Tag Archives: columns

Photographs: Agriculture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel

Interior, Duomo di Siena

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Interior, Duomo di Siena
“Interior, Duomo di Siena” — An elevated view of the of the interior of the Duomo di Siena.

When we travel we prefer finding our own way over relying on guided travel. In our experience, a big part of the value of travel comes from things like feeling somewhat out of your element, encountering unanticipated things and events, and even just devoting some time to wandering. However, there are times and places when paying for guided access can get you to place that are otherwise inaccessible. That’s how we ended up on a guided tour of Siena’s Duomo, one that took us high up into the upper reaches of this remarkable structure.

I made the photograph on this tour. As we crossed over from one side of the roof area to the other we passed a portal into the cathedral, and it provided a remarkable perspective on the interior and, far below, the floor of the duomo. (One other advantage of this tour? It started well before the crowds arrived.)

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: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Couple at Windows, Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site

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Couple at Windows, Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site
“Couple at Windows, Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site” — A couple stands at the windows on an upper floor of the main building at the Sant Pau Art Nouveau Site, Barcelona.

I can be a somewhat naive traveler, though I think that embracing this can actually enhance the travel experience. Knowing too much ahead of time can lessen the impact of things and can even interfere with the possibility of spontaneous surprises that are some of the best travel moments. With that in mind, while we knew that we wanted to visit the Gaudi sites (Sagrada Família, etc.) in Barcelona, we were not as aware of other remarkable architectural sites, including several that also featured art nouveau design. This location, the former grounds of a hospital, was remarkable and surprising.

The grounds feature a large number of buildings in various states of restoration, ranging from some that are fully updated to a few where most of the work is yet to be done. But taken as a whole, the site is amazing. I’ll share more photos going forward. In this photograph, a couple looks through the windows on an upper floor of the main entry building, with a view toward the interior spaces of the property.

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: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Blue Column, Sagrada Familia

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Blue Column, Sagrada Familia
“Blue Column, Sagrada Familia” — A blue column lit by early evening light passing through colored glass windows, Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.

We visited the Gaudi-designed Sagrada Família in Barcelona last summer. The place was so visually striking that I honestly haven’t quite known what to do with the photographs, but I started digging into them recently. We are familiar with photographs of the remarkable exterior of the structure, but the interior is anrguably even more amazing. The amount of detail is nearly incomprehensible, and it is profoundly affected by the light coming through myriad stained glass windows and moving across its features.

We visited late in the afternoon, shortly before sunset — and I recommend this timing to others who may go. The sun was low in the sky when we entered, and colorful beams of light from the stained glass windows angled across the interior surfaces. Because it was late, the light was not static, instead changing constantly. Shafts of colored light moved slowly across the cathedral, striking various elements such as this column, illuminated by light coming through glue and yellow glass.

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.

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

Bar Ristorantino

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Bar Ristorantino
“Bar Ristorantino” — A couple of people sit at outside tables behind a bicycle rack, Bologna.

This photograph captures the comfortable yet ssometimes-cruffy character that we saw in Bologna. A couple of people sit at outside tables located under on of the ubiquitous porticos, between old, weathered columns. Racks hold bicycles, also common here, and an impromptu string of lights is ready for the evening hours.

Some Italian cities that we’ve visited, especially some smaller ones, have a sort of quaint charm. Others, perhaps like Milano, can present a kind of sophistication. In others, like Florence, history seems to be at the forefront. To me, Bologna feels a bit more rough-edged and unpretentious, but in an altogether pleasing way.

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.