Barcelona photos: Daily photographs of Barcelona, Spain. Pictures of a modern city with travel tips in a personal photoblog. A photography and travel site. Art, architecture, people and traditions. Travel to Barcelona through my camera, know more about our city and towns nearby. Welcome!
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April 12, 2006
Sagrada Familia: The Passion Façade Gates
March 19, 2006
Sagrada Familia 'n' Spires
July 30, 2023
The Essential Guide to Taking Travel Photos in Barcelona
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover insider tips from pro photographers to help elevate your skills for taking travel photos in Barcelona.
Planning Your Barcelona Photo Shoot Locations
The key to a successful Barcelona photo trip starts with planning where and when to shoot:
1. Look Up Photogenic Landmarks
Research Barcelona’s main architectural and landmark photography spots like La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and the Gothic Quarter. Studying images of these locations will spark ideas and reveal the best angles.
2. Dig Into Neighborhood Gems
Look beyond the main tourist sites to Barcelona's unique neighborhoods. Areas like Gràcia, Born and Poblenou have small curated plazas, street art and shops that tell the local story.
3. Study Lighting Conditions
Consider the changing daylight and colors in Barcelona across seasons and times of day. Early morning and late afternoon often have the most dramatic light.
4. Account for Weather and Events
Plan for how weather and events may alter your locations. A rainy day in Park Güell will have a very different vibe from a sunny one. Festivals like La Mercè also offer unique photo ops.
5. Mix Famous Sites with Local Life
Blend major landmarks with local culture by exploring offbeat areas like the Raval neighborhood. This allows capturing a true Barcelona experience.
By scouting locations thoughtfully, you’ll discover amazing photography spots away from the crowds.
Packing the Essential Photography Gear
Carrying lightweight photography gear while traveling is key:
1. DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
A DSLR or mirrorless camera allows full creative control and interchangeable lenses for quality images. Consider weather sealing if shooting outdoors extensively.
2. Wide Angle and Zoom Lenses
Pack a wide angle like 18-35mm to capture expansive city scenes along with a 70-200mm zoom to isolate architectural details.
3. Tripod or Monopod
A tripod or monopod keeps cameras steady, especially for low light shots. Look for a lightweight, collapsible option.
4. Remote Shutter Release
To avoid blurry shots, a remote shutter release allows triggering the camera without touching it. Essential for long exposures.
5. Spare Batteries and Storage Cards
Carry extra charged batteries and high capacity memory cards to shoot all day without worrying about missing a shot.
The right minimalist kit tailored to your style will let you travel light while having full shooting flexibility.
Tips for Photographing Top Barcelona Landmarks
Barcelona’s iconic landmarks from La Sagrada Familia to Casa Milà demand unique photographic approaches to capture their grandeur:
1. Shoot La Sagrada Familia Exteriors at Golden Hour
The dizzying exterior of the UNESCO-listed basilica comes alive during the warm light at sunrise or sunset. Capture its texture from multiple angles.
2. Compose Wide Shots of Park Güell
Use a wide lens to emphasize the sprawling scale of Park Güell’s architecture along with the city views beyond. Position yourself on higher ground like the viaduct.
3. Photograph Casa Milà’s Organic Shapes
Highlights of the Gaudí masterpiece include the rippling stone facade and mushroom-esque chimneys. Move around for abstract geometric compositions.
4. Seek Reflections Along Montjuïc Magic Fountain
The Magic Fountain's water acrobatics provide fantastic reflections with Barcelona as a backdrop. Use slow shutter speeds to capture motion.
Each iconic site has sweet spots for composition and lighting. Visualize your desired photos before visiting to maximize your time there.
Getting Creative With Barcelona Architecture and Street Photography
Beyond the main sights, Barcelona’s streets are filled with captivating photographic possibilities:
1. Photograph La Rambla Eclectic Street Life
Capture a mix of street performers, flower stalls and architectural details along the storied La Rambla promenade. Convey both bustle and beauty.
2. Compose Surreal Architecture in Park Güell
The curving architecture along with colorful mosaics make for striking photos. Convert to black and white or boost color saturation to add an otherworldly effect.
3. Capture Quirky Barcelona Street Art
Barcelona’s street art scene provides endless opportunities for eye-catching photographs. Capture wall murals in full along with details.
4. Frame Intriguing Street Photography Moments
Keep your eyes open for candid moments like an abuelita hanging laundry or children playing soccer. Capture authentic local life.
Look for unique ways to portray familiar Barcelona scenes. Push your creativity by playing with lighting, angles, colors and composition.
