Tag Archives: old

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Northern California

Purple Larkspur

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Purple Larkspur
“Purple Larkspur” — Purple larkspur flowers, blooming in Northern California.

Recently I wrote — again! — about returning to unremarkable “special places” that probably don’t have any meaning to anyone but me. This photograph comes from one that I mentioned, a trail through a small ravine at a nearby country park. Every spring I go there to visit spots where I can photograph a few favorite wildflowers, including a particular little area where these Larkspur flowers bloom.

They are odd flowers, not like so many of the other popular spring wildflowers. Their color is dark, sometimes so dark that is is quite difficult to photograph them. (I try to find them when they are still in the shadows, and the soft light helps reveal details.) Because of the way they grow from a central stem, it can be challenging to make a composition out of them, much less get a plane of focus that lines up ideally with their dense details.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Germany, Photographs: Travel

Henkersteg, Pegnitz River

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Henkersteg, Pegnitz River, Nürnberg
“Henkersteg, Pegnitz River” — A covered bridge spans the Pegnitz River, Nürnberg, Germany

Walking around in Nürnberg on a day that began with slowly dissipating fog, I saw this scene as we crossed a bridge over the Pegnitz River. There is still a bit of the fog in the sky above the buildings, an old covered bridge crosses the water, and the buildings, bridge, and a few trees are reflected in the smooth surface of the river.

Often when photographing in a location like this I sometimes cannot determine the name of the subject or I photograph quickly and move on without checking. That was the case here, and it was only later that I used maps to locate the bridge and found out that it is called the “Henkersteg.” I understand that this roughy translates to “hangman’s bridge.” Additional reading suggests that it got the name because long ago the town hangman lived in a tower near one end of the bridge.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Germany, Photographs: Travel

Island, Pegnitz River

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Island, Pegnitz River, Nürnberg
“Island, Pegnitz River” — Bridges cross the Pegnitz River to an island, Nürnberg, Germany.

We visited Nürnberg, Germany this past December, picking the dates because that is when one of the biggest and best-known German Christmas markets takes place. Vendor booths are everywhere in the old center of the city, and crowds of people fill the streets, drinking gluhwein and buying food, trinkets and gifts from the vendors. It can get quite crowded but it is a lot of fun!

The area in the photograph was outside of the main market action. Here several bridges cross the Pegnitz River, and there is even a small island. We began to use the route through here on our walks between the central market and our hotel, and we enjoyed passing through this peaceful and quiet area.

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.

G Dan Mitchell: Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Germany, Photographs: Travel

Nürnberg Skyline

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Nürnberg Skyline
“Nürnberg Skyline” — A view across the old section of Nürnberg, Germany from near the IMperial Castle of Nürnberg.

This view is from the area around the Imperial Castle of Nürnberg, a prominent high point in central Nürnberg. Much of the terrain here seems flat, but from this high point one has longer views beyond the central old city area. The towers on the left belong to the historic Seboldskirche, but in the distance you can make out some much more modern structures.

,We had been at the famous Christmas market in the central square when we saw a street leading up toward the castle. We were actually unaware of the castle until we arrived there, so it was a fun surprise. (We like to not know too much when traveling, which lets us enjoy more discoveries on our own.) From here we wandered back down into town and ended up on side of the streets that are visible in the photograph.

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” from Heyday Books, is available directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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