Tag Archives: curtain

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

Man Sitting on Landing, Brick Wall

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Man Sitting on Landing, Brick Wall
Man Sitting on Landing, Brick Wall

Man Sitting on Landing, Brick Wall. New York, New York. August 19, 2011. © Copyright 2011 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

On a warm New York City evening, a man sits on the landing of a metal stairway on the exterior of a brick building.

We decided that we would visit the High Line Park in Chelsea early in our recent visit to New York City. Recalling some wonderful evening and sunset light at the park during last year’s visit, we had something like that in mind again on this visit… but that is not quite how it turned out. Although it had been sunny earlier, when we arrived at this location late in the day we could see very dark clouds building over on the New Jersey shoreline and beyond. Even though it was at least an hour and a half before sunset the light was dimming quickly, and we began to see large flashes of lightning in the sky to the west.

While the anticipated warm evening light would have been nice – and was when we returned a few days later – the softer light of these overcast conditions provided some advantages, too. Shooting toward the setting sun, as I would have been doing in this shot, can be tough on the High Line – but this soft light allowed me to more easily handle what would have otherwise been a real exposure challenge at this time of day. Just as we approached this building, the man emerged from the curtained doorway and provided a focal point to the photograph of this wall.

He is looking back over his shoulder for a very good reason. A few minutes after making this exposure – or perhaps sooner! – the lightning began to flash and the thunder began to boom directly overhead. We decided that the elevated park was no place to be in an electrical storm, and we quickly found a way back down to street level as sprinkles started. By the time had headed a block to the east, looking for a place to eat, the wind began to howl and the skies let loose a tremendous downpour, forcing us to choose a restaurant on the basis of proximity rather than reputation!

G Dan Mitchell Photography
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Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Front Porch with Flower Pots

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Front Porch with Flower Pots
Front Porch with Flower Pots

Front Porch with Flower Pots. San Jose, California. January 1, 2010. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

The front porch of an old suburban home with a row of flower pots and a garden hose.

Switching gears more than a bit from the recent Big Sur photographs, here comes a series of urban landscapes shot on a New Years Day walk not far from my home. I shot these in old-school style, wandering around carrying only a full-frame body with a 50mm prime. (OK, I don’t have a Leica, but this comes close enough for me.) I’m not really a big fan of the one-lens approach, but I do find it to be a fun diversion sometimes, partly because it makes me look at photographic subjects a bit differently and partly because it makes for a much smaller and lighter kit.

I’m not quite certain what caught my attention about this house, though several things might have contributed. You cannot see it from the photograph, but this one residence sits on a very busy four-lane thoroughfare among a bunch of businesses – that may have been one thing that drew me to it. The color caught my eye as well, as did the row of flower pots on the porch and the very bright green of the hose. I also like the overall geometry of the scene.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Weathered White House, Pescadero

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Weathered White House, Pescadero

Weathered White House, Pescadero. Pescadero, California. June 30, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A weathered old house along the main road in Pescadero, California.

I know I’m not the only photographer who is a sucker for old, weathered rural buildings. I had been over at the coast trying to photograph seascapes, and I decided to stop in at this town just inland before heading home. I drove past this place once. I turned around and drove past it a second time. I finally gave in, turned back and pulled over, and made a few exposures before starting my return drive. (Note to JW – this is one of the photos that I did think of as a black and white image at the time I made the exposure.)

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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