Photographs: New York City, Photographs: People, Photographs: Urban/Street

Balloon Vendor

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Balloon Vendor
A Manhattan street vendor selling balloons.

Balloon Vendor. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A Manhattan street vendor selling balloons.

There was a lot going on in the vicinity of this colorful little Manhattan scene. It was a few days after Christmas, during the period between then and New Year’s Day when it seems that tourists and other visitors take over the sidewalks and streets of New York City, at least in the most popular areas. This is one of those areas, right near Rockefeller Center. Basically, the sidewalks were packed with people and at times it was difficult to move forward.

Along this block there were many street vendors, selling the usual assortment of Manhattan items: cheap knock-off watches, umbrellas and warm hats, food, souvenir shirts, and balloons. The balloons, leaning into the passing crowd, were quite a colorful diversion. That aside, as I see the street vendors I always wonder who they are, how they make a living doing this, and what sort of lives they must lead… and how all of that fits together in a place like Manhattan.

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 and Amazon.

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

Dusk Sky, Snow-Capped Mountains

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Dusk Sky, Snow-Capped Mountains
Brighltly colored dusk clouds above the snow-capped Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park

Dusk Sky, Snow-Capped Mountains. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Brighltly colored dusk clouds above the snow-capped Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park

This year I made my first photography foray back to Death Valley in mid-January. From my perspective, the season for this place lasts from about November until the first few weeks of April in a typical year, the period when the temperatures range between cold-to-comfortable and not-quite-yet-unbearably hot. My favorite time to go is when it is still truly winter, and especially at times where few others are there. I timed this trip correctly for the winter weather, but I neglected to consider that my trip crossed into a three-day weekend — and there were crowds. It took me longer than expected to settle into a campsite, and by the time I was able to head out for photography it was later than I had planned.

I decided to head toward a nearby area that I now pretty well, saving more distant explorations for the following days. I went to an area where I had an unobstructed view of the Panamint Range (one of those place I would soon visit). In winter, these “desert mountains” are often quite wintry, and during this visit they were covered in snow. I made this photograph, with the mountains already becoming dark, as the last brilliant light colored the western sky.

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 and Amazon.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Blue Window

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Blue Window
A blue window and a reflective wall, Manhattan

Blue Window. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A blue window and a reflective wall, Manhattan

The circumstances of making this photograph are a bit… unusual. We had the opportunity to enter a building in Manhattan that probably not too many people visit. (I’ll keep the identity anonymous for now. Don’t worry, nothing conspiratorial or anything…) It is an old structure not too far from Grand Central Station. Of course, I had my camera with me, and I took the opportunity to photograph some of the classic architectural features inside. At one point I, uh, had to visit a “very small room” in the building for a moment. This very small room was illuminated by the quite blue light coming from outside. So, naturally, I had to make a photograph. Yes, I was the only person in “the very small room.”

There are lots of ways to look at a photograph like this one, and it could be “about” any of several things. It is about blue, transmitted through glass, reflected on walls, and fading from light to dark. It is about texture — of “obscured glass,” of painted wall, and of reflective tile. I enjoy defocusing from the literal scene and letting the the actual windows and their reflection combine into a larger shape, and create an imagined virtual object on the wall.

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 and Amazon.

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

Geology Lesson #2

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Geology Lesson #2
Complex patterns of strata and erosion, Death Valley National Park

Geology Lesson #2. © Copyright 2020 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Complex patterns of strata and erosion, Death Valley National Park.

This photograph is #2 because I have another photograph of this same scene, framed a bit differently. It is called “Geology Lesson” because… well, just look at it! There are so many layers — the literal layers of strata themselves, and the temporal layers of the effects of things that happened on extremely long time scales (the colorful layers of material laid down long ago and then twisted and bent) and more recent layers created by erosion.

Despite having a character that I find quite impressive, this particular spot is not one that usually rates more than a glance from park visitors, even though it lies between some very accessible and well known locations. In fact, I was driving past it on my way to another spot on this evening when I happened to look this direction and spot the juxtaposition of patterns. I quickly turned around and came right back, took out my gear, set up, and made a few photographs as soft evening light began to fade.

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 and Amazon.

Blog | About | 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.

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