Tag Archives: vendor

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

Street Vendor Belts

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Street Vendor Belts
A rack of belts at a street market in Florence, Italy.

Street Vendor Belts. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A rack of belts at a street market in Florence, Italy.

I photographed this rack of (presumably knockoff) belts in all colors and textures along a bustling and crowded street market outside of the Mercato Centrale building in Florence. Given the heavy tourist traffic in this city, it is no surprise that this market is extensive and crowded. Eventually I will likely share photographs that show more of the market, unlike this one which is just about the colors and shapes of the products on this rack.

These markets are in pretty much every European city that we have visited — from Italy to Kosovo — and especially in those oriented to tourist traffic. I have mixed feelings about them. On one hand, they seem to employ a lot of folks, and if you are careful you can probably get some stuff for very low prices. On the other hand, there’s a lot of items of questionable vintage, and if you think you are getting something of great value, well, just be careful!

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

Souvenir Vendor, Lisbon

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Souvenir Vendor, Lisbon
Vendor in front of his shop along a street below the Sao Jorge Castle, Lisbon.

Souvenir Vendor, Lisbon. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Vendor in front of his shop along a street below the Sao Jorge Castle, Lisbon.

We walked a lot during our 2023 visit to Lisbon, Portugal. Hey, walking is what we do when we travel! It may limit the distance you can cover a bit, but we think that we see a lot more of the places we go to when we walk. Lisbon is an interesting walking city. It is easy to walk many places, though there are two things to think about. First, it is a big city, and some of the more far-flung attractions are far away. (There is decent transit however.) Second, there are a lot of hills! Some are steep enough that even going down them can be a test.

On this day our goal was the St. George Castle, on the top of one of the hills overlooking the city. From our lodgings we walked down to central Lisbon and then started up the climb on the other side. Soon, as we reached the base of the hill we were to ascend, we encountered lots of ways to avoid the climb — if you were willing to pay for a lift up the hill. We pondered for maybe five seconds and then decided to walk. Walking is harder, for sure, and it is slower. But the latter is actually a benefit. When walking we see lots of things that we would miss on a tram or a tug-tuk ride. I photographed this little souvenir shop along the walk toward the castle.

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: New York City, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Food Cart, Fifth Avenue

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Food Cart, Fifth Avenue
A food cart vendor on 5th Avenue, near Central Park, Manhattan.

Food Cart, Fifth Avenue. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A food cart vendor on 5th Avenue, near Central Park, Manhattan.

This photograph comes from the second of our two recent visits to Manhattan, this one about a week into the month of October. The previous visit was in August. (I can just hear the New Yorkers: “What!! You went to New York City in August? Are you nuts?”) Let’s just say that the weather on the first trip was different than on the second. In October it was quite pleasant, and there was a hint of autumn. Things seemed to be slowing a bit, and the light was different. In fact, in the urban canyons of Manhattan, the later sunrise meant that many places were still in shadow later in the day, including this street corner along the east side of Central Park.

We were staying a few blocks west of Central Park, and on this morning we went out for a walk through the park. I came upon this food cart when we reached the far side of Fifth Avenue. Two things catch my attention about this cart. First, it sure isn’t very busy! Second, because of those shadows the cart’s lights almost make it look like evening. It also occurs to me that something about the colors of light and shadow and the empty streets creates a sort of autumnal feeling.

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: New York City, Photographs: People, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Flag Vendor, Manhattan

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Flag Vendor, Manhattan
A flag vendor at the 2022 New York City “Columbus Day” Parade.

Flag Vendor, Manhattan. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A flag vendor at the 2022 New York City “Columbus Day” Parade.

This photograph comes from a midday walk through part of the vast and vibrant cultural smorgasbord that is New York City. There was a time when I imagined that this place would not interest this landscape guy from California. But I was very, very wrong about that. I love New York City, in part because of the contrast with other places I know so well. But it is simply an exciting place with no end of things to see, places to eat, spots to hang out, cultures to experience.. On this October morning we went for a walk from our Upper West Side hotel, crossed Central Park to the Upper East Side, then wandered south until we encountered the Columbus Day Parade, where I photographed this sidewalk vendor.

I’m often surprised and discouraged when I encounter Americans who are fearful to the point or irrationality that they might encounter someone not quite like themselves, and that this might endanger or harm them. So often, it seems, the most fearful people have the least experience around these “others.” I’ve also visited some of the locations with high percentages of Americans who fear immigrants and people of color… and for the most part they are places where the likelihood of actually encountering those folks is low to nearly nonexistent. Why is it that the most fearful people are in those places, while in places where multicultural America is at its most diverse and vibrant this is largely not the case?

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.