Save the Earth: Portrait of Human Statue in Las Ramblas, Barcelona

Rescuing Mother Nature from the Archives

I decided to dig into the hard drive today and rescue an old character from the archives in a shot I hadn't published before. It is this incredible "Mother Nature" figure—or at least, that is what I call him. It is definitely a he, but the spirit of the character is pure Earth.

He is dressed as some sort of tree or forest deity, covered in earth-toned body paint with delicate vines tracing up his arms and face. But the real showstopper is that headpiece. It looks like a mass of dried roots exploding backward from his head, defying gravity as if the wind is permanently blowing through them.

The Missing Sphere

In this particular angle, the transparent sphere he usually holds is almost hidden, tucked away near his chest. You can just barely catch the glint of the glass. If you want to see the full setup where the sphere is totally visible, you should definitely check out my original post: Street Artists in Las Ramblas - Human Statue.

There is something about his expression here—solemn, looking off into the distance, hand raised—that feels like a warning or a plea. Maybe "Save the Earth" isn't just a catchy title; maybe it's exactly what he is trying to tell us while we rush past him to buy souvenirs.

Seasoned Human Statue II in Las Ramblas, Barcelona, Spain

The Seasoned Statue Returns

Here is another shot of a street artist—a human statue—that actually appeared in Barcelona Photoblog a long, long time ago. You might remember him from my previous post: Seasoned Human Statue Sitting in Las Ramblas.

I call him "seasoned" not just because he looks like a veteran of the street, but because of that incredible weather-beaten look he cultivates. The metallic silver paint settles into every line and furrow of his face, making him look less like a person and more like a piece of galvanized steel that has withstood decades of storms.

Suiting Up in Silver

His previous photo focused mostly on his face, so it didn't really show off the suit too much. I thought you would like to see this angle because it highlights the costume work. The jacket, the tie, the shirt—everything is stiff with that same textured silver coating.

He looks like a businessman frozen in time (or maybe carbonite), pausing for a moment of reflection amidst the chaos of the boulevard. Even his glasses seem caught in the transformation. It is that commitment to the "heavy" look of the materials that sets the pros apart from the amateurs.

Marble Living Statue With Lady In Las Ramblas, Barcelona

A Touch of Marble and a Lot of Friendship

Since today's post is going to deal with awards and friendship, I couldn't think of a better image to start with than this one. What better symbol of connection is there than a handshake? Here we have one of those anonymous Barcelona street artists—a "marble" statue completely draped in white cloth—breaking his frozen character to share a warm moment with a tourist.

I love the contrast in this shot. You have the cold, rigid appearance of the statue, mimicking stone right down to the draped fabric and the face covering. And then you have this lovely lady in a bright turquoise dress, wearing a smile that is as sunny as the street itself. She looks proud and happy, like a child meeting a hero. It’s a funny, sweet reminder that behind the "stone," there is a person smiling back.

You Made My Day Award

Speaking of making people smile, I was absolutely thrilled to be granted the "You Make My Day" award by Beautiful Places blog (Update: 2025 link not available anymore). It is a wonderful site that you should visit often, and I want to say thanks so much to them. It really means a lot to me that you chose my blog.

As part of the tradition, I want to pass the torch to 5 blogs that always manage to make my day a little better. A big thank you to these creators for always being so supportive and friendly. It is a real pleasure to know you, and I highly recommend everyone check out their creative work:

• Secrets by Quintarantino
• Com Imagens by Daniel and Carol
• Nashville Daily Photo by Chris
• Wailea Daily Photo by Kuanyin
• Momentos by Dsole

The Rules (and a Note)

Please don't worry if you break the chain; I won't consider it rude at all since I am not a huge enthusiast of strict rules myself. But mostly, I just like that someone thought of me, which is really flattering. So, I took my time to think of people I care about, like you guys.

For the record, here are the rules I was given:

1. Write a post with links to 5 blogs that you like (update: as 2025 first two are not working anymore).
2. Acknowledge the post of the award giver.
3. Display the "You Make My Day" logo (I put it on my sidebar).
4. Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs or emailing them.