Tag Archives: reflections

Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel

Arno River, Evening

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Arno River, Evening
The banks of the Arno River and the tower of the Basilica of Santa Croce in the evening, Florence.

Arno River, Evening. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

The banks of the Arno River and the tower of the Basilica of Santa Croce in the evening, Florence.

I made this photograph as we were walking back into town after joining the throngs for sunset at the Piazzale Michelango above Florence. We weren’t sure what to expect at that spot, but what a surprise! There were thousands of people up there, staying along the ramparts, sitting on the stairways, drinking wine, listening to music… all because of the view toward the western horizon over Florence and the Arno River. You might think, “tourist event,” but if you visit Florence you should go!

After sunset the party diminished (a little bit) and we headed back down the hill toward Florence and dinner. As we crossed one of the bridges over the river, Patty pointed out the reflections of the lights in the water, and this photograph is the result.

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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Morning Shoreline

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Morning Shoreline
Early morning light on the shoreline of a subalpine Sierra Nevada lake.

Morning Shoreline. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Early morning light on the shoreline of a subalpine Sierra Nevada lake.

There is a lot to see along the edges of virtually any backcountry Sierra Nevada lake. As I go though my mental inventory from many past trips I think of mornings and evenings looking straight into low sunlight, campsites (from back in the days when we still thought it was OK to camp near the water), hours spent sitting quietly among rocks and plants, slow circumnavigations of lakes, the marshy areas near inlets and outlets, the mountains rising above them, and more. We spent a week at this lake, which gave me a chance to see it in almost all of its moods.

This particular location has some significance to me. In a previous time, it was still acceptable to camp on the top of the rocky ledge at the left, and it was our “go to” spot to set up tents and bivy sacks back then. These days, the authorities have (wisely) placed that spot off limits for camping — too close to the water, too likely that colorful tents draw attention, and too little area. But we can still visit, and on this trip I used the spot to get an elevated perspective on the lake. I made this photograph in the morning, as the first direct light of the day was working its way across the landscape. Although the nearby face was still almost entirely in shadow, the further trees were catching that morning sun.

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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Photographs: San Francisco, Photographs: Urban/Street

Too Many Layers

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Too Many Layers
Multiple layers of reflections produce a complex whole.

Too Many Layers. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Multiple layers of reflections produce a complex whole.

The urban landscape can be quite complex and even deceptive. I think that we imagine it to be the most rational of landscapes, where everything is objectively “real” and describable. But when you begin to look more closely, if frequently isn’t quite what it seems to be. The surfaces of things are often elusive, and you may find yourself looking more at the reflections of other things than at the object you think you are viewing.

It is somewhat difficult to make sense of this image at all once you start looking closely. There are, obviously, things from the street — parts of automobiles, a bit of a crosswalk. But nothing in this scene is viewed directly — everything is a reflect, or a reflection of a reflection, or a reflection viewed through another reflection.

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: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Rock Islands, Alpine Lake

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Rock Islands, Alpine Lake
Boulders form small islands near the shoreline of a Sierra Nevada alpine lake.

Rock Islands, Alpine Lake. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Boulders form small islands near the shoreline of a Sierra Nevada alpine lake.

I made this photograph on a beautiful evening in a favorite Yosemite backcountry location featuring a small string of three sub-alpine lakes. The lowest is surrounded by forest, but this upper lake sits in a wide-open bowl at timberline and facing the western sky. This makes it a place of astonishingly colorful evening and sunset light when the conditions align.

As is my usual pattern, I had camped at the lower lake before wandering to the upper lake late in the day, planning to photograph along the shoreline. In fact I had in mind a particular treat that I wanted as my subject. After making a few pictures of it I headed out around the lake, where I made this photograph of “boulder islands” along the shoreline just as golden hour was beginning.

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.