Category Archives: Photographs: Travel

Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Autumn Reflections, Central Park

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Autumn Reflections, Central Park
The Manhattan skyline is reflected in the water of The Lake on a hazy autumn day, Central Park.

Autumn Reflections, Central Park. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

The Manhattan skyline is reflected in the water of The Lake on a hazy autumn day, Central Park.

We arrived in New York City late in the day, too late to do much other than meet up with family, get a bite to eat, and head back to the hotel. We stayed on the Upper West Side, more or less to the west of the Natural History Museum, and thus a short walk from Central Park. So the next morning — after coffee, of course! — we headed that way to walk and do a bit of photography. We were happy to see that there were still many trees with autumn foliage.

We casually ambled around this lake, known by the descriptive name of “The Lake.” To get photographs from the park that include the Manhattan skyline, I usually seek out open areas that are less obstructed by trees, such as meadows and lakes. The lakes have the added attraction of providing interesting reflections. So here the scene is the lake (oh, sorry, “The Lake”), the autumn foliage of the surrounding trees, and beyond that the skyline of Manhattan just south of the park.

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: Fall, Photographs: Fall Color, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Hernshead, Autumn

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Hernshead, Autumn
A person sits on the Hernshead outcropping among fall colors, Central Park, Manhattan.

Hernshead, Autumn. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A person sits on the Hernshead outcropping among fall colors, Central Park, Manhattan.

We were in New York City for a few days before Thanksgiving. (We left early to avoid the holiday rush.) Our two sons and daughters-in-law live and work there, and they have told us for years to come during spring and autumn instead of our usual winter and summer visits. They are right. — Manhattan was full of lovely fall colors, not just here in the “wilds” of Central Park,” but even along busy streets and avenues. This photograph juxtaposes one of the park’s rocky outcroppings, “The Lake,” autumn trees, and a bit of the Manhattan skyline.

There is always something new to discover or learn about the place. For example, take the name “Hernshead.” Before sharing this photograph I looked at maps to see if the spot has a name, and I discovered that it does. But it is a strange word. If you asked me what “Hernshead” means I might have said, “Don’t know, but maybe someone’s name?” I would have been wrong. According to the Park Conservancy, it was named when the park was created in the 1800s because the outcropping’s shape suggested the form of a heron’s head… and “hern” is apparently an old, alternate spelling of “heron.”

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

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

Street Vendor Belts

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Street Vendor Belts
A rack of belts at a street market in Florence, Italy.

Street Vendor Belts. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A rack of belts at a street market in Florence, Italy.

I photographed this rack of (presumably knockoff) belts in all colors and textures along a bustling and crowded street market outside of the Mercato Centrale building in Florence. Given the heavy tourist traffic in this city, it is no surprise that this market is extensive and crowded. Eventually I will likely share photographs that show more of the market, unlike this one which is just about the colors and shapes of the products on this rack.

These markets are in pretty much every European city that we have visited — from Italy to Kosovo — and especially in those oriented to tourist traffic. I have mixed feelings about them. On one hand, they seem to employ a lot of folks, and if you are careful you can probably get some stuff for very low prices. On the other hand, there’s a lot of items of questionable vintage, and if you think you are getting something of great value, well, just be careful!

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.

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

Siena Backstreet

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Siena Backstreet
Pedestrians round a corner on a narrow Siena street lined with tall buildings.

Siena Backstreet. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Pedestrians round a corner on a narrow Siena street lined with tall buildings.

During our 2023 European travels we finally returned to Siena after missing earlier opportunities to go there during the pandemic. Seven years earlier we were there for literally only hours, spending an afternoon on a day trip from where we were staying in Chianti. We were entranced by the city, with its remarkable maze of narrow streets and large central plaza, Il Campo.

We made a point of scheduling a longer say on this return visit, with time to wander the streets, sit in cafes and restaurants, visit important sites, and make photographs. This scene is along a non-busy (remarkable, yes?) back street that roughly parallels two much busier thoroughfares. The narrow width of the route, the tall buildings, and the varied colors and textures are typical of this area.

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.