Tag Archives: gate

“L” Station Entrance, Chicago

"L" Station Entrance, Chicago
“‘L’ Station Entrance, Chicago” — Entrance to a Chicago “L” transit system station.

We spent a few days in Chicago just before last Thanksgiving. You may wonder why a couple of Californians would choose to leave their 70 degree climate and travel the frigid Chicago at that time of year. It is a long story — but we enjoyed our visit and had a great time. No, it did not snow. Yes, it was cloudy and gray most of the time, but when the sun did peak through the clouds the light was beautiful.

We spent most of our visit within the confines of the downtown “loop” area, walking to all of the places we wanted to visit — Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Magnificent Mile, the Symphony and the Opera. By walking we got up close and personal with this urban city, including some distinctly non-tourist attractions like this entrance to the subway system.


Leave a comment or question using the form. (Click the title to see the full article and to comment if you are viewing it on the home page.)

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” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Plaza de España Entry

Playa de España Entry
“Plaza
”Plaza de España Entry” — An entry to the Plaza de España, Sevilla.

Sevilla (or “Seville,” in English) is one of the most magical and pleasant cities we visited in Spain during the summer of 2023. We stayed in the old part of the town, not far from the Catedral de Sevilla, and our hotel was on a street barely wide enough for people to pass one another. There was so much to see nearby that we restricted our visit to places to which we could walk. And one of those walks took us to the Maria Luisa Park and the Plaza de España.

The Plaza de España features a large central plaza backed by an impressive curved building that was constructed for an International Exposition a century ago. The photograph is just inside an entrance near the south tower of the structure, and the forms and beautiful light spoke to my fascination with those subjects.


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.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)


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

Cargas Gate

Cargas Gate
A red metal gate with ivy and a chain lock, Porto.

Cargas Gate. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A red metal gate with ivy and a chain lock, Porto.

When we travel and visit new cities we have an approach that might seem disorganized to some people. While we usually do have a short list of “must see” things, we don’t usually join tours and we have a lot of unscheduled time. We use that time to… just wander, get lost, follow hunches. There are some downsides to this, of course, but the upside is that we find a lot of obscure and smaller things that can get lost in a rush to “see all of the important things.”

This photograph might serve as an example. I really doubt that there is a tour guide anywhere that says, “Be sure to visit the gate inscribed with the word ‘cargas.’!” Heck, I’m not even sure that I could find it again if you set me down in Porto… and the lovely ivy leaves probably would not look the same anyway. We happened to pass this subject while out on a more or less random walk through areas of Porto in the Centro Historic and Ribeira districts.


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 | Twitter | Flickr | FacebookEmail

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

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)


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

Calero Hills Spring Scene

Calero Hills Spring Scene
An old gate and fence in the wildflower-dotted landscape of the Calero Hills.

Calero Hills Spring Scene. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

An old gate and fence in the wildflower-dotted landscape of the Calero Hills.

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.

Blog | About | Twitter | Flickr | FacebookEmail

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

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)


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