Category Archives: Photographs: Travel

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

Bicycles and Red Door

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Bicycles and Red Door, Montpellier, France
“Bicycles and Red Door” — Parked bicycles in front of a hotel with a red door and a flowering bush, Montpellier.

What is it about bicycles? They turn up as photographic subjects all the time, on their own and as characters in street photography. (One for my favorite photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson features a bicycle.) It probably has something to do with things they represent or are associated with: a slower pace, the sensations of wind as you ride, closer contact with our surroundings. That is all preamble to this “bicycle photo” of mine, made on a street in Montpellier, France.

If I recall correctly, this may have been our last morning in this charming city before we left France and moved on to Zaragoza, Spain. While the title mentions the bicycles and they are prominent in the frame, I think that photograph is more about the lovely, soft light and the colors of the red door and the fascinating green plant growing next to it.

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

Two Towers, Aljafería Palace

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Two Towers, Aljafería Palace
“Two Towers, Aljafería Palace” — Two round towers along the walls of the Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza, Spain.

When we were in Zaragoza, Spain last December, we understood that the Aljafería Palace was not to be missed. Its history is complicated and long, so I won’t make an attempt to relate the details, but it was originally established close to 1000 years ago, and it remains one of Spain’s most important examples of Islamic architecture. Over the centuries it was adapted by successive users, including royalty and later for more mundane purposes. It fell into disrepair, but was restored in the 1900s.

We walked over — a slightly long walk — from our accommodations in the old part of Zaragoza. This impressive structure sits on expansive grounds and is surrounded by a deep moat. Because much of it was reconstructed it doesn’t have the same worn look of many other old palaces. The photograph shows two towers along the outer walls.

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: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

An Traits Libres

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An Traits Libres, Montpellier
“An Traits Libres” — An Traits Libres, alternative comic book store, gallery, artists’ workshop, Montpellier.

We were out on one of our random walks, wandering to who-knows-where, on this damp evening in Montpellier, France this past December. Recently I tried to reconstruct our route using online maps and satellite photos of the city, but I’m at a loss to recall precisely where we went — with the exception of this building, which shows up on those maps.

It is a little hard to know for sure, but I think that this place is a sort of a shop – one online source describes it as an “alternative comic store., book store, gallery, artists’ workshop.” We did not stop to go inside, and I’m not sure if it was actually open. But it appeared as a bright apparition on a quiet, dark street. I spent a moment photographing it, and we moved on.

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: France, Photographs: Travel

Detail, Wrought Iron

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Detail, Wrought Iron, Montpellier, France
“Detail, Wrought Iron” — Details of wrought iron work at the Chateau d’Eau, Montpellier, France.

During our December visit to Montpellier, France we visited the Promenade du Peyrou, a large public square on a hilltop. The plaza was filled with a Christmas market, of course. Montpellier’s very own Arc de Triomphe stands at one end of the plaza, and the Chateau d’Eau (water tower) at the other end. This detail is part of the latter monument.

The water tower (of which I have shared photographs previously) sits at the end point of an ancient Roman aqueduct. It features the columns you see on the left, but look more closely and there is some wonderful wrought iron work – with a combination of very sharp pointed shapes and soft, gentle curves.

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.)