Tag Archives: light

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

Church Doorway

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“Church Doorway” — A side doorway to a churc at Oxford University.

We spent one of our London days to leaving the city for a day trip to Oxford. Having enough time in London, we had planned to take a train to some nearby location at some point, and Oxford seemed like good choice. (We were possibly swayed by the fact that our oldest son had been there the previous week for work and had shared hiis impressions of the university.) So we got off the train in the mid-morning time frame and walked up into the town of Oxford.

It was surprisingly crowded! I suppose this was partly because we were part of the small crowd of people who arrived on the train and headed the same direction. There was also a Pride event taking place, including a parade that temporarily blocked our way — a fine excuse to stop and grab a bite to eat nearby. Eventually we managed to wander through areas of Oxford University, though many are relatively inaccessible given that it is an actual working university. We stopped in a couple of churches and chapels, and I made this photograph of light coming through an open back door at one of them.

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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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

Portico, University of Glasgow

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Portico, Univeristy of Glasgow
“Portico, University of Glasgow” — Among the stout columns and arches of a portico at the University of Glasgow.

This day started with a vague plan to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and perhaps go look for some of the famous Glasgow Street Art nearby. Some times we have very clear plans and sometimes we just wing it. This was one of the latter times. We walked to the museum from downtown Glasgow, and after our visit there decided to check out the nearby campus of the University of Glasgow, where I made this photograph.

Once we got close enough to the university to see its impressive old buildings and tower — very “Harry Potter-esque” — we knew we had to get closer and take a look. After making a few photographs outside the buildings I noticed a doorway and figured we might as well walk in and see what happened. (Depending on local regulations this may or may not be OK.) We entered and were soon in a large interior square, surrounding by the impressive buildings. These arches and columns supported a central wing separating two portions of the central open areas.

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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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Forest, Morning Fog

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Forest, Morning Fog
“Forest, Morning Fog” — Soft sunlight appears as morning fog begins to clear above a forested hillside, Santa Cruz Mountains.

One of my favorite kinds of light is found at “the edge of the light” —places that are neither in full sun nor fully shaded. Often I search out these spots, especially when fog is involved. The effect can range from subtle to quite striking when there are strong contrasts between deep shadow and light. Here there is an additional factor — not only are the foreground trees in a bit of that gentle light coming through the fog, but the more distant trees almost disappear into the thicker clouds.

We often hear something along the lines of, “photography is all about the light.” That’s not quite literally true in every case, but there’s no question that interesting light can turn an otherwise-mundane subject into something special. To be honest, this scene would not likely catch your attention at all in typical full sunlight nor in thicker fog — it is that glow on the foreground trees that makes it work.

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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Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Lichen-Covered Tree, Fog

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Lichen-Covered Tree, Fog
“Lichen-Covered Tree, Fog” — A lichen-covered tree near at the edge of the coastal morning fog lne.

Unless you have been living through our West Coast heat wave, you might not quite be able to imagine the glorious sense of relief to be standing in this spot on a recent morning. Anticipating another 100+ degree day, I got up early and drove over the mountains to the coast south of San Francisco, hoping for fog. I found it, along with temperatures as low as 55 degrees!

It was almost too foggy right on the coast, believe it or not, so I drove inland a bit to find that wonderful zone at the edge of the fog bank where the fog thins and soft light suffuses the landscape. I doubt that much of anyone would take much notice of this lichen-covered tree on a sunny day, much less stop to photograph it — but on this morning it represented everything that was lovely about this cool, foggy morning.

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 | Post | Email

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.