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

Street With Holiday Lights, Madrid

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Street With Holiday Lights, Madrid
“Street With Holiday Lights, Madrid” — Colorful holiday lights suspended above a busy Madrid street near Plaza Mayor.

Our December visit to Madrid coincided with holiday festivities in the city. Main streets were jammed with people walking from place to place, and crowds assembled for holiday events and displays. There were Christmas markets, and holiday lights were everywhere. We did not realize that the season was such a big deal in Madrid, but we enjoyed it and got into the spirit.

At one point we thought, “Oh, what the heck” and braved the walk through the Plaza Mayor — a popular tourist destination and the site of a large Christmas market — on our way to destinations on the other side. We exited the plaza and walked down this pedestrian street lined with busy restaurants and topped by very colorful lights.

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” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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

Canyon Bend

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Canyon Bend, Death Valley.
“Canyon Bend” — A narrow desert wash curves though the depths of a slot canyon, Death Valley.

This photograph was made in a somewhat remote Death Valley canyon — access requires a long drive on primitive roads followed by a bit of walking. On this late February day it was very quiet here, and I saw only two other parties during my visit. We often see photographs of very colorful Utah slot canyons, but this photograph is more typical of Death Valley, where the rocks are more likely dark and much less colorful. But the shade and the quiet are just as wonderful.

I often photograph canyons in vertical “portrait” format. The feeling of these landscapes tends to be vertical — narrow passages between very high stone walls. But stepping back a bit we notice that the canyons wind back and forth. Rather than heading straight into the mountains they lazily twist from side to side. It felt like the horizontal “landscape” orientation might better illustrate this.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Germany, Photographs: Travel

Island, Pegnitz River

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Island, Pegnitz River, Nürnberg
“Island, Pegnitz River” — Bridges cross the Pegnitz River to an island, Nürnberg, Germany.

We visited Nürnberg, Germany this past December, picking the dates because that is when one of the biggest and best-known German Christmas markets takes place. Vendor booths are everywhere in the old center of the city, and crowds of people fill the streets, drinking gluhwein and buying food, trinkets and gifts from the vendors. It can get quite crowded but it is a lot of fun!

The area in the photograph was outside of the main market action. Here several bridges cross the Pegnitz River, and there is even a small island. We began to use the route through here on our walks between the central market and our hotel, and we enjoyed passing through this peaceful and quiet 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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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

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

Sand Dune Abstract

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Sand Dune Abstract
“Sand Dune Abstract” — Sand dune patterns in evening light, Death Valley.

I first photographed this specific subject in Death Valley well over a decade ago, and perhaps closer to two decades. I “discovered” it by accident while driving back from visiting an entirely different feature. I had stopped in this location to photograph other things, and as I scanned the landscape I noticed this section of almost pure sand dunes. I went here again this year at the end of February when the light on my intended subject died early, and I thought I might be able to work with the soft light in this spot.

Because I have photographed here for some time, I have watched — at times with some concern — as this location started to become another “icon” of Death Valley photography. One positive development of this, perhaps, is that the many photographs can look quite different, revealing how ambient light “paints” the landscape of the desert. (Well, OK, also revealing the role that post-production interpretation plays in such photographs.)

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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.

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