Tag Archives: monochrome

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

Alfama Steps

Image Leave a comment
Alfama Steps
“Alfama Steps” — Cobblestone steps wind between buildings in the Alfama, Lisbon.

We wandered quite a bit during our May visit to Lisbon this year. (This was part of a 6-week trip that took us to Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and New York City.) When I write “wandered,” I mean this quite literally — we frequently head out with only the vaguest idea of what we’ll explore. In this case, we knew we were headed to the Alfama district, but beyond that we would wing it.

The Alfama is full of narrow, twisty, and often steep streets — just the sort of place to wander slowly. Roughly speaking we first crossed a section of the lower reaches of the district, and then we turned and began climbing. Along the way, we took many detours. If a side street looked interesting we went that way. I made this photograph in a quiet, out of the way area, where steps led uphill between the closely-spaced buildings.

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

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: People, Photographs: Portugal, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Woman in Sunshine

Image Leave a comment
Womn in Sunshine
“Woman in Sunshine” — A woman looks upwards in the sunshine, Lisbon.

I made this photograph on our first foray in Lisbon during our visit this past May. If I recall correctly, after arriving late the previous night, we were up (and quite jet-lagged) and out the door to walk some of the surrounding streets. We joined the crowd and made our way down to the popular Praça do Comércio square.

I made this photograph quickly, since photographing such subjects happens in real time — there’s little opportunity to stop and carefully consider. There’s an element of serendipity in such photographs. The right person has to be in the right place and light at the right time, I have to be there, I have to look the right direction, and I have to react quickly.

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

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

Photographs: Albania, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Travel

Old Bridge and Water

Image Leave a comment
Old Bridge and Water, Valbona Valley
“Old Bridge and Water” — An old and very dilapidated wooden bridge across the Valbona River, Albania.

This is one more (and perhaps the last) of my photographs from our brief foray into the Albanian Alps and the Valbona Valley during the summer of 2023. To recap, we were staying in Kosovo for several days, and one day our family member from Kosovo took us all on a trip into these remarkable mountains. I made the photograph on our drive back to Kosovo.

We stopped along a curve in the river where a small mosque stood on the opposite bank, backed by the distant peaks far up the valley. We got out and walked around a bit, eventually venturing onto a bridge across the river. From that bridge we could look down on what I assume is a much older bridge, the one in this photograph. It looked like you probably still could cross it… but you probably would not want to try! The bridge fascinated me, but so did the perfectly clear mountain water flowing over the stones on the riverbed.

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

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

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

A Trogir Street

Image Leave a comment
A Trogir Street, Croatia
“A Trogir Street” — A person sits at outdoor tables along an empty street in Trogir, Croatia.

During the summer of 2023 we took a 10-week looping trip through parts of Europe. We concluded the trip with about a week and a half in Croatia. The first few days were spent in Dubrovnik, and then we moved on to the vicity of Trogir, not far from Split, where we joined a big group of extended family members. Being so close to historic Trogir, we spent a good amount of time there.

The old town of Trogir is picturesque enough that it is now very popular with tourists, for better or for worse. Much of the construction is of these very light colored stones — they are found in the buildings, the walls, and the streets and sidewalks. I photographed this scene while out on a little photo walk with my friend Franka M. Gabler who knows this area well.

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

Join the discussion — you are welcome to leave a comment or question. (Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately.)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)