Tag Archives: building

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: England, Photographs: Travel

Houses of Parliament

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Houses of Parliament
“Houses of Parliament” — The intricate facade of London’s Houses of Parliament on a cloudy day.

I made this quick photograph in London back in June, on the last full day of about four weeks of travel in (mostly) Scotland and England. We started this day by going to Westminster Cathedral. Patty has learned that you can visit many such churches simply by attending one of the regular church events. (For example, we attended evensong in York.) Advantages are that you don’t have to sign up for tickets or, in many case, pay a fee. (Though if they “pass the plate” it is appropriate to donate something, right?) However, you are expected to act as a person attending a church event, not a tourist snapping selfies! In any case, after visiting Westminster we walked back toward the Houses of Parliament.

Parliament is typically busy, with guards watching over all the entrances. But on this Sunday morning it was quiet and I don’t recall seeing anyone inside the fence. One other factor? The British snap election was about to happen, and I’m betting that every member of Parliament was out campaigning! In any case, we walked here. because I had a memory of a little pub on a nearby side street that we visited the very first time we were in London, and I wanted to see if we could locate it. And, yes, we did — just a few blocks further up the street.

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: England, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Borough Market Entrance

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Borough Market Entrance
“Borough Market Entrance” — People at one of the entrances to London’s Borough Market.

On many mornings London’s Borough Market can be a happening place. There are lots of visitors — people looking for a coffee or a quick bite, tourists wandering through just to see the place or pick up a souvenir, locals who actually shop for products from the vendors. We were there to grab a cup of coffee and maybe a pastry — though in the end we settled for just the coffee before moving on.

The physical layout of the place is fascinating — maybe almost the antithesis of a neatly laid-out market like the one in Porto, where the vendor stalls are arranged in straight aisles on a grid. Because odd angles intersect at Borough Market — where things align with small streets, major avenues, approaches to bridges, and odd spaces between buildings — the layout feels rather haphazard. Not that this is a problem, especially if you are happy to simply wander a bit.

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: Architecture, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Blue Frames

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Blue Frames
“Blue Frames” — An old stone building with blue frames around doors and windows, Stirling, Scotland.

The main focus of our visit to Scotland earlier this year was waking the Great Glen Way from Fort William to Inverness, but that hike only took up about a third of our visit. Before the walk we spent several nights adjusting to jet lag, including stays in Glasgow, Oban, and Fort William. After the walk we had a night in Inverness, and multiple nights in Stirling, Glasgow, and Edinburgh… before a bit more than a week in England. Stirling, where I made this photograph, was our first serious non-hiking destination after the walk.

Like so many old towns — and Stirling is very old — the construction materials often reflect what was available locally. Here many of the old buildings are stone — they have been updated for modern tenants, but their appearance is far from contemporary. I love interesting geometry and color, and this juxtaposition of old stone walls with the blue-painted frames around the doors and windows caught my attention. Looking more closely, you may also see the remnants of older openings that have been closed off.

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: Architecture, Photographs: England, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Oxford Pedestrians

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Oxford Pedestrians
“Oxford Pedestrians” — Pedestrians pass by an old buliding in Oxford, England.

We ended up taking a day trip by train to Oxford during our June visit to London. (This was the tail end of a longer trip that was mostly in Scotland.) We were in London long enough to feel like taking day trip was worthwhile, and our oldest son had just returned from a week of work in Oxford, so it was on our minds. We got up early, made our way to the train station, and were soon on the one-hour trip to the university town.

It is, of course, a popular day trip and there were lots of other visitors. It is interesting to consider the attractions of the place. The historic university is, of course, the main thing. But as much as the academic tradition is important, I think that the visuals of the town are a pretty big draw, too. It is full of these old buildings with their many intricate details. And let’s not forget the attraction of any place that evokes the popular Harry Potter imagery!

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