Tag Archives: weathered

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

Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

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Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. New York, New York. August 15, 2010. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Exterior detail of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in New York City.

After traveling uptown to the general area of Columbia University for a breakfast visit to a bakery that had been recommended to us we wandered across the street to the grounds of this famous and imposing cathedral. We began in the sculpture building next to the church, and this photograph was made from that general area, taking advantage of the soft and diffused light of this overcast day.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Cascades, Photographs: Nature

Roots and Rocks

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Roots and Rocks
Roots and Rocks

Roots and Rocks. Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington. August 28, 2010. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Weathered tree roots stretch across boulders at Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington.

I made this photograph at our first stop after we arrived at the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. (Technically, that isn’t quite true, since we had earlier stopped at the “ranger station” to ask some questions, but this was the first “real” stop for photography.) The road into this area twists and turns as it ascends toward and then past a ski area, and here we couldn’t help but pull over at a hairpin curve that provided a panoramic overlook to the valley below and the ridges to the east (?) of our position. Although the original reason for stopping was this dramatic view, I soon found nearby “intimate landscapes” to also be very interesting. While I often hike and climb long distances to find my photographs… for this one the tripod was on asphalt and the subject right next to the road.

On a technical note, for this photograph I used a lens that I’m increasingly fond of for photographing subjects like this one, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L USM (link to B&H). I find it useful to be able to put a bit of distance between myself and subjects in which the entire image may include only a few square feet, and the ability to fine tune the composition with the zoom is very useful. Although I didn’t do it in this photography, working with a slightly longer focal length also lets me have the option of isolating the subject against an out of focus background. I have the non-IS version of the lens – because that was the only version available back when I got mine – though I would almost certainly get the IS version if I were to replace it.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Stonework Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

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Stonework Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine
Stonework Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

Stonework Detail, Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. New York, New York. August 15, 2010. © Copyright 2010 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Detail of stonework at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, New York City.

Early in the morning we took the subway north to the area around Columbia University where we had been told to visit a Hungarian bakery. (Worth the visit, by the way…) This “cathedral church,” which I had heard of but not seen in person, is located almost across the street. We started in the nearby sculpture garden which features a large, central sculpture (too much to say about it to try to do it here) which is surrounded by small pieces created by schoolchildren. From here it was a very short walk to the cathedral itself.

The cathedral is a powerful piece of architecture, much larger and more imposing than many of the other famous religious sites that I’ve seen in New York. I first made a series of photographs of the interesting textures and forms of the exterior of the building, including this photograph, taking advantage of the soft light created by the cloudy conditions. Eventually we made our way inside. I took no photographs inside the cathedral, partly because there was a service going on and because I was quite affected by the scale of the interior space… and by the very interesting and unusual music being performed by the organist.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: New York City, Photographs: Urban/Street

Wall With Face and Ivy, Chelsea

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Wall With Face and Ivy, Chelsea
Wall With Face and Ivy, Chelsea

Wall With Face and Ivy, Chelsea. New York, New York. August 14, 2010. © Copyright 2010 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Detail of a wall in Chelsea along 10th Avenue near High Line Park, New York featuring ivy, bricks, and a face.

I was on the move when I grabbed this shot, so I can’t say with precision where I made it. I think it was along 10th Avenue roughly in the same area as the Standard Hotel along the High Line Park – I sort of recall looking up to see some people coming out of the hotel at about the time I made this photograph.

The face first caught my attention. I think that it is a somewhat worn poster or similar attached to the surface of the wall near this junction between two buildings, hence the division between brick and not-brick. The rich textures of worn concrete with some graffiti painted on it, the two colors of brick wall, the staring face with the intense eyes, and the incongruous growth of lush green ivy were a surprise on this very urban bit of sidewalk.

This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

G Dan Mitchell Photography
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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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