Essential Techniques for Better Barcelona Travel Photos
Equipped with versatile photography skills, you can transform Barcelona’s sights into spectacular images:
1. Master Exposure and Focus
Learn exposure triangle fundamentals of aperture, shutter speed and ISO and techniques like bracketing to optimize exposure. Use hyperfocal distance and manual focus for tack sharp architecture shots.
2. Shoot During Golden Hour
The soft, warm light around sunrise and sunset flatters almost any subject. Time your sessions around golden hour for magical photos in Barcelona.
3. Utilize Leading Lines and Symmetry
Incorporate leading lines via roads or railings to draw the eye into images. Seek interesting symmetry among architectural patterns.
4. Learn Post-Processing Essentials
Post-processing allows polished images from improving tone, contrast and sharpness to cropping for better composition. Invest time into honing editing skills.
Elevate your images from tourist snaps to gallery-worthy shots with these essential photography skills.
Finding Inspiring Locations Off the Beaten Path
Venturing beyond Barcelona's core sights reveals underrated neighborhoods with stories to tell:
1. Discover Hidden Plaça del Sol
This overlooked square within Gràcia exudes vintage charm with its central fountain and surrounding cafés. A hidden gem.
2. Marvel at Castellers Human Towers
Castellers practice awe-inspiring human towers on weekends in local plazas. A unique Barcelona tradition.
3. Wander Through Former Factory Poblenou
Once an industrial hub, Poblenou is now filled with street art-adorned abandoned factories mixed among new developments.
4. Find Whimsical Pieces at Gaudi House Museum
Located in Park Güell, this museum provides a peek into the quirky interior designs of the famous architect.
Getting lost in charming local neighborhoods invariably leads to serendipitous photo ops away from main tourist zones.
Time of Day and Seasons for Great Barcelona Photos
Barcelona’s appearance transforms based on time of day and seasonal changes:
1. Capture Cool Tones on an Overcast Winter Day
The soft diffuse light on a cloudy day is perfect for evenly lit architectural shots. Post-process for moody, monochromatic streetscapes.
2. Photograph La Mercè Festival Street Performers
The festive September celebration fills the streets with musicians and creatives. Capture the electric energy.
3. Shoot at Golden Hours in Spring and Fall
The most comfortable seasons in Barcelona also offer ideal golden hour light to photograph plazas and parks.
4. Seek Out Summer Street Life
Locals flock to Barcelona beaches during summer. Photograph the lively scene along the seaside Barceloneta neighborhood.
Embrace Barcelona's unique ambiance during different seasons and times of day. Let the quality of light guide your photography outings.
Composing Better Travel Photos in Barcelona
Applying photographic principles immediately levels up your Barcelona pictures:
1. Frame Your Subject
Use archways, doors or foliage to frame your main subject in a contextual, eye-catching way. The resulting image tells a richer story.
2. Follow the Rule of Thirds
Position key elements near one of the intersection points of the thirds grid rather than center-framing. This creates an engaging, balanced composition.
3. Shoot from Creative Vantage Points
Vary your perspective by shooting from below, above, far away or other unconventional angles. Explore all possibilities.
4. Use Leading Lines to Draw Viewers In
Incorporate diagonal or curved lines via buildings, tracks, fences or stairs to direct the viewer's gaze into the frame.
Applying compositional techniques transforms snapshots into thoughtful, artistic Barcelona images.
Editing for Impactful Barcelona Travel Photos
Post-processing brings out the essence of your Barcelona images through targeted adjustments:
1. Enhance Architecture Details with Radial Filters
Use adjustment gradients to selectively brighten, darken or alter color in key areas like making façade details pop.
2. Boost Vibrancy Without Overdoing It
Lift muted tones, especially in landscaping, using HSL tools. But avoid oversaturated colors that look artificial.
3. Reduce Noise and Sharpen for Print Worthiness
Eliminate noise and grain while sharpening selectively to achieve clean, crisp images worthy of large gallery prints.
4. Crop for Stronger Composition
Trim excess elements via cropping to lead the eye towards key subjects and achieve more cohesive framing.
Elegant editing enhances mood, focus and visual impact. Handle edits with care to maintain authenticity.
Packing Light Photography Gear for Barcelona Travel
For mobility while sightseeing, minimalist photography gear is a must:
1. Mirrorless Camera with Pancake Lens
A compact mirrorless body paired with a tiny pancake prime lens provides powerful quality in a small package.
2. Single Lightweight Zoom Lens
An all-in-one zoom like a 24-70mm allows flexible framing from wide angles to portraits without swapping lenses.
3. Small Camera Bag or Pouch
Keep just essentials like camera, lens, spare battery and memory card in a compact bag for light trekking.
4. Smartphone Camera with Lens Add-On
Consider using just your phone camera with supplemental lenses like moment lenses for ultra-portability.
