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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January 27, 2007
Lonesome Biker at the Beach
Taking someone against the sea is a very common shot cause it usually works fine. I got this lonesome biker reading at the beach near La Barceloneta quarter. It would be a very boring picture (ok, it is boring already I know) if it weren't for the light falling on those boats on the horizon. Here I show you an aerial picture of the place and to compensate for the lack of "interestingness" of the post I leave you with three Barcelona clips I found at Discovery.com. Enjoy them and have a nice weekend.
January 26, 2007
Defying Gravity on a BMX
I wish I had more time to post-process this image. I dismissed the original soft colors and decided to work with tritones, an orange/gray/black combination in fact, using the BW Workflow Pro plugin by Fred Miranda in Photoshop. I would have made it more contrasty but it was late and I could hear my bed calling me from the other room. You know the scene already from a previous post this month so there is no need to resume the BMX topic. In this one I liked the look of those kids on the right, with that mixture of desdainful look and secret admiration towards the skillful fellow so I moved the main subject further to the left on purpose.
January 25, 2007
Rafael Casanova Statue: Catalan Sculptural Realism
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This is the monument in honor of Rafael Casanova (1660 - 1743), Chief Councillor of the City of Barcelona in the previous year to the invasion of Philip V troops (Bourbons) during the War of the Spanish Succession. It is one of the two significant statues (the other is that of Josep Moragues) where members of the Catalan government lay flowers to commemorate La Diada, the National Day of Catalonia on September 11th. The historic figure, Casanova, is a subject of controversy between Catalans and some other people in Spain (there are lots of political subtleties behind this topic and I am not going to deal with them).
Some facts: Rafel Casanova was appointed Conseller en Cap in 1713, Barcelona was on the Austrian side (Habsburgs) so the city was besieged by Bourbonic troops. The militia led by Casanova and other officers resisted three assaults in a row, until food and powder were scarce and some claims of armistice were made. Nonetheless, rendition was rejected until Barcelona fell in the final assault of September 11th, 1714. Rafael Casanova had been wounded in the leg during battle, and his family hid him from Bourbonic repression declaring, legally (there was a death act), he was dead. Dressed like a friar, he left the city and reappeared after an amnisty in 1719. He died in 1743. Those were times of resistance, heroic resistance, to defend the honor of the city and its inhabitants. The rest is history, and history is always interpreted and reinterpreted according to people's beliefs, but that, is another story. By the way the statue is by Rossend Nobas one of the best representatives of Catalan sculptural realism. Don't miss the omnipresent pigeons!
January 24, 2007
Moderniste Tower in Park Guell, Barcelona
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No, this is not Disney Land. It is a little older than that. You are watching a tower located inside Park Güell, Barcelona. In fact the spire is part of a house where the park's museum is. It is mostly appreciated by tourists for the furniture designed by Gaudi who used to live there for some time. I have a closer shot which I will show you in the future. Today I think is better to contemplate the harmony between a unique piece of architecture and nature.
January 23, 2007
Rider Girl in Barcelona
© All Rights Reserved
She looks like a model but this was totally improvised. I was having dinner at Escriba's, one of my favorite Barcelona restