Color my World

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A brief stop along the way. No more people for today but a whimsical play with colors. What can be more color-ful! Yep, very funny...Not that I am relaxing with my posting, it is just that I am exploring new stuff and it doesn't allow for more. If not take a look at the time I publish this. This box brings back memories about my childhood days a long, long time ago. Of course we could talk about quality, about brands, about drawings we made or just the nice smell but I leave it all up to your imagination.

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People in Catalonia: Dancers

I hope you don´t mind I keep posting pictures of Catalan dancers in Monistrol de Montserrat and not about other topics although it is late as usual and I ought to go to bed. Good night and have a nice weekend!

Boy with Bike Lost in Reflections

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Amazed at how the light and colors can change so much in just a while and depending on the direction of your lens, I turned around and left the girls from my previous post, to focus this time on a young man facing the pale sun rays twinkling here and there on this side of the pier. I could have tweaked the image in PS but I am getting fond of soft natural color subtleties. You can't get minimalist if you don't discover the fundamentals first!

Recommended: Underwater photography by David Doubilet. This renown photographer presented Come to the Bottom of the Sea! exhibition (it was over past Nov.7th)) at BCN Dive event in Fira de Barcelona.

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Peers on Pier in Barcelona

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The same day I photographed the fisherman and the couple at the end of Bogatell pier last week, I managed to take snapshots of these two young ladies chatting on the pier nearby. I shot at least four times but some guy fishing in the background kept spoiling my composition. At last, he moved aside by chance (notice the rod on the floor) and let me capture them plus the Barcelona Forum solar panel in the distance. If you are interested in a cropped version using Fred Miranda's BW Workflow Pro photoshop action, specifically the Quadritones option, click here. Don't forget to always enlarge the main picture in the post!

Recommended: Take a look at this Flicker Related Tag Browser. Enter any word, for example: "pier" and then move your mouse to browse a visual cloud of related tags.

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CowParade: Ms. Moolevard on the Boulevard at Illa Diagonal, Barcelona

I swear I don't get any commission for showing this cow, it is just that I like the beautiful design and colors on this Ms. Moolevard on the Boulevard by Amber Felts, part of the CowParade scale model collection being sold at one of the stores in Illa Diagonal Shopping Center, Barcelona. I should say that CowParade organizes exhibitions in different countries which some of you have probably seen. Remember those lifesize cows painted in flashy colors scattered somewhere in your city? According to what they state at the website, CowParade "fosters art education through its Cows in Schools(TM) program and benefits charitable causes through its one-of-a-kind cow auctions". What's more if you are a real artist, not my case, you can apply for designing new cows.

Catalan Folk Dance Troupe

This is what is called Esbart Dansaire, in English a Catalan Folk Dance Troupe. I photographed them while visiting the annual market fair at Monistrol de Montserrat, and I am not sure if they are local Esbart Monistrol Dansaire or Esbart Rosa d'Abril of Castellterçol (another Catalan town). I apologize for not grabbing the name properly. Anyway, the most important thing here is that you get in touch with Catalan traditions and get to know other folk dance expressions different from Sardanes, which are much more extended. The very first troupe danced as far back as 1902 in Vic, Girona but the traditions they represent were originated long before.

Boy in Blue: Kid Playing at L'Illa Diagonal

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Weekend!, buying sweaters for the sudden drop of temperatures in Barcelona. I am at the upper floor of L'Illa Diagonal shopping center. Aware of the sound of the many kids shouting down there in the hall of the main floor I look down and spot this huge box full of blue balls. As I told Kris and Edwin recently I have a knack for blue so I couldn't resist firing some shots. It was almost impossible to isolate just one kid, thus the custom vignette applied.

Recommended: People of Indigenous Cultures by Phil Borges...you won't regret!

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Fisherman and Couple in Bogatell Beach, Barcelona

Today I will be brief. This is just a picture I took at the end of one of the piers in Bogatell Beach. I arrived and fortunately there was just one fisherman with baggy trousers, suspenders and a hat (that's is not common here). On the other corner there was a young couple. Previously I went past a model having a pro photo session and changing her dress up behind an improvised curtain but I settled for my perfect match of the day at the far end of the wharf.

Check an Aerial View of this Pier at Bogatell Beach in Barcelona.

Giants at Monistrol de Montserrat near Barcelona

You probably have seen them in pictures. They are omnipresent in our traditional celebrations making children laugh or panic. They are the giants (gegants - cat.). I can never tell which character they represent. Women mostly represent queens, princesses or important ladies and men may be kings, catholic or moor but also just warriors. Of course you can find all sorts of other characters such as peasants, old people...Some say they are documented as far back as the XIV century, and that they first appeared as male characters. Later came women in the XVI century (discriminated as usual). Giants are made of papier mâché, sustained by a frame of wood to raise it from the inside. Carriers are organized in groups or associations called colles. Remember that there are also small figures called capgrossos (big heads - literally.) This picture was taken just in front of the town hall (ajuntament) at Monistrol de Montserrat. If you want to see them in action check this wonderful videos: Gegants at YouTube

Biker's Beer Pump at Escriba's in Barcelona

Today it was a holiday, so we went to take a walk along the beach now that warm days are coming to an end. The day was sunny but a little foggy so most of my pictures came out dull and boring. We approached this restaurant with terrace facing the beach called The Xiringuito of Escribà, yes the same family that runs the pastry shops at Las Ramblas (remember my post: Antigua Casa Figueras ) and Gran Via, and while waiting for the waiter to accommodate us I set eyes on this beautiful beer pump fancied after a motorbike engine. The small letters on each side read "Escriba since 1908" and "For rock 'n' roll and its faithful beer drinkers", see detail here.