5. Monopod Instead of Tripod
A lightweight monopod steadies your camera and packs down small when space is tight.
Pick gear that lets you react quickly to photographic opportunities without weighing you down.
Finding the Essence of Barcelona
Aim to capture photos that reflect the true spirit of Barcelona beyond the landmarks:
1. Convey Local Lifestyle Through Street Life
Photograph everyday neighborhood moments that tell an authentic story like children playing soccer or old men debating.
2. Focus on Interesting Small Details
Zoom in on elements like intricately tiled steps, hanging flower pots or street mosaic tiles that reveal local culture.
3. Highlight Festivity
Capture Barcelona’s vibrant events and festivals like Castellers, La Mercè and the summer solstice Correfoc with motion and energy.
4. Show Barcelona’s Creative Spirit
See Barcelona through an artistic lens via architecture details, quirky sculptures and colorful street art.
Seek out photos that connect you to the city’s culture, people and unique aesthetic.
Choosing Where to Stay for Easy Barcelona Photography
Base yourself centrally in neighborhoods that offer great access to Barcelona's photographic hot spots:
1. Stay in Barri Gòtic to Walk to Top Sights
This central district puts you steps from the cathedral, Picasso museum and atmospheric alleys perfect for photography wanders.
2. Stay in L'Eixample for Modernism Masterpieces
Situated in L'Eixample, you can easily photograph modernism architecture like La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlló.
3. Stay in Gràcia for Charming Plazas and Street Art
This microcosm of Barcelona offers photogenic local flavor among vintage squares and captivating street art .
4. Stay Near Barceloneta for Seaside Vibes
Photograph historic seaside relaxation along with colorful beach huts in this old port neighborhood.
Base yourself in neighborhoods with easy walking access to Barcelona's most photogenic spots for memorable images.
Avoiding Cliché Barcelona Travel Photos
Create one-of-a-kind Barcelona images by avoiding overdone compositions:
1. Don’t Shoot La Sagrada Familia Straight On
Instead, get closeups of architectural details or shoot from uncommon angles like from across the road.
2. Avoid Closeups of Park Güell Mosaics
Capture the mosaics in wider environmental shots rather than tight macro shots to add context.
3. Don't Just Shoot Barceloneta Beach Parasols
Expand beyond the row of iconic beach huts to show vibrant beach culture through people, activities and landscapes.
4. Skip Generic City Skyline Shots from High Vantage Points
Photograph Barcelona’s architecture from street level or interior plazas for an immersive perspective.
Getting creative with framing, timing and context ensures your images offer a fresh perspective beyond postcard-style shots.
Safety Tips for Barcelona Photography & Sightseeing
When photographing Barcelona, remain situationally aware as you would in any major city:
1. Keep Valuables out of Sight When Not Shooting
Avoid flaunting expensive photography gear when walking between locations. Only bring out gear when actively shooting.
2. Be Wary of Pickpockets in Tourist Zones
Areas with crowds like La Rambla require extra vigilance. Keep valuables secure and be cautious of diversion tactics.
3. Consider a Crossbody Camera Strap
Crossbody camera straps deter thieves and keep your hands free. Use one when navigating busy tourist spots.
4. Familiarize Yourself with City Safety Tips
Review Barcelona city safety recommendations like standing near others and limiting use of phones.
5. Photograph Responsibly
Don’t trespass or damage property. Be respectful when photographing people, especially children.
Remaining alert allows focusing on great photos without safety concerns.
Mastering the Art of Travel Photography in Barcelona
Barcelona’s striking architecture, captivating culture and idyllic Mediterranean light provide endless inspiration for brilliant travel photographs. By pre-planning locations, packing smart gear, honing techniques and exploring creatively, you’ll return home with stunning images that do justice to this vibrant city.
For more tips on capturing Barcelona's beauty with a travel and street photographer's perspective, do not miss Barcelona Photoblog’s previous work. Our acclaimed photography and blogging experience help visitors craft unforgettable Barcelona images.
Barcelona’s welcoming spirit makes it a delight to photograph. Wandering with open eyes, creative spirit and photographic skills, you’ll uncover amazing image opportunities around every corner. This guide equips you with everything needed to make the most of your Barcelona travels and bring home cherished pictures.
September 01, 2023
Expert Tips for Photographing Barcelona's Famous Architecture
Barcelona is world-renowned for its diverse and stunning architecture, from medieval Gothic cathedrals to colorful Modernisme buildings designed by famous architect Antoni Gaudí. Capturing Barcelona's architectural variety in compelling photographs requires paying close attention to lighting, composition, angles and perspective.
This comprehensive guide provides pro tips to help photographers master capturing standout pictures of Barcelona's architectural treasures that highlight their unique beauty.
