Tag Archives: metal

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Borch’s Iron Works and Machine Shop

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BorchsIronWorks20090104.jpg

Borch’s Iron Works and Machine Shop. San Jose, California. January 4, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Borch’s Iron Works and Machine Shop – old metal shop building in the downtown area of San Jose, California.

This spare old metal-sided shop building is in a light industrial area in downtown San Jose, near the arena. In early January I wandered past here while on foot photographing city subjects. I liked the very simple shape and yellow color of this building, and the contrast with the intense blue of the late afternoon sky.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: afternoon, building, california, city, county, downtown, evening, san jose, santa clara, urban, structure, industrail, street, shop, metal, corrugated, roof, trees, blue, yellow, sky, clouds, parking lot, asphalt, sign, borches, iron works, machine shop, wires, sun, light, usa, stock

Photographs: Urban/Street

Will Call

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Will Call

Will Call. San Jose, California. December 26, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Roll-up industrial loading dock garage door with the words “will call” with column, sidewalk, leaves, and afternoon light – San Jose, California.

This minimalist scene was also photographed on my December 26 urban walk to and around parts of downtown San Jose with my son. The light on this shaded loading dock garage door is reflected from tall apartment buildings in full sun on the opposite side of the street.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

keywords: roll, up, door, wall, column, sign, will call, metal, cement, stucco, sidewalk, leaves, paint, blue, aqua, tan, urban, industrial, street, factory, warehouse, downtown, san jose, california, usa, pattern, texture, stock, garage, dock, loading

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Brick Wall, Pipes, and Stairway

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“Brick Wall, Pipes, and Stairway” — Weathered, brick wall, pipes, stairway, and sidewalk .

I found this surprising scene along a loading dock in an older light industrial section of downtown San Jose. I’m always attracted to brick walls, but the wild color combination of the natural brick, the gaudy but weathered paint on the pipes, and the rusted metal of the stairway caught my attention. There are some other smaller and subtler details that probably are only visible in the print.

(Update, 2026) This is an example of the sort of thing I find to photograph on my frequent walks near where I live. There’s actually a lot to see without traveling great distances, and regularly photographing my surroundings helps me keep my “seeing” skills tuned up.

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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.
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Photographs: Death Valley, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Building Detail, Bodie

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Building Detail, Bodie
Building Detail, Bodie
“Building Detail, Bodie” — An old building in the Bodie ghost town.

Yes, there really is snow falling in this photo. You might be able to see it a bit if you click on the thumbnail to see the somewhat larger size. I was caught – somewhat pleasantly – by surprise when I encountered this rather cold weather at the end of May in 2006.

Update 2025: Bodie is a large ghost town east of the Sierra Nevada that is a California State park. The place is maintained in state of arrested decay — not restored to be like new, but not allowed to decay and disappear like typical ghost towns. It is located in pretty tough country — the sagebrush desert of the western edge of Basin and Range territory. It can be very hot and dry out here in the summer, but it is also one of the coldest places in the West in the winter. On this visit I caught a surprise late-season light snowfall.

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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.