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Photographic Distance
When I first set off on my analog adventure, I started by focusing on my immediate surroundings. Many of the photographs I took during those first months were of places I already knew, and for the most part, I simply repeated shots I had taken before with other cameras and systems. That said, the experience was far from a mere replica of the past, because both the analog process and black-and-white format are so different from digital color photography, I felt it was something entirely new from the very beginning. What began as excitement over using a new format and…
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Photographic Link
Has it ever happened to you that something catches your eye while driving, you stop to take a photo of it, and end up photographing something completely different? That’s exactly what happened to me in Arbas del Puerto. Driving down from Asturias into León on the N-630, just after crossing the Puerto de Pajares, I passed through a small village that looked almost abandoned. What caught my attention was a group of stone houses on the left, traditional in style, and quite picturesque, so I pulled over to photograph them. But once I stood in front of them, the composition…
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Nature’s Sculptures
Galicia’s climate tends to be quite relentless. It has a reputation for being humid, rainy, windy, and generally unpleasant, at least when compared to the south of the Iberian Peninsula. But on those rare days when the sun comes out and the weather gives us a break, this land is so beautiful it almost hurts. All these climatic traits shape our landscape, and in certain places they leave a particularly distinct mark, such as in this small pine forest high up on “A Serra da Faladoira.” Pines are nature’s sculptures. Few trees are as malleable or as prone to absorbing…
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Rural Domestic Art
What is art? What can we truly consider a work of art? I know, it’s a rather lofty question for a blog post, especially one that features a photo of a chicken coop. So let me clarify right away: this question isn’t directed at my photograph. Honestly, when I head out with my camera slung around my neck, I don’t feel like I’m doing anything particularly artistic, nor do I believe the results of my photographic outings amount to works of art. Let’s be clear about that. On the contrary, the question refers directly to the subject of the photo.…
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Toll to a Visual Spectacle
I’m going to confess a secret, I don’t like paying on toll highways. I understand it’s a service offered by a private company, and it’s fair that they charge for a project that cost millions of euros. But it bothers me, it frustrates me that a private company profits from something I believe should be managed by the state. It’s a complex issue, one that involves political and economic considerations that I won’t delve into here. So why bring it up? Because it connects directly to the photo I’m sharing today. For those unfamiliar with the area, this place is…
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Dystopian Photography
The Yesa Reservoir, located in the province of Zaragoza, has been one of my greatest discoveries during my latest trip through northern Spain. From the moment I came across its waters, driving along secondary roads, I found myself stopping constantly, amazed mile after mile by a series of unique landscapes I simply couldn’t resist photographing. From its driftwood-covered shores and trees submerged in water, to abandoned structures, ruined buildings, gas stations turned into dystopian film sets, and even entire villages emptied of their inhabitants, every element surprises the visitor with a setting so unique and unusual, it makes you want…
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My Dear Friends, the Donkeys
Photographing animals is no easy task, even when they’re domesticated. Most tend to flee, or at the very least, show little interest in cooperating. When I try to photograph a horse, more often than not it bolts, or starts protesting with gestures and snorts that range from wary to outright hostile. With a few honorable exceptions, most of my attempts to capture horses have ended in complete failure. With sheep, it’s more or less the same. True, they’re not as hostile, and some will even stare at you with curiosity for a moment, but their patience is limited. If you…
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Civic Abandonment
My relationship with abandoned buildings is a bit complicated. On one hand, they fascinate me, they’re pure history, full of stories, and they always manage to surprise me in some way. Beyond that, they’ve given me some of the best photographs I’ve ever taken. They’re treasures I come across from time to time on my travels, and they never fail to brighten my day. I never get tired of photographing them. On the other hand, the fact that a building is abandoned doesn’t necessarily mean it’s common property, a public space, or a free-for-all playground where we can do as…
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Photography and Love
Photography, in a way, is like love, it appears when you least expect it. Of course, you have to do your part; great photos don’t come knocking at your door! You have to get out there, stay open, be receptive to the opportunities that arise, and believe in them. Sometimes, just when you’ve decided to call it a day and are putting your camera away, something unexpected catches your attention. And in that moment, even if it’s late and the light is far from ideal, you decide to give it a shot and see what comes out of it. Maybe…
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Putting Doors on the Sea
We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t fence in the countryside.” Well, in San Juan de la Arena, there could easily be a local twist: “You can’t put a door on the sea.” I have to admit, the town itself didn’t strike me as particularly appealing. It felt very focused on the beach, one of those tourist spots that bursts to life in summer and empties out in winter. That might not be entirely fair, but it was the impression I got as I wandered through its streets. A bit disappointed, I turned to Google Maps to see if there…