Choose the Right Photography Gear
Having the proper digital SLR or mirrorless camera equipment is essential for quality architectural photography in Barcelona. Use a camera that allows interchangeable lenses and has high 20+ megapixel resolution for large prints of your Barcelona architecture photos.
Bring wide-angle and telephoto zoom lenses like a 16-35mm and 70-200mm to capture both full building facades and fine architectural details. A tilt-shift lens can eliminate distortion when shooting photos of tall iconic structures like cathedral spires or Gaudi's Sagrada Familia.
And don’t forget a sturdy tripod and remote shutter release! Together this photography gear allows flexibility in framing shots from any vantage point.
Scout the Best Locations and Times
Research famous Barcelona buildings and architectural landmarks you want to photograph. Plan when to visit each location by noting the sunrise, sunset, and daylight hours that cast the most appealing shadows or reflections on the architecture.
For night architectural photography, buildings tend to look stunning during the “blue hour” twilight period. Visit locations ahead of your Barcelona architecture photoshoot to scout the best angles and foreground elements like fountains or gardens to incorporate.
Architectural walking tours of the Gothic Quarter and Modernisme Route can help you discover lesser-known photogenic architectural spots beyond the major landmarks. Barcelona’s mixture of old and new structures situated close together provides nearly endless options.
Compose Shots Creatively
When composing your Barcelona architecture photos, look for intriguing symmetry, patterns, textures, and visual balance within the buildings. Frame key architectural details like ironwork, stained glass windows, entryways, columns, and staircases.
Shoot upward for a dramatic perspective of towering cathedral facades in the Gothic Quarter. Or head inside one of Gaudi's buildings to photograph the surreal ornamental design flourishes.
For wide exterior shots, position yourself so other elements like trees or fountains appear in the foreground to add depth. Don’t just take standard full-building shots—capture close-ups, tight spaces, and side-angles for more visual impact.
Focus on Capturing Optimal Lighting
Watch how the direction and quality of lighting transforms building textures, shapes and colors throughout the day. Low morning and evening sunlight produces extended shadows that accentuate architectural contours. Strong midday sun can saturate colorful building facades in vivid hues.
Overcast skies softly diffuse light to reduce shadows and evenly illuminate architectural details. Try using slow shutter speeds to blur the motion of clouds and traffic to highlight stationary buildings.
When shooting interiors of landmarks like the Palau de la Música Catalana, use HDR techniques to balance dim and bright areas. Lighting is absolutely key for conveying a structure's unique atmosphere.
Master Perspective and Distortion Techniques
Shooting straight upward at monumental buildings like the Sagrada Familia can cause distorting effects like converging verticals. To minimize this, photograph from a distance using a slightly elevated viewpoint. Try framing the cathedral through trees or arches to add perspective.
Tilt-shift lenses can also reduce distortion when photographing iconic Barcelona architecture. When shooting interiors, keep your camera angle horizontal to vertical lines to maintain proper perspective. Minding perspective brings out a building’s true proportions.
Include Human Elements
Although Barcelona's architecture takes center stage, people add scale and interest to architectural photography. Capture passersby naturally interacting with buildings to showcase their public functions and history.
For popular tourist sites, arrive early to take crowd-free shots before opening hours. Or use long exposures to make crowds disappear into blurs. When including people, pay close attention to composition so they don’t dominate or detract from the architecture itself.
Edit and Enhance Photos
Post-processing polishes your Barcelona architecture photos into refined final products ready for your photography portfolio website. Carefully adjust tone, temperature, clarity, vibrance and other key settings until the image closely matches the actual building.
Correct minor lens distortion and perspective flaws. Enhance details lost in shadows or highlights using advanced techniques like HDR. Convert colorful shots to classic black-and-white for timeless architectural appeal.
However, avoid overediting that diminishes the architectural authenticity. Subtle enhancements make already great architectural shots shine.
Focus on Barcelona's Famous Architectural Styles
Capturing Barcelona's Romanesque and Gothic Architecture
Barcelona’s medieval Gothic Quarter provides intricate architectural details on 13th to 15th century cathedrals, palaces and mansions. The 14th century Santa Maria del Mar basilica exemplifies Catalan Gothic design with soaring vaults, stained glass windows and gargoyles.
Use wide angle lenses to capture the entirety of massive exterior cathedral facades, along with surrounding plazas and structures. Telephoto lenses isolate sculptural accents like stone carvings and ironwork. Morning and evening offer appealing exterior Gothic Quarter lighting.
Interiors of the Gothic cathedrals are much dimmer, so use tripods and slow shutter speeds to evenly balance interior lighting.
