Tag Archives: university

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: England, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Oxford Pedestrians

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Oxford Pedestrians
“Oxford Pedestrians” — Pedestrians pass by an old buliding in Oxford, England.

We ended up taking a day trip by train to Oxford during our June visit to London. (This was the tail end of a longer trip that was mostly in Scotland.) We were in London long enough to feel like taking day trip was worthwhile, and our oldest son had just returned from a week of work in Oxford, so it was on our minds. We got up early, made our way to the train station, and were soon on the one-hour trip to the university town.

It is, of course, a popular day trip and there were lots of other visitors. It is interesting to consider the attractions of the place. The historic university is, of course, the main thing. But as much as the academic tradition is important, I think that the visuals of the town are a pretty big draw, too. It is full of these old buildings with their many intricate details. And let’s not forget the attraction of any place that evokes the popular Harry Potter imagery!

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: Architecture, Photographs: Scotland, Photographs: Travel

Portico, University of Glasgow

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Portico, Univeristy of Glasgow
“Portico, University of Glasgow” — Among the stout columns and arches of a portico at the University of Glasgow.

This day started with a vague plan to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and perhaps go look for some of the famous Glasgow Street Art nearby. Some times we have very clear plans and sometimes we just wing it. This was one of the latter times. We walked to the museum from downtown Glasgow, and after our visit there decided to check out the nearby campus of the University of Glasgow, where I made this photograph.

Once we got close enough to the university to see its impressive old buildings and tower — very “Harry Potter-esque” — we knew we had to get closer and take a look. After making a few photographs outside the buildings I noticed a doorway and figured we might as well walk in and see what happened. (Depending on local regulations this may or may not be OK.) We entered and were soon in a large interior square, surrounding by the impressive buildings. These arches and columns supported a central wing separating two portions of the central open areas.

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: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Fabrica-Real de Tabacos

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Fabrica-Real de Tabacos
“Fabrica-Real de Tabacos” — Hand-painted sign at the historic Sevilla tobacco factory building.

The site of this historic “tobacco factory” was a short walk from our lodgings and along the route to the Maria Luisa Park, so we made a point to find a route that passed it. You might wonder about the significance of a… tobacco factory, but there’s a lot of fascinating history to the place. One bit that we were already aware of is the connection to Bizet’s opera, Carmen. Bizet’s libretto was adapted from an earlier story inspired by the women who were employed here. As they say on those TV ads, ” But wait, there’s more!”

While working on the photograph I discovered fascinating information. First off — and I had probably heard this before but forgotten — tobacco was another of those products that came from the “New World.” Very early on, Sevilla established a factory, first to produce snuff and later smoking tobacco in the form of cigars. Unlike just about all other factories, the employees were women. (I won’t go into the reasons for that here, but it is worth looking up if you are interested.) Later on the building — one of the very largest factories of its time — was taken over for use by a university, which seems like an unlikely event!

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 | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Walking Woman, Wall

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Walking Woman, Wall
A woman walks past a Manhattan wall

Walking Woman, Wall. New York City. July 2, 2017. © Copyright 2017 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A woman walks past a Manhattan wall

We returned last night from a week in Manhattan, mostly visiting family but also wandering… and eating… and photographing. I know for a fact that I’m not the only so-called nature or landscape photographer who also loves photographing the urban landscape, and when there is hardly a more varied or compelling location than New York City — from Central Park to the skyscraper canyons to the variety of neighborhoods. I’m often happy to just go out walking with my camera, with only the vaguest notions of what I’ll photograph, and to be open to surprise.

We were walking uptown from our hotel, which was on Grand, almost in the middle of the Little Italy area, and we decided to pass through the Washington Square area. We were almost there when we approach portions of the NYU campus and I saw this cubist scene, with colors, shapes, and textures that immediately reminded me of the sandstone canyons of the Southwest. (Yes, my mind works that way, even in the Big City.) I made a few quick initial exposures and then paused to see who would walk into the frame on this sunny morning.

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 and Amazon.
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