Tag Archives: wall

Blue Vespa

Blue Vespa
Blue Vespa in front of. a blue wall, Porto, Portugal.

Blue Vespa. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Blue Vespa in front of. a blue wall, Porto, Portugal.

These scooters are, of course, ubiquitous in Europe, especially in the warmer climates. On these extremely narrow streets, which lack much of any parking facilities, they are extremely practical. But to American visitors, at least up to a point, they also seem fun and romantic. (My guess is that the fun/romantic part impresses their owners less.)

All of this is by way of saying that I could not resist photographing a few of them, particularly when they came in striking colors or related to their surroundings in interesting ways. This blue Vespa was parked against a very weathered blue wall in the sunshine, with just a bit of Porto graffiti in the background.


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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Alcove and Wall

Alcove and Wall
An alcove, a weathered wall, a door, and a sidewalk — Florence, Italy.

Alcove and Wall. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

An alcove, a weathered wall, a door, and a sidewalk — Florence, Italy.

This photograph comes from Florence, Italy. Anyone who has been there, especially in the busy tourist season, knows that the place is incredibly busy and crowded, at least during the hours when visitors are out and about. We escaped the most intense crowds on this morning by heading “the other way,” into a neighborhood that lacked the usual tourist attractions.

Like almost any photographer visiting this part of the world, I cannot resist the colors and the old, weathered surfaces and shapes of the buildings. Back home, old buildings just took… old. But here the Latino of time and wear somehow seems more attractive.


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

Ivy-Covered Wall

Ivy-Covered Wall
Thick, green ivey covers and old brick wall.

Ivy-Covered Wall. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Thick, green ivey covers and old brick wall.

I am a sucker for soft light and green leaves, especially if the light is somewhat varied and the leaves have a bit of texture and good coverage. This bit of ivy, covering a wall at a San Francisco Peninsula garden, fit the bill. It was tucked away on the shady side of building, with trees overhead, but some slightly more intense light coming from behind me through openings in trees.

I’m often tricked by subjects like this one. When I see a bed or wall of overlapping leaves it often seems like I could just point the camera that way and produce some kind of picture. But when I do and I look more carefully, there are almost always little bits of imperfection and unbalance that distract me… and I end up taking much longer with these subjects than I expect to.


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

Switch Box

Switch Box
An old, weathered outdoor switch box on a brick wall.

Switch Box. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

An old, weathered outdoor switch box on a brick wall.

Ever since I can remember I have photographed odd bits of “stuff” like this — old fences, door handles and hinges, electrical boxes, anything that has the worn patina of age, rust, and weathering. The first time I recall doing this must have been in middle school or early high school — I went around the back side of my parents’ house and found an old wooden fence with a chain lock, photographed it, and made black and white prints.

On the day I made this photograph we were at a very large garden, with the plan being to photograph spring flowers and foliage. We certainly did that, but I’m easily distracted by things like this, and I came back with this photograph along with others of old signs, door knobs, windows, and similar non-garden stuff.


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 | FacebookEmail

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.