Tag Archives: filter

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: France, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Travel

Hallway, The Louvre

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Hallway, The Louvre
Light filtiering through windows into a hallway, the Louvre, Paris.

Hallway, The Louvre. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Light filtiering through windows into a hallway, the Louvre, Paris.

One of my little secrets is that when I visit museums, the collections are not the only reason I’m there. Among other reasons, I like to photograph them. They are compelling spaces in so many ways. Although not evident in this photograph, they are great places to observe people individually and in groups, and the buildings themselves are often visually interesting. That’s no surprise since they are created from a perspective that gives great importance to visual effect and to light.

I’m betting that this is far, far from the most photographed thing at The Louvre! It is just a section of hallway near, if my memory is correct, an escalator. But the light coming through these windows was lovely, so I made a photograph. Here’s a secret: I shared a much different interpretation of of this scene previously. That version is in black and white and in it I took greater liberties with the qualities of the light and shadow.

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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Equipment, Reader Questions, Technique

Reader Questions — March 10, 2017

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Photographers write to me with questions, and I always try to reply. In many cases I prefer to reply here on the website so that others who may have the same questions can see the answers, too. Today I’m going through a backlog of questions on a variety of topics: neutral density filters, photographing in Utah, the Canon 5DsR, use of photographs by non-profits.

Pete writes: Dan enjoy your website! Question:Have the Mark III – May get the 5DSR – Has anyone used the 5DSR with Neutral Density Filters 6,10,15 etc.. and what have been the times -lengths – and outcomes? Any noise issues? Other problems noted?

Thanks for writing, Pete. I use a 10-stop neutral density (ND) filter sometimes and I use the 5DsR… but so far I haven’t used the two together! That said, I can’t think of any problems that would be specific to the use of these filters on the 5DsR. I do have experience using the 5DsR with much longer exposure times for night photography, and it works quite well for that.

For those who don’t know, the very dark 5-10 stop and more ND filters can be used to extend the exposure time in daylight conditions. Depending on the filter and your aperture choice you could get 30 second or long exposures. Their use presents a few challenges: Continue reading Reader Questions — March 10, 2017 →

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Morning Forest

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Morning Forest
Morning Forest

Morning Forest. Lake Tahoe, California. June 21, 2014. © Copyright 2014 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Morning light filters through forest trees near the shore of Lake Tahoe

Although we were not at Lake Tahoe primarily for photography, and although the previous day had been a busy one — a long drive and a wedding! — I got up before dawn and headed out to see what the morning light might bring. Shortly after 5:00 AM I was out and driving south along the west shore of Lake Tahoe. (Note to others visiting the lake: Get up early! It is beautify and almost no one else is out yet, turning this usually crowded place into one of near solitude.)

The light was tricky. High clouds were in the sky above the mountains along the far, eastern side of the lake, and the early sun was mostly blocked by them. But the clouds were not solid, and as I headed south I started to see sun breaks, and pools of light traveled across the landscape of the west side of the lake, separated by bands of shadow. As I passed this otherwise nondescript spot, a bit of beautiful backlight shone through the trees, so I quickly pulled over… and the light immediately went dark! But soon it returned, and I had found composition that included these sparse trees set in a small valley below me, and I was ready to make this photograph.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Evening Forest, Yosemite Valley

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Evening Forest, Yosemite Valley
Evening Forest, Yosemite Valley

Evening Forest, Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park, California. May 4, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Early evening light filters through forest, Yosemite Valley, California.

I’m probably not alone in loving the early evening forest light, as the sun’s light filters horizontally between the trees just prior to dropping below the horizon or nearby ridges. As I wandered along looking for dogwood blooms, I passed a section where the forest thinned a bit beyond the nearest trees, and allowed a bit more light to hit the trees. I only had a few moments to make this photograph before the light ended.

This is one of many examples of how the light changes everything. In the middle of the day these trees would seem gray and the light would be harsh – dark shadows would make it very difficult to photograph in an interesting way. But here the light coming from behind the dogwood leaves and brush makes it glow, and the late-day warm color of the light turns those gray trees all sorts of interesting shades of brown.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
Blog | About | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | 500px.com | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.