Photographing Gaudí’s Surreal Modernisme Architecture
Modernisme architect Antoni Gaudí’s fantastical Barcelona buildings are artistic centerpieces. For Gaudí’s most famous work, the still-unfinished Sagrada Familia, morning sunlight spotlights the dizzying sculptural detail on the Passion and Nativity facades.
Contrast the daytime busyness against the stillness of night shots sans crowds. Telephoto lenses compress perspectives when photographing the towering 18 spires.
Park Güell’s colorful mosaics shine under direct midday sun. The undulating ceramic-encrusted bench surrounding the Monumental Zone creates a whimsical abstract composition. At the Casa Batlló and La Pedrera, shoot tight abstracts of the surreal chimneys and warped ironwork.
Gaudí's dreamlike organic forms reward photographers who explore every possible angle.
Photogenic Contemporary Architecture
Beyond Barcelona's old landmarks, newer architectural icons include Jean Nouvel’s luminous Torre Agbar, Calatrava’s communications tower on Montjuïc, and Ricardo Bofill’s postmodern Walden 7 apartments.
Capture the Torre Agbar’s color-changing LED lights during the evening for vivid reflections in surrounding glass towers. The soaring steel and glass communications tower looks impressive photographed head-on or from low angles.
Shoot Walden 7’s honeycomb of cubist apartments from a distance to emphasize geometric patterns and repetitions. Barcelona’s contemporary building designs offer bold shapes and eye-catching architectural details to photograph.
Telling Barcelona's History Through Architecture Photography
Photographing Barcelona's architectural changes over centuries of history reveals shifting aesthetics and cultural influences. The orderly gridlike streets of the ancient Roman settlement Barcino establish Barcelona’s original urban plan.
Striking Gothic basilicas represent medieval power and religion. Gaudí's organic Modernisme architecture ties to 19th century Catalan identity and Art Nouveau style.
Photographing Barcelona architecture across eras illustrates how buildings reflect changing societal values over time.
Besides all of the above here are:10 Tips for Capturing Unique Perspectives of Barcelona's Architecture
Barcelona's architecture offers endless possibilities for unique photographic perspectives. Here are 10 tips to capture the city's buildings from refreshing new angles:
- Shoot upward from ground level for dramatic angles of tall facades and spires.
- Get elevation - Photograph from high vantage points like rooftop terraces or Montjuïc for cityscapes.
- Try a fisheye lens to exaggerate curves and angles.
- Reflections - Use windows, water and modern facades as reflective surfaces.
- Details - Abstract architectural elements like textures, patterns, and shadows.
- Interior architecture - Concert halls, apartments, iconic ceiling details.
- Creative framing - Use tunnels, arches, trees to frame subjects uniquely.
- Juxtaposition - Contrast old and new architecture in one frame.
- Symmetry - Photograph head on for graphic symmetrical compositions.
- People - Capture authentic interactions and activities around buildings.
Applying even a couple of these tips when photographing Barcelona's landmarks will lend a fresh perspective to your images.
Another aspect to bear in mind is:Mastering Lighting for Barcelona Architecture Photography
Lighting transforms Barcelona's buildings. Follow these tips to master capturing optimal architectural lighting:
- Golden hour - Sunrise/sunset warm light brings out textures.
- Blue hour - Twilight moments when buildings are colorfully illuminated.
- Overcast/rain - Flat, even lighting great for details.
- Direct sun - Bold shadows and saturated colors.
- HDR - Balances bright and dark areas of high-contrast scenes.
- Long exposures - Blur clouds/people, smooth water surfaces.
- Mixed lighting - Interior and exterior light together create mood.
- Artificial light - Nightscapes, concerts halls lit dramatically.
- Backlighting - Rim/silhouette buildings for bold outlines.
- Reflections - Glass towers, water and more reflect light beautifully.
Photographing in different types of light will reveal Barcelona's architecture in varied and stunning ways.
Composition is another vital part of good architecture photography:How to Compose Eye-Catching Barcelona Architecture Photos
Strong composition elevates architectural photography. Use these tips when framing Barcelona's buildings:
- Rule of thirds - Place subject off-center for balance.
- Leading lines - Guide the eye through the frame.
- Viewpoint height - Shoot from above, below, or straight on.
- Symmetry - Front and center compositions are visually striking.
- Patterns and shapes - Repetition creates graphical interest.
- Foreground interest - Gardens, sculptures, water features add depth.
- Negative space - Blank areas like walls direct focus onto main subject.
- Framing - Use arches, tunnels, trees, etc to frame creatively.
- Cropping - Get close, crop out context for abstract architectural shots.
- Perspective - Correct or accentuate the angles and distortion.
Applying compositional techniques will take your Barcelona architecture photography to the next level.
