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Magnumfying the Mind
I’ve spent several days pondering which photo would be the last I’d share before the end of 2024, and it hasn’t been an easy decision. I have to admit, it’s been a fantastic year, at least from a photographic standpoint. My little Leica has accompanied me to unexpected places that I knew nothing about and that have left me literally speechless. It’s been the perfect excuse to live more intensely, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Although this year has been filled with extraordinary moments, each worthy in its own right of marking the end of this cycle, there was…
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The Kind-Hearted Local
There are trips that leave a mark, and then there are trips that leave you with a couple of bottles of wine. When I stopped in Fombellida, about 60 kilometers from Valladolid, drawn in by the picturesque cave-cellars that crown the village, I never imagined I’d end up exploring one from the inside. With barely enough time to grab my camera and capture the view, a friendly local stopped his car and asked if I had a few minutes. A bit confused, I said yes, and he offered to show me his wine cellar. Needless to say, that’s not the…
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Rioseco and Its Monastery
In the middle of July, enjoying a pleasant 28 degrees (thankfully without the humidity of Galicia), I let myself drift along one of the regional roads that cross the Manzanedo Valley. That’s when I felt the need to stop and take in the view of the Ebro River (well, truth be told, I really had to pee). I must admit, the spot I chose was quite picturesque, with a small reservoir giving shape to the river’s narrow flow. Since the area had some potential, I wandered around a bit and took a few photos. Just as I was about to…
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Asturias Fashion Week
When you explore the Asturian mountains, you expect to find breathtaking views with towering peaks, idyllic fields in deep green, or a peaceful herd of cows grazing quietly. Maybe, if you’re lucky, even a well-preserved “teito” to complete the perfect postcard. What never crosses your mind is stumbling upon a rather sinister mannequin, tied to a black mesh fence, wearing an expression of deep existential sadness that conveys a sense of resignation and chronic defeat. As if that weren’t disconcerting enough, the final touch is a wig that might as well have come straight out of Yurena’s dressing room. And…
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The Horses of Sargentes
In 2017, while I had one of those news broadcasts playing in the background, the kind that shine for their lack of interesting stories, I was genuinely surprised to learn that Spain had an oil field, and that it was shutting down after 53 years of operation. The mere sight of the Castilian plains (Sargentes de la Lora), dotted with pumpjacks like a scene straight out of West Texas, instantly set my imagination alight. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to visit such a unique place in person. My interest grew even more when I did a bit…
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The Viewpoint and Its Flowers
Viewpoints are usually places of great beauty or, at the very least, spots that offer charming panoramas inviting you to stop and take it all in. Some are enjoyed for just a brief moment, long enough to stretch your legs and carry on. Others, like those in the Ribeira Sacra, leave you speechless. Sometimes you cross paths with someone, and almost without realizing it, a pleasant conversation arises, one that, interestingly, rarely revolves around the landscape itself. Personally, I enjoy them deeply and try to visit whenever I can. However, there’s something most viewpoints have in common: despite their beauty,…
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Architectural Volcano
If there’s one architect who stirs up controversy, leaves no one indifferent, and whose works are a notorious waste of millions, it’s Calatrava. The Palace of Exhibitions and Congresses in Oviedo is a perfect example. You don’t need to look for it among the buildings, it finds you. It doesn’t hide or play coy; when it appears before you, it’s like a volcanic eruption. You can’t take your eyes off it, and it evokes both horror and admiration in equal measure. But beyond the controversy, the cost, the overrun, the mega-cost, and beyond the aesthetic, ethical, and practical dilemmas (because…
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The Decline of Architectural Mastery
In recent months, I’ve visited various mining sites across Asturias, and every time I stood before one, I felt a deep sense of respect and admiration. Their towering headframes captivate you with their intricate structures, it’s hard to look away. I think of them as portals to other worlds, like a Stargate of the industrial era, though unlike the film, this one leads to the deepest darkness. The miners who worked there are the true embodiment of human endurance and the capacity to push physical limits. Those people were made of something else entirely. Some of these sites are exceptionally…
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Goat’s Gaze
There are looks that seduce, and looks that kill. I’m not quite sure which one this goat was giving me. In any case, I truly appreciate that it bothered to show even the slightest interest, since animals in the countryside often greet you with absolute indifference. Goats, while not quite on the level of donkeys, are naturally curious, and interacting with them is relatively easy. This is one of those photos born from sheer chance. At the entrance of a nearby village, I was heading toward a railway bridge that promised a good shot, and to be fair, it delivered,…
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Discovering the Winemaking Hobbiton
Those of you who live in wine regions are probably used to seeing this kind of construction, but for a northerner like me, where we raise barnacles and enjoy great seafood, coming across these structures embedded into a hillside was more than surprising (my ignorance truly knows no bounds!). When I arrived in Valdevimbre and noticed those little chimneys poking out of the ground, I felt like I’d stumbled into Hobbiton. Granted, they don’t have the round doors of the friendly hobbits’ homes, but otherwise, they’re quite similar. Despite their simplicity and ruggedness, which reflect a purely functional, rather than…
