food Cart

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Halal Food Cart
Two men working a Halal Food Cart, Manhattan

Halal Food Cart. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Two men working a Halal Food Cart, Manhattan.

We spent a week in (mostly) Manhattan during the holidays, visiting family and wandering around this remarkable city. I made this photograph on Christmas Day as we walked up Fifth Avenue and then by cross-streets past some iconic locations, joining the throngs there at this time of year.

While the dense urban design and tall buildings might be the first thing that comes to mind when we consider Manhattan, I think that people may be the more central characteristic. Once of the train or out of the car, most everyone seems to walk here, and the sidewalks are filled with just about every kind of person imaginable — Americans and people from all over the world. In places and a busy times, the crowds can be quite something. These days, every were you go you see these food carts, even on the coldest days.

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 and Amazon.

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

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

Photographs: People, Photographs: People In Landscape, Photographs: Photographers, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Photographer Scot Miller

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Photographer Scot Miller
Photographer Scot Miller at work in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada

Photographer Scot Miller. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Photographer Scot Miller at work in the John Muir Wilderness of the Sierra Nevada.

This photograph of Scot Miller comes from the most recent of our annual Sierra Nevada backcountry adventures. A group of photographers has been spending a week or more in the Sierra backcountry since 2001, typically base-camping and photographing the heck out of a limited geographical area. (I’ve been going out with the group for about the past decade.) As I have become more aware over the years each time I spend another week in the backcountry with this group, the collective vision and experience of this crew is quite special. Among the members there are deep connections to Yosemite and the Sierra, folks who worked with Ansel and other wonderful photographers, a collection of astonishing (and often humorous) stories about these mountains and the people who love them, and a deep appreciation for and understanding of the Range of Light.

Although I’m perhaps not qualified to summarize Scot’s attributes fully, what I know of them is impressive. He’s not “just” a talented photographer, but he is an outstanding videographer (video photographer?) whose work you have probably seen on television. He has been deeply involved in many important conservation projects. He’s an author of several excellent books. He and his wife have operated a Dallas gallery. And he’s also a truly fine backcountry partner.

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 and Amazon.

Blog | About | Flickr | Facebook | Email

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

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

Photographs: People, Photographs: Photographers

Photographer Charles Cramer

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Photographer Charles Cramer
Photographer Charles Cramer setting up a display for a reception to follow an August 16, 2015 concert

Photographer Charles Cramer. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Photographer Charles Cramer setting up a display for a reception to follow an August 16, 2015 concert.

This photograph of Charles Cramer is perhaps a bit unusual in several ways. I made it while Charlie was setting up (or taking down?) a display of a number of his photographs at a concert he gave in the South Bay Area. (Many of you reading this are likely to be aware of his photography, but perhaps not everyone knows that he is also an accomplished pianist and organist… and even a choir director!) The pose is perhaps not typical for a photograph of a “landscape photographer,” either as he is a) indoors and b) setting up a light stand! (The purpose of the stand is to illuminate prints for display in this case.)

We count ourselves lucky to know Charlie and to have known him for some time. (He played at our wedding, believe it or not.) He has also graciously shared his photographic knowledge with us in a number of ways. I often tell the story of how I finally got up to speed on my conversion to digital photography. I had been using digital cameras for a while, and I had purchased an early digital printer, but the results were just not what I hoped for and I was getting frustrated. I contacted Charlie to ask for some advice — should I take a class? sign up for a workshop? read a book? something else? He replied and basically said, “Come over and bring a few files.” I did, and in the several hours he spent with me on these files I learned (as I often say) “90% of what I needed to know about digital post-processing and printing” — and for that I am forever grateful!

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 and Amazon.

Blog | About | Flickr | Facebook | Email

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

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