If you want examples of the best hallmarks to practice your architecture photography consider the following:How to Photograph Barcelona's Most Famous Architectural Landmarks
La Sagrada Familia
Gaudi's awe-inspiring basilica comes alive in different lighting. Capture the dizzying details on the Passion Facade in morning sun. At blue hour, the illuminated spires and Nativity Facade create magical images. Shoot upward for grand perspectives of the soaring spires and ceiling. Compose using framing elements like archways or trees outside. Try creative angles from the surrounding parks.
Casa Batlló
The facade's uneven ceramic tiles in earth tones create intriguing abstract patterns. Shoot straight on for colorful symmetrical images. Photograph the smooth rounded balcony railings at night when illuminated. Inside, spiraling staircases make for strong composition. Details like the skeletal attic roof, chimneys and window frames also stand out when photographed closely.
Casa Milà
The undulating stone facade resembles waves - shoot low angles to accentuate the effect. Capture repeating arches and windows straight on for graphical images. The rooftop chimneys are one of Barcelona's most photographed details - shoot at blue hour or use them as frames in daytime shots. The interior lightwell's plant-like pillars and ceiling light effects create dramatic architectural shots.
Park Güell
The colorful mosaics along winding walkways generate beautifully abstract and symmetrical compositions. Capture the famous dragon backed bench with musicians from different angles and in varied lighting. Shoot downward from atop the Monumental Zone framing the city in the distance. Details like tile patterns, columns and fountains are photogenic. Time your shoot for sunset when warm light saturates the architecture.
Palau Güell
Shoot exteriors with the fruited chimneys and wrought iron elements contrasted against blue sky for an impressive image. Inside, the hyperbolic paraboloid archways make strong repetitive patterns. Unique details to capture include the intricate wood ceilings and the underground stables area with mushroom-like brick columns.
Palau de la Música Catalana
The kaleidoscopic stained-glass skylight is a stunning subject when shot upward. Details like the floral capitals, elaborate lamp fixtures and ornate carving offer beautiful closeup compositions. On stage, the sweeping horseshoe-shaped rows of seating lead the eye. Time interior shoots during a daytime concert for atmospheric architectural images bathed in natural light.
Once you have your beautiful images it is time for some edition:Editing Tips for Enhancing Your Barcelona Architecture Photos
Post-processing can take your architectural images to the next level. Try these edits:
- Adjust white balance for color accuracy.
- Fix lens distortion issues.
- Correct perspective and vertical lines.
- Enhance details in shadows/highlights.
- Saturation - Boost vividness of Gaudí buildings' colors.
- Dodge and burn for balanced exposure throughout.
- Add vignette to focus attention on subject.
- Black and white conversion for timeless images.
- HDR for high contrast scenes.
- Creative cropping for unique compositions.
Subtle editing elevates photos without looking artificial. Handle adjustments with care to represent Barcelona's architecture authentically.
If you want examples of beautiful areas to walk around looking for nice architecture, take a look at:Top Photography Spots for Barcelona's Best Architecture
The Gothic Quarter
This medieval labyrinth of narrow streets contains the Cathedral, Santa Maria del Mar church, Palau de la Generalitat and other ornate Gothic buildings. Capture maze-like shots of the stone architecture along atmospheric alleys.
Passeig de Gràcia
The most elegant buildings and two of Gaudi's masterpieces - Casa Batlló and Casa Milà - line this beautiful boulevard. Photograph Modernisme and other striking facades from the median or framed by palm trees.
Montjuïc
The hilltop provides elevated cityscape vantage points. Photograph the MNAC museum, Magic Fountain lightshow, Mies van der Rohe Pavilion and more from scenic overlooks.
Eixample
The grid-like streets contain many Modernisme apartment buildings with ornate facades. Unique repetitive patterns and details emerge when photographing rows of the structures.
Parc Güell
Gaudi's mosaic park offers colorful architectural elements to photograph like the main terrace, pavilions, colonnades, sculptural elements, serpentine benches.
In Summary
Photographing Barcelona’s diverse architecture requires understanding how to utilize angles, light and composition for maximum visual impact. Unique photographic details emerge at different times and from unexpected viewpoints. Beyond major monuments, lesser-known architectural gems also color Barcelona's streets.
Looking at buildings through an artistic eye transforms structures into emotionally captivating photographic works of art. Patiently exploring Barcelona’s architectural environment yields images that tell rich visual stories about this historic city. With these pro tips, your Barcelona architecture photos will capture the vibrant architectural spirit of this world-class city.
