Tag Archives: dark

Fern and Rocks

Fern and Rocks
“Fern and Rocks” — A fern plant grows from cracks in a rock wall, Hakone Gardens.

This is another photograph from our visit to the Hakone Gardens here in the San Francisco Bay Area. We went in the early evening on spring day when the garden was open to celebrate cherry blossom season. The sun was still up when we got there, but during our visit the light transited through sunset to twilight.

The garden is packed with fascinating details, accessible by winding paths that climb and descend the property. later in the evening we climbed to one of the higher points and I stopped to photograph these ferns in fading light.


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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Dark Passage With Scooter

Dark Passage With Scooter
“Dark Passage With Scooter” — A scooter parked in a dark passageway with a door to a garden, Orvieto.

This little photograph from Orvieto, Italy captures a common sight here and in other parts of Europe — a passageway extending from the street toward a private, enclosed area, which may often contain a garden. These views are always intriguing, suggesting a world beyond the street that is private and not open to passers-by.

They are not always impossible to visit. In Sevilla, Spain we stayed in a small hotel that very definitely embodied the Moorish influence that is so prevalent there. The facility enclosed such a central courtyard, with a fountain, plants, and tables and chairs — a private place that seems pleasantly isolated from the nearby streets.


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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Lake Manly Shoreline, Desert Mountains

Typically I might simply not attempt to photograph this scene. The glaring sunlight, while somewhat filtered by the clouds, was brightly lighting the white sand deposits along the shoreline of Lake Manly. Distance, haze, and backlight combined to mute the details of the Panamint Mountains. And this light was harsh, not the softer light of early morning or evening. But somehow I felt that the composition and the drama of the light and atmosphere held some promise.

The salt deposits reminded me of important things about this valley. They were a reminder — as is the water of ephemeral Lake Manly — that water played a major role in the formation of this place. And, as high as the water of the lake was at this moment, the yet higher salt deposits made it clear that this is not an unprecedented thing, and that even higher lake levels are still probably possible.


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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Ristorante-Pizzeria, Venice

We spent time in Venice during our summer 2023 travels. We had been to Italy before but — it is almost embarrassing to admit — we had bypassed Venice. We had mixed feelings: On one hand, it is notorious for the throngs of tourists that pack the place during the summer months. On the other hand, it is Venice! So we went, and we’re very glad we did.

We (and by “we” I refer to Patty, who is a master planner) managed to find a wonderful little place to stay that was in a quiet corner of the city. Even during the busy hours there was never a tourist crush there, and in the evening and early morning it was downright quiet — even though the busy places began only minutes away. I made this photograph on an evening walk down one of the famously narrow Venice passageways, pointing the camera down an even smaller side passage toward this restaurant.


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 | PostEmail

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.