Images

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

An Traits Libres

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An Traits Libres, Montpellier
“An Traits Libres” — An Traits Libres, alternative comic book store, gallery, artists’ workshop, Montpellier.

We were out on one of our random walks, wandering to who-knows-where, on this damp evening in Montpellier, France this past December. Recently I tried to reconstruct our route using online maps and satellite photos of the city, but I’m at a loss to recall precisely where we went — with the exception of this building, which shows up on those maps.

It is a little hard to know for sure, but I think that this place is a sort of a shop – one online source describes it as an “alternative comic store., book store, gallery, artists’ workshop.” We did not stop to go inside, and I’m not sure if it was actually open. But it appeared as a bright apparition on a quiet, dark street. I spent a moment photographing it, and we moved on.

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

Ready to Bloom

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Ready to Bloom
“Ready to Bloom” — A tulip bud on the verge of opening.

Here is (yet another!) of my tulip photos from a spring garden trek with Patty. This garden, at an old estate on the San Francisco Peninsula, puts on a remarkable tulip show every spring, and we often go once or twice to photograph. Tulip color can be intense in the sunlight, but I prefer to photograph the flowers in the shade, where soft light fills shadows and the colors are a bit more muted.

These tulips were growing in pots that had been placed, well, nearly everywhere around this immense garden. So I searched out examples that were in my ideal light, sometimes working quickly to photograph them before the direct sunlight showed up and obliterated the subtleties of color and texture.

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: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel

Detail, Wrought Iron

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Detail, Wrought Iron, Montpellier, France
“Detail, Wrought Iron” — Details of wrought iron work at the Chateau d’Eau, Montpellier, France.

During our December visit to Montpellier, France we visited the Promenade du Peyrou, a large public square on a hilltop. The plaza was filled with a Christmas market, of course. Montpellier’s very own Arc de Triomphe stands at one end of the plaza, and the Chateau d’Eau (water tower) at the other end. This detail is part of the latter monument.

The water tower (of which I have shared photographs previously) sits at the end point of an ancient Roman aqueduct. It features the columns you see on the left, but look more closely and there is some wonderful wrought iron work – with a combination of very sharp pointed shapes and soft, gentle curves.

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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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)

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

Corkscrew Peak, Evening

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Corkscrew Peak, Evening, Death Valley
“Corkscrew Peak, Evening” — Evening light on the giant alluvial plain leading up towards Corkscrew Peak.

This peak has long intrigued me — along with the entire ridge that it lies on. Perhaps the name first caught my attention when I was trying to identify landmarks in photographs I took from out in the Valley. Hint: it does not really look much like a corkscrew, though I can see how the tilted rock layers that seem to run around it inspired the name.

I photographed this on my first evening in Death Valley back in February. After a very long drive from the Bay Area I set up camp, rested a bit, and then it was time to go find something to photograph. Since it was late in the day I wanted to keep it somewhat simple, so I headed to this spot along a road leading out of the Valley, arriving just in time to photograph the day’s last light.

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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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)