Tag Archives: dark

Santa Maria della Pieve Church, Arezzo

As I promised a while ago, there will be more photographs from our ten-weeks of Southern European travel in the summer of 2023. This one comes from the Italian town of Arezzo. This was one our stops in some smaller towns, and it was pleasant to have a bit of downtime between larger and better-known cities. This view shows the Santa Maria della Sieve church next to the Grande Piazza.

There were thunderstorms in the area on this afternoon, and when we arrived at the Grande Piazza the sky looked ominous. We planned to explore, perhaps checking out restaurant options before getting lunch. But within minutes the skies opened up and we made a run for the nearest place, where we got a table under an awning and watched the storm.


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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Two Walkers, Dogwood Tree

Two walkers pass a flowering dogwood tree in Central Park.

Two Walkers, Dogwood Tree. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Two walkers pass a flowering dogwood tree in Central Park.

Photos are temporarily being shared without additional commentary. Watch for commentary to resume in late 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.

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Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Three Ivy Leaves

Three Ivy Leaves
Three spring ivy leaves emerge from the shadows.

Three Ivy Leaves. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Three spring ivy leaves emerge from the shadows.

Ivy is among a group of (sometimes) shade-loving plants whose leaves intrigue me. The shapes, colors, and textures are immediately appealing, especially in soft light. But the complexity of their arrangement can make it difficult to find compositions. The beauty of the leaves makes me think it will be easy, but the complexity challenges me.

Here a few newer leaves stood out a bit from the darker background leaves — both because of their newness and because they were a bit forward and in the 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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Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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A Dark Corner

A Dark Corner
Boulders, fallen leaves, and a tree trunk in shadow along the base of a Yosemite Valley cliff.

A Dark Corner. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Boulders, fallen leaves, and a tree trunk in shadow along the base of a Yosemite Valley cliff.

I made this photograph in Yosemite Valley during the difficult midday hours — difficult because the light is not as intrinsically beautiful at this time of day. Out in the open it the can be harsh, and inside the forest’s shade too many light beams break through the canopy. But I don’t want to write off so many hours of the day, so I often continue to look for compositions, seeing out shading places, haze, and subjects with some kind of graphic quality.

In the early afternoon I took a lazy hike along the base of one of the great granite cliffs in the Valley. I wanted to visit a spot where I know water would meet the valley after cascading down granite cliffs. I hoped to go right to the base of the cascade… but there was too much water! So I wandered in a different direction and noticed this old, dark tree trunk in the shadow of giant boulder.


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 to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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