December 11, 2015
Crypt Pillars and Ceiling at Sagrada Familia Cathedral
August 28, 2007
June 15, 2023
Why Barcelona is Worth Visiting Against All Odds
According to Condé Nast Johansens, Barcelona is loved for its architecture, historic medieval center, lively nightlife, delicious food, and relaxed beach living. The city comes alive at night as restaurant terraces fill the streets and music pumps out of the many bars. Barcelona is also famous for its outstanding football team, sandy beaches, and world-class cuisine. The city has a vibrant cultural heritage and colorful neighborhood festivals that attract visitors from around the world.
Wow, that is quite a lot of compliment! But does Barcelona fail to meet those expectations? I would say that the exact stats are unnecessary and what counts is the general consensus.
Since there is a full range of sectors in which we must excel isn't it somehow 'logical' that we get bad grades in some subjects? Really? Of course not! For example, we may have a lively nightlife or many wonderful hallmarks but someone might steal your watch, your wallet or your cellphone in the blink of an eye, and what's worse, you might have to undergo a third degree interrogation and suffer all the useless police paperwork later on. This point does not meet expectations at all. It is hard to start the post with such negative remarks but it is not enough with tourists opening their eyes and looking after their belongings as they are told incessantly over the subway loudspeakers. It is never enough and local authorities must fix this. There are laws to enforce and measures to adopt to stop that! Some things are acceptable but insecurity is not one of them.
As you know, the general consensus about Barcelona is more than favorable and proof of that is the increase in the amount of visitors and the big money filling in the public treasury, plus the private pockets! So everybody should be happy. But then it happens that there is a local consensus when it comes to finding responsibles for the bad management and the bad grades: "the townhall mayor is to blame" I will not say names but read my lips. The point is that changes are coming after the recent municipal elections and Barcelona citizens want solutions not only for insecurity but for the well-being of every individual be it local or foreign, living in the city or just passing by and admiring whatever good we have to offer which is a lot.
Once said that, let's pull the curtain and restart the story with a positive attitude...
Yes, of course, Barcelona is always more than you expect and the more you visit the more you will love it. And even though Barcelona Photoblog does not need to convince you on such matters we can show some photographs and many good reasons to discover us. Visiting another country always has its pros and cons. Let's check why Condé Nast travel specialists must have said such beautiful words:
Why Barcelona is a Great Travel Destination
Here are just a few of the reasons:
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Things to Do in Barcelona
If you're planning a trip to Barcelona, here are a few of the things you should definitely add to your itinerary:
- Visit the Sagrada Familia: This unfinished cathedral is one of Antoni Gaudí's most famous works. It's a must-see for any architecture lover.
- Explore the Gothic Quarter: This medieval neighborhood is full of narrow streets, Gothic architecture, and charming shops and cafes.
- Relax on the beach: In the summer, the beaches in Barcelona are a great place to relax and soak up the sun.
- Visit the Picasso Museum: This museum houses a large collection of Picasso's work. It's a great place to learn about the artist's life and work.
- Take a walk along the Ramblas: This famous pedestrian street is lined with shops, cafes, and street performers. It's a great place to people-watch and soak up the atmosphere of Barcelona.
- Attend a flamenco show: Flamenco is a traditional Spanish dance that is performed to the accompaniment of guitar and song. It's a great way to experience Spanish culture.
- Take a day trip to Montserrat: This mountain range is located about an hour outside of Barcelona. It's a popular destination for hiking, biking, and sightseeing.
August 17, 2015
New Stained Glass Windows at Sagrada Familia Cathedral
August 06, 2008
Avenida Palace Hotel, Gran Via, Barcelona
Avenida Palace should be among the first options on your list if you are looking for a strategically located downtown hotel in Barcelona.
Just a few steps away from Passeig de Gracia, one of the most famous streets of Barcelona and Spain, Hotel Avenida Palace is an accommodation as convenient as those located near to New York's Fifth Avenue for example although Passeig de Gracia is not only the street of expensive shops but also of the most remarkable modernist houses that renown Catalan architects ever built, like Casa Mila aka La Pedrera, Casa Batllo both by Gaudi or Casa Lleo i Morera, Casa Amatller and Casa Rocamora.
But not only shops and architecture festoon the surroundings of the prestigious Avenida Palace Hotel, there is also the very center of the downtown area, Plaça Catalunya or Catalonia Square, at a 100 meters walking down in Las Ramblas direction. That's the ridiculous distance that separates you from the old part of town or casc antic. Casc Antic was that part of the city that used to be within the walls.
151 refurbished rooms, including the Sagrada Familia suite with a spectacular 10 meter square terrace or the Beatles suite where the Liverpool band stayed in 1965 make part of the perfect accommodation this great art deco style hotel has to give you.
Rooms with carpeted and parquet floors are comfortable, spacious and well distributed. There is air conditioning, Satellite TV, safe, mini-bar, soundproofed walls, en-suite bathrooms and wifi.
