Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Mare Island Street, Dusk

April 15, 2008 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A street and railroad tracks pass beneath shipyard structures and past old brick shop buildings at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in dusk light. The museum for this shipyard is housed in the brick building on the left side of the photograph – one of many interesting and historic structures still found at this location.

keywords: mare island, naval, shipyard, historic, road, street, railroad, tracks, brick, wooden, scaffold, equipment, industrial, shops, windows, dusk, evening, sunset, artificial, light, towers, cranes, smokestack, vallejo, california, usa, travel, urban, landscape, stock

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Shipyard Structure, Dusk

April 14, 2008 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Old shipyard industrial structure at dusk with water, evening sky, and city of Vallejo, California in the background. Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Photographed on a night photography trip to Mare Island with in late March. Although we were there primarily to shoot at night under the full moon, I had a chance to do a bit of photography during dusk.

keywords: mare island, naval, shipyard, vallejo, california, crane, rigging, structure, industrial, equipment, dusk, sunset, sky, water, bay, steel, rust, usa, navy, historic, stock, building, dry dock, scaffold

Commentary, Technique

Accidental Photograph

April 13, 2008 G Dan Mitchell 2 Comments

Imagine that you had been planning a particular shot for a few months. The time was right – or so you thought – so you went to photograph it. Just as you were just finishing you turned around and saw another shot that you hadn’t noticed before. “Wow. I’d like to shoot that one!”

Let’s say that you figured that a focal length of about 100mm would be right for it so you reached into your bag and pulled out a lens to replace the lens that was on the camera. After attaching this lens something seemed odd when you looked through the viewfinder; the subject seemed a lot smaller than you expected. Undismayed you zoom in but can’t get “close” enough. But then you think, “Hey, wait. I kinda’ like the way it looked zoomed out.” So you shoot at the wide end anyway. You finish and put your camera away – and realize that instead of shooting at 100mm you were shooting at 17mm. Wrong lens. And you didn’t even notice. Sheesh.

You get home and go through the photos from the day’s shoot – and this oddball 17mm shot seems to get your attention. In fact, by the time you are done it not only seems like the best shot of the day but perhaps one of the better photographs that you’ve made recently.

By accident. As the result of a dumb mistake.

Would you admit this? Neither would I.

Photographs: Central California

Two Oak Trees, Morning

April 13, 2008 G Dan Mitchell 2 Comments

Two oak trees and grassland in morning light. This scene was photographed at Pacheco State Park on the top of the mountain range between Santa Clara Valley and California’s Great Central Valley. This park is a great place to see spring wildflowers, though the persistent winds can make photography challenging.

I always think of one other connection when I pass by this area or, better yet, stop and visit. When John Muir first travelled to the Sierra he came through this pass, and he marveled (as Muir frequently did) at the carpet of wildflowers extending into and across the valley in front of him. While we no longer see the sight the he described, during a few weeks each spring the wildflowers are thick enough that you can almost imagine it.

keywords: oaks, trees, grass, hills, sun, light, morning, early, fence, ridge, sky, silhouette, pacheco, state park, california, pass, usa, travel, scenic, nature, plants, spring, landscape, stock

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Mare Island Street, Dusk

Shipyard Structure, Dusk

Accidental Photograph

Two Oak Trees, Morning

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