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

Orvieto House

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Orvieto House
“Orvieto House” — A tall house at the intersection fo two narrow streets in the hill town of Orvieto, Italy.

This Orvieto house caught my attention during one of our walks around this lovely Italian hill town last summer. The town is on a high tableland surrounded by green hills and valleys. It is bounded by steep inclines, so steep that most visitors take a funicular from the railroad station. Because of the town’s geography, a walk of any distance involves some up and down. Here the road two splits around this house, with one route rising and the other descending.

Orvieto is a day trip from Rome, though we arrived from the opposite direction and stayed for a couple of nights. This meant that we got to enjoy diminished crowds in the evening and morning, and we saw few people on this walk away from the town center toward a spot with a view of the surrounding countryside.

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: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Winter Surf, Clearing Sky

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Winter Surf, Clearing Sky
“Winter Surf, Clearing Sky” — Skies clear above winter surf as a Pacific Coast storm dissipates.

This photograph of winter surf and clearing sky was the culmination of a day-long weather transition. We heard reports of record-high surf along the Pacific coast, so we headed right over to see it. When we arrived, the surf was huge, but it was raining, producing a dark and ominous scene. As the day wore on those clouds began to thin, and before long the sun began to poke through. By the time I made this photograph there was more sun than shadow.

The surf is the main character in this scene. As we watched from the shore, the waves rose to impressive heights in the distance, producing monumental spray as the crashed ashore. But the light was nearly as interesting. This close to the water, the mist-filled atmosphere had a glowing, luminous quality.

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: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Cranes, Morning Sky

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Two Cranes, Morning Sky
“Two Cranes, Morning Sky” — Two lesser sandhill cranes in flight against a morning sky.

If you follow my photographs, it is possible that you recall another photograph of these two cranes in morning sky a few weeks ago. Sometimes I use burst mode to photograph birds as they fly past. One advantage is that you have a better chance of getting that perfect moment when things happen quickly. However, a disadvantage is that you end up with a lot of photographs to review! When this pair flew over, out of perhaps a dozen frames there were two that I liked.

The photograph, and its near-twin, are slightly unusual for me. For one thing, I tend to include some landscape or foliage with the birds. But here it is just birds and sky, albeit with some lovely, fluffy clouds. The angle and color of the light were just about ideal. It was coming at a low angle from my right, where the sun was just over the horizon. As a result the warm, early light shone upwards onto the undersides of the birds.

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: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Meadowlark Song #2

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Meadowlark Song #2
“Meadowlark Song #2” — A meadowlark perches on a post and sings a New Year’s Day song.

As I recently posted, I am not a classic “birder.” I’m just a photographer who counts birds among the many subjects that fascinate me. Years ago I was originally drawn to flocks of birds — often consisting of thousands of geese — but over time I’ve become more interested in individuals. The meadowlark is a beautiful bird, not just visually, but also for its exuberant song.

This one posed on a fencepost near me back on a New Year’s Day adventure with the birds. I had been photographing geese and cranes, and was taking a break from that later in the day. I turned my attention to some of the smaller birds hanging out in brush and alongside the roadway I was using. I came slowly up to this meadowlark, hoping to avoid spooking it. It stuck around, posing and singing its song from its perch.

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 | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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