Tag Archives: man

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Ponte De Le Bande, Evening

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Ponte De Le Bande, Evening
A couple sits at the edge of a Venice canal next to the Ponte de le Bande in the evening.

Ponte De Le Bande, Evening. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A couple sits at the edge of a Venice canal next to the Ponte de le Bande in the evening.

This photograph comes from an evening walk in Venice back in August. Looking back on it, I’m still surprised that I managed to find a break in the usual stream of humanity across bridges like this one. It was evening, and things do quiet down at night, but it isn’t all that late. It is pretty likely that I made the photograph quickly while passing, and I’d be willing to bet that seconds after I made it other people entered the scene.

Dealing with crowds in Venice and similar places — as a photographer or just plain as a visitor — is a complex subject. (Some might simplify it by simply staying away at the worst times of the year, but we did not have that option.) To some extent, it is possible to embrace the intense energy of the masses of people, but that can be both distracting and overwhelming. But late at night or — even better — very early in the morning the crowds melt away to nearly nothing. One early morning in Venice I walked through one of the most crowded locations, and it was almost empty.

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: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Venice Restaurant, Evening

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Evening Restaurant, Venice
Patrons sit outside at a Venice restaurant on a summer evening.

Venice Restaurant, Evening. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Patrons sit outside at a Venice restaurant on a summer evening.

When we visited Venice in August we stayed perhaps no more than a five-minute walk from this spot. Our little hotel was in a quiet corner without the tourist hubbub that characterizes the most popular areas of this city, but we were only a few minutes away from busier areas. As we walked to them we often passed through the square where this restaurant is located as we headed to a bridge across a canal. It was an interesting place, but until this evening I never quite saw how I wanted to photograph it.

We had been out late — I don’t recall the details now, but it probably involved looking for a place to eat late dinner. For some reason I was “in the zone” for night photography on this evening, and I carried my small camera as we walked, making spontaneous photographs along the way. We were headed back toward our hotel, and after we crossed that familiar bridge I spotted the table set up outside this restaurant, mostly illuminated by light spilling out from the indoor seating area, and I made a couple of quick exposures as we passed by.

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.

Photographs: Night, Photographs: Portugal, Photographs: Urban/Street

La Tranquera

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La Tranquera
A couple dines outdoors at La Tranquera on a summer night in Cordoba, Spain.

La Tranquera. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A couple dines outdoors at La Tranquera on a summer night in Cordoba, Spain.

We spend two nights in Cordoba, Spain. We did not want to miss the famous mosque-cathedral, and we also wanted to include a few places that were not Madrid or Barcelona on our itinerary in the country. In terms of the weather, our timing might have been better — in this often-hot place we had temperatures of up to 111 F. That’s too hot! The Spanish practice of knocking off for the afternoon and coming back out in the evening made a whole lot of sense.

On this evening, if I remember correctly, we had been out for a late dinner and were taking a somewhat indirect route back to our hotel. It seemed like every little restaurant and bar was open, and lots of people were in the streets.

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 | Facebook | Email

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.

Photographs: New York City, Photographs: People, Photographs: Urban/Street

On Patrol

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On Patrol
A serious-looking New York policeman standing against a sunlit wall on Fifth Avenue.

On Patrol. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A serious-looking New York policeman* standing against a sunlit wall on Fifth Avenue.

By now, I almost feel like I know this officer — since I have shared two previous photographs of the guy. The fact that I have so many is indicative of his, uh, relatively low level of active patrol efforts. To be fair, it was a nice sunny spot, and if I were him I probably would have lingered there, too. Plus it was a great spot from which to watch the Columbus Day parade passing by.

Although he didn’t move more than a couple of feet while I watched him, he did engage with his surroundings. I watched a back-slapping exchange with a passerby that he seemed to know. He was observing, and at one point he was aware that I was photographing. His demeanor has changed a bit in this photograph. In the earlier version his legs are crossed and he’s actually leaning on the wall. Perhaps I made this after he saw me? Now he stands erect, looking intently into the street scene.

*Update: I originally referred to the subject as a “NYPD” officer. Several people who are more familiar with that subject than I suggest that he may actually be a private security guard. I’ve altered the description here to account for that.

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 | Facebook | Email

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.