Tag Archives: brown

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

Fond Antico

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Fond Antico
“Fond Antico” — Diffused light on the shaded facades of buildings along a narrow Bologna street.

I photographed this bit of Bologna architecture on a “random walk” during our 2023 summer visit. In the morning we headed out with no particular destination in mind, just expecting to wander and see what we might discover. We had a vague plan to start near the two famous towers not far from the central piazza, and then we just kept going until we came to the edge of the old part of the town. We turned around and began to improvise a different route back.

I can’t tell you exactly where I made this photograph, since by this time we were following our instincts rather than a map. We changed directions as we saw interesting things, and our route was anything but direct. I was first intrigued by the arched doorways on this building, but the light also fascinated me. The combination of reddish earth tones and light reflected from other buildings on the narrow street reminds me of walking the narrow canyons of the American Southwest.

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

Bologna Portico

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Bologna Portico
“Bologna Portico” — A man walks in the shade of a portico, Bologna, Italy.

We do a lot of wandering when we travel, including “random walks” in the cities we visit. On this day we simply headed out, picked a direction, and walked until it fell like time to turn around and head back. We stayed in central Bologna, the old part of the city, and an area without much vehicle traffic. On much of the walk we followed these porticos, which travel under extensions of the buildings.

The porticos are a characteristic feature of Bologna, and I understand that they have a very long history. Centuries ago, as the population of the city increased, residents extended the upper floors of buildings over the streets. Eventually the structures needed the support of the columns. Today, what began as a way to produce more living space makes the street more livable, too, since the porticos provide shelter from the weather, in particular the heat of Italian summer.

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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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Winter Plants

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Winter Plants
“Winter Plants” —Dormant winter plants await spring alongside a Central Valley road.

I like to photograph in California’s Central Valley during the dark and foggy part of the year — roughly from November through the first half of March. (There are some distinctly non-dark days during this period, too.) With the exception of grasses, which start to green up in California during the winter, this is largely a season of dormant plants. As I pass through these wetland areas I’m always intrigued by the forms of these plants, especially when backed by or reflected by the water.

I was out there to photograph birds, but during quieter moments I turned my attention to these plants. Most of them don’t make for good photographs — they have busy backgrounds, they are too thick, or their shapes just aren’t quite right. But every so often I find a specimen that has managed to take on a graceful, even flowing shape.

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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Photographs: Agriculture, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Winter Corn Stalks

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Winter Corn Stalks
“Winter Corn Stalks” — Winter corn stalks, with the crop left behind.

This is where I should share a corny joke, maybe one about stalkers. Sorry… What we have here is a photograph of a corn field that is maintained all the way into the new year. Why are these stalks still standing on New Year’s Day, and why has the corn not been harvested? This crop is grown to provide feed to migrating waterfowl.

Over the next month or two, before the birds begin to depart the California Central Valley for distant summer homes, the stalks will be gradually knocked down so that the birds can feed on the corn. On our visit we passed this spot when the midday bird activity had declined, so I paused next to the field and made a few photographs of these textures, shapes, and colors.

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.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

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