Tomatoes, Garlic and Olive Oil: The Cornerstones of Mediterranean Health

Well maybe I exaggerate a little bit, but olive oil and vegetables surely are the basic ingredients of a Mediterranean healthy diet. So why not showing some good tomatoes with garlic (good for the bones, or so they say!). As you can guess this dish wouldn't have surprised me much if it weren't for the marvelous display. One thing to point out here is that traditionally we use small juicy tomatoes (not these salad ones) to rub a toast or a slice of bread, which is then dressed with olive oil and salted. The toast garnished in such a way is called torrada de pa amb tomàquet and can be eaten as is or accompanied indistinctly with slices of ham, sausages, salami...anchovies sometimes or whatever you can think of. Garlic on the toast is optional but widely used and it must be rubbed first, before tomatoes of course. To finish, just remember this picture was taken in Monistrol de Montserrat in Barcelona. More to come...

Pumpkin Stall at Monistrol de Montserrat

To continue with the stalls at XIII Fira de la Coca i el Mató at Monistrol de Monserrat let's visit the pumpkin stall. These ones looked so fresh and ripe that I couldn't resist their spell. Besides, I remembered that Halloween was coming and thought you might enjoy the sight as much as I did.

Candy Stall at Monistrol de Montserrat, Barcelona

Yesterday we visited Monistrol de Montserrat at Bages in Barcelona province and took some pictures of XIII Fira de la Coca i el Mató (a small market held once a year to sell local products, mainly coca - very similar to pizza dough with lots of homemade ingredients on top - or mató - a soft fresh cheese served with honey). I will start with some candy for your eyes and in coming days you will see the different stalls and local people dancing in colorful costumes. The sweets I tried were extra size, delicate and flashy in colors.

Futuristic Square at Maremagnum, Barcelona

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No, this is not a roof, nor the surface of Mars, it is a small square next to Maremagnum shopping center. I really like those peculiar hills you wouldn't expect to see in a park. Maybe that becomes customary in the future, who knows?

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Poverty in Barcelona: Tramp at Maremagnum

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Alienated, abandoned, neglected, homeless tramps. Poverty goes with society, it has been there before and it will be there in the future, it is the byproduct of human ambition. Being different and impaired is punished with ignorance and rejection for the sake of the pack. When are we going to think and act as civilized animals instead of just animals?

Aerial Photo of Maremagnum in Port vell, Barcelona via Google Earth.

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Clouds over Badalona Beach

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Dull skies may have a special attraction of their own which is hard to find sometimes I know. Winter is coming and nothing seems bright and cheerful, but you can always give nature a second chance and find beauty in black ominous clouds or rough gray sea. I have desaturated colors a little bit, but believe me the day was already dull. As a matter of fact this a view of Badalona beach in the outskirts of Barcelona as seen from Sant Adriá Marina.

Google Maps Aerial Shot of Badalona Beach

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Parc del Laberint in Horta Quarter, Barcelona

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Parc del Laberint in Barcelona. I already have several posts about this romantic park situated in Horta quarter. I like those kids playing hide and seek somewhere inside the maze. I hope tomorrow or this weekend I have plenty of time for fresh topics. I must go on a tour around Barcelona soon to replenish the archives.

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Reflections on New Building near Plaza Cerdá

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Today I will just post another reflection this time on a building which is part of a big project in Barcelona called Ciutat Judicial or City of Justice just in front of Plaza Cerdá in Hospitalet de Llobregat. A group of new high rising buildings will be the headquarters of the main judicial bodies in Barcelona. Built on the same place where the old Caserna de Lepant or Lepant Military Headquarters used to be, they should be finished by 2009. The skyline of Barcelona will push a little higher to impress those entering the city via the airport highway.

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Agbar Tower Reflection on a 22 @ Building

To continue with the mirror series today I want you to look at Agbar Tower's reflection on a 22 @ District building. It is hard to photograph this tower by Jean Nouvel and still be original. I don't know how many pictures have been taken from this angle but following that rule of thumb I'd better stay at home. I had a great time this day. It was sunny and I was walking through this side of 22 @ district where buildings are about to be inaugurated and streets are still closed to traffic, so it was some kind of urban oasis (notice the contradiction). I had all the time in this world to stand in the middle of an intersection and shoot at the building. I recommend you take a look at these fantastic images of Agbar Tower by Desenfocado or by Bob.

Reflective Light Shaft in Barcelona Forum

If you visit the Barcelona Forum building (posted last April 20th) don't forget to step right under this beautiful light shaft with silver reflections bringing daylight to the lower gallery. Or maybe you prefer blue reflections as the ones in this old picture of mine taken a few meters away. These could have been just plain shafts but as you see aesthetics and practical design are not antagonical. Last but not least, remember that a virtual tour or a view of the big solar panel were also featured back in April this year.

Google Earth Satellite View of Barcelona Forum premises.