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

Rainy Evening, Montpellier

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Rainy Evening, Montpellier, France
“Rainy Evening, Montpellier” — Shoppers walk along Rue de la Loge on a rainy winter evening in Montpellier, France.

It isn’t news to anyone who has spent some time in Europe, but cities there often have large shopping areas that are automobile-free, or nearly so. This is treat for Americans, who are used to being stuck on sidewalks as cars whiz by. In fact, I think it is one of the big things that attracts us to European cities. Here in Montpelier you can walk almost anywhere in this old central district without contending with auto traffic.

When American cities propose closing business districts to vehicle traffic — or even limiting it — businesses typically raise loud complaints that it will stifle business. But in every European city I have visited with vehicle-free areas like this, the streets are filled with shoppers. Here in Montpellier that was even true on a rainy weeknight!

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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Desert Gully

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Desert Gully, Death Valley
“Desert Gully” — Eroded formations and a desert gully, Death Valley.

The desert landscape of Death Valley National Park seems fairly static. Yes, we see dust storms blow things around a little, but even the shapes of the dunes remain fairly constant over time. The mountains and the playas look much as they did when I first saw them 25 years ago. But the reality is that this is a very dynamic landscape, and it is constantly being built up and torn down. This photograph is an obvious example of the latter process.

This light material was laid down millennia ago in the distant prehistoric past, long before people were here — and before there were even “people” at all. Over vast stretches of time the material was transformed — squashed, bent, tilted. Eventually a combination of uplift and erosion exposed it, and other processes kicked in. Here, those processes — including flowing water — have eroded and continue to erode the layers, producing this maze of small gullies and the fine silt seen at the bottom of the photo.

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: Germany, Photographs: Travel

Church and Winter Trees

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Church and Winter Trees, Munich
“Church and Winter Trees” — Neue Pfarrkirche St. Johan Baptist and dormant winter trees, Munich.

We spent several days in Munich/München in December. It was the final stop on a visit of several weeks to Germany (with a side-trip to Alsace in France.) We chose this time for our visit since we thought it would be interesting to visit a few of the famous German Christmas markets. To be honest, by the time we got to Munich the markets were becoming less of a focus — still interesting, but how much gluhwein can one drink?

On the last day of our stay here we went out for a longish walk. Patty’s brother and sister-in-law live in Germany and are familiar with these places, so our walk took us away from the popular tourist areas and through neighborhoods that we would otherwise probably not have visited. (One highlight: winter surfers in Munich. Yes, really.) At one point we walked past the Neue Pfarrkirche St. Johan Baptist, and I was struck by the contrast between the perfect vertical forms of the church and the organic forms of the silhouetted trees.

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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Layers, Morning Light

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Layers, Morning Light, Death Vally
“Layers, Morning Light” — Early mornign light highlights layers of gullies and ridges in the Death Valley landscape.

Yes, yet another photograph of these well-known formations in Death Valley. Hey, I don’t photograph this specific spot that often these days, so maybe I can be excused for working it to death on this one unexpected visit? This is a small section of a larger badlands landscape that lies around and below this popular sunrise location in the park.

If you are interested — and if you follow me regularly — you can get a sort of overview of how the light changes on these features in the morning by looking at the series of photographs I am posting from this visit. I started before sunrise, continued as the sun hit nearby features and cast soft light into the scene, and finished up only as the first direct light (fortunately softened a bit high thin clouds) spread across the 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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

2 responses to “Layers, Morning Light”

  1. Oscar Avatar
    Oscar

    I marvel at your dedication to capture nature and the human experience!

    Reply
    1. G Dan Mitchell Avatar
      G Dan Mitchell

      Thanks!

      Reply

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Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.