One of the best spots in the hotel is the rooftop bar with pool that overlooks Gran Via Street and from where you can see the unique Sagrada Familia cathedral by Gaudi.
Restaurant Beluga also in the venue might be a good option for a decent brunch although there are much better places in the vicinity. Maybe this would be one of the few things to be improved in the excellent services of Hotel Avenida Palace in my opinion.
By the way, a little bit of history for Avenida Palace's visitors-to-be:
Back in 1952, one of those great events that have skyrocketed hotel reservations in Barcelona, in this case the 35th International Eucharistic Congress, accelerated the inauguration of Avenida Palace hotel, once the legendary chocolate shop, tea salon and restaurant Casa Llibre, owned by Guillermo Llibre and designed by prestigious modernist architect Enric Sagnier in 1924. Only twelve days before the congress the hotel was opened in a rush to welcome important personalities of the ecclesiastic world. All in all, there were 300.000 visits to Barcelona city in less than a week. Another interesting fact is that hotel founder, Joan Gaspart Bonet was the grandfather of Catalan entrepreneur Joan Gaspart Solves. Joan Gaspart the grandson, is not only known for being the general manager of HUSA hotel group but for his successful 22 years as vice president of FC Barcelona and his not so good 3 years of presidency.
Here is an old image for you to compare the old building with nowadays' 4 Star Hotel Avenida Palace located at 605 - 607 Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Barcelona.
September 03, 2016
Sagrada Familia: Ceiling Detail
Here are a couple of images put together portraying details of the ceiling inside Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. There are many of these ornaments that remind me of royal seals or who knows, cava corks. Anyway,I just wanted to show you yet another beautiful spot of this magnificent masterpiece of art. I hope to recover my normal posting soon. I never find the right moment to find the strength to get into blogging again.
December 09, 2006
Nativity Façade Detail in Sagrada Familia
Composed by Portal of Hope, Portal of Charity and Portal of Faith and with Joseph, Jesus and Mary as the center in each of them, Nativity façade is my opinion much more attractive to the eye.
October 06, 2006
Nativity Portal at Sagrada Familia: Three Wise Men
July 26, 2006
Sagrada Familia: Portal of Nativity
March 26, 2006
Sagrada Familia: The Jungle Columns
March 06, 2006
Sagrada Familia: Mosaic Detail of a Spire
December 14, 2008
Modernist Wall Adornment, Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona
If you've never been there check Sant Pau's exact location on Google Map and go visit the place. It is just one subway stop away from Sagrada Familia taking the blue line. You can even get to this modernist complex on foot if you walk all the way up along Avinguda Gaudi from Sagrada Familia.
I wonder what that symbol in the center of the image means. I have read that the monumental lettering as well as part of the mosaic and sculptures make reference to the story of the holy cross and the name of the Hospital's benefactor, banker Pau Gil Serra, who donated the land. So I think this could be a G in the picture but I am not quite sure.
January 20, 2011
Casa Batlló: Masked Balconies
The famous house designed by Gaudi is so, let's say, 'different' that tiptoeing her is almost a sacrilege.
Besides the exquisite trencadis (shattered tiles) on the façade, the balconies are like carnival masks, concealed faces watching upon passersby.
The whole building has more to do with patterns we usually find in nature than with man's rationale, like the peculiar contours of the roof that simulate some sort of scaly skin as that of a lizard or a snake, or why not, a dragon, or the impossible arches and oval windows in the lower floors deprived of everything that recalls a straight line.
I tried to apply some symmetry at the moment of framing the picture but it was certainly pretty hard.
Here is a previous post about Casa Batllo.
December 09, 2010
La Pedrera: The Gaudinian Mastery of Geometry
In modern times he would certainly be working in the video game industry as a designer creating 3D virtual worlds with due respect to the obvious differences of course.
This is the roof of renown Casa Mila, which is, together with Casa Batllo and Sagrada Familia, one of the best samples of Gaudinian creative and geometry aware imagination.
In black and white the lines are more evident as in some sort of charcoal sketch.
July 29, 2007
Cross at Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
January 06, 2011
Wise Man Balthasar Brings Presents to Barcelona Kids
Balthasar Magi during Barcelona Three Wise Men Parade |
As you know every year the Three Wise Men come from the East and late at night ride on their magic camels and sneak into our houses to drop presents. Before departing, they usually stop for a minute to try some of the provisions we previously had left somewhere visible near the door or outside.
The content may vary from home to home, some people offer them liquor generally anís (anise-flavored liqueur) some others just water, and that may be accompanied by cookies, crumbs of bread (for the camels), nougat or polvorones.
Check this previous image showing the Three Wise Men sculpture group on Sagrada Familia façade