Tag Archives: shadow

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

Horse Stencil, Walls

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Horse Stencil, Walls
“Horse Stencil, Walls” — A stencil of a horse at a place where two walls meet in Siena, Italy.

Some years back, in the pre-pandemic era, we spent a bit more than a week in Tuscany. It was quite a trip — we mostly stayed with and traveled with family. We spent a week in the Chianti hills at a villa where our oldest son and our daughter-in-law exchanged wedding vows. We also managed to very briefly visit Florence (barely more than one day) and Siena (literally a few hours). Needless to say, that was only enough to make us want to return for longer visits — which we did this summer.

This time we had three nights in Siena, where we stayed in a little place just minutes from the Piazza del Campo, the famous central plaza. If you have been following along, by now you know that our mode of travel is a bit different. We do see some of the Big Sights (and Sites), but we also spend a lot of time just walking and wandering and getting the feel for the place. As a result, we sometimes end up with photographs of small things that you might miss on a more hurried visit — like this little stencil of a horse near the meeting of two walls along a Siena walkway.

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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

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Photographs: Nature

In Forest Shade

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In Forest Shade
Buds emerge on a plant growing in deep forest shade.

In Forest Shade. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Buds emerge on a plant growing in deep forest shade.

Photos are temporarily being shared without additional commentary. Watch for commentary to resume in late summer.

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: Northern California, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: Yosemite

Spring Flood, Upper Yosemite Fall

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Spring Flood, Upper Yosemite Fall
Upper Yosemite Fall near the peak of the 2023 spring snowmelt runoff.

Spring Flood, Upper Yosemite Fall. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Upper Yosemite Fall near the peak of the 2023 spring snowmelt runoff.

After many years photographing this Valley and seeing photographs others have made there, I often look for subjects other than the iconic waterfalls, domes and peaks. It isn’t that I’m not interested — it is just that I’m not sure the world needs (yet) another straight-on photograph of “that thing” in the same, familiar light. So, despite the fact that the flow over the waterfalls was near historic levels during my late-May visit, I didn’t make many waterfall photographs. But I did make this one.

It was mid-afternoon and the light was mostly “plain vanilla.” But clouds were forming east of the Valley and moving west, producing some interesting shadows. Upper Yosemite Fall was in full sunlight when I set up my camera, thinking about how I might silhouette those trees against the flood of the waterfall. But soon those cloud shadows began to darken the granite faces, and for a brief moment a narrow shaft of light lit the waterfall, set against the darker cliffs.

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: Death Valley, Photographs: Desert, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Southern California

Morning Dunes

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Morning Dunes
Sand dunes and shadows in early morning light.

Morning Dunes. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Sand dunes and shadows in early morning light.

Sand dunes provide an endless laboratory for experimenting with curves, light, shadow, and texture. To the best of my memory, I have never failed to photograph then during a visit to Death Valley National Park, and some of the dunes have become old friends. But that long familiarity doesn’t eliminate surprises, and I discover something new on every visit.

I photographed this scene on a late-March morning, back when the weather in the region was still more like winter than summer. In fact, this clear and pleasant morning was a bit of an exception, and we encountered snow, high winds, and rain at other points during our visit.

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.