Tag Archives: heritage

I Choose Culture

I Choose Culture
A man wearing a jacket with the “I Choose Culture” slogan watches that New York Columbus Day Parade pass by.

I Choose Culture. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A man wearing a jacket with the “I Choose Culture” slogan watches the New York Columbus Day Parade.

After five days chasing New England autumn color, we spent a couple of nights in Manhattan. The photograph comes from a morning walk through midtown Manhattan before headed to the airport to fly back to the West Coast. This couple was up against the barricades, watching the “Columbus Day” parade up Fifth Avenue. In addition to the catchy phrase on the man’s jacket, the light was quite special, with reflections coming into the street from almost all directions.

Wandering along the parade route we got a look at a large cross section of the cultures on Manhattan. It is one of the most diverse places I’ve been, in almost every way — ethnically, locals and tourists, rich and poor, you name it. There’s even more political diversity than some would have you believe, with a fair number of rather conservative elements showing up and and in the parade. One surprise — Rudy Giuliani was standing at the front of one of the floats!


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.

Flag Vendor, Manhattan

Flag Vendor, Manhattan
A flag vendor at the 2022 New York City “Columbus Day” Parade.

Flag Vendor, Manhattan. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A flag vendor at the 2022 New York City “Columbus Day” Parade.

This photograph comes from a midday walk through part of the vast and vibrant cultural smorgasbord that is New York City. There was a time when I imagined that this place would not interest this landscape guy from California. But I was very, very wrong about that. I love New York City, in part because of the contrast with other places I know so well. But it is simply an exciting place with no end of things to see, places to eat, spots to hang out, cultures to experience.. On this October morning we went for a walk from our Upper West Side hotel, crossed Central Park to the Upper East Side, then wandered south until we encountered the Columbus Day Parade, where I photographed this sidewalk vendor.

I’m often surprised and discouraged when I encounter Americans who are fearful to the point or irrationality that they might encounter someone not quite like themselves, and that this might endanger or harm them. So often, it seems, the most fearful people have the least experience around these “others.” I’ve also visited some of the locations with high percentages of Americans who fear immigrants and people of color… and for the most part they are places where the likelihood of actually encountering those folks is low to nearly nonexistent. Why is it that the most fearful people are in those places, while in places where multicultural America is at its most diverse and vibrant this is largely not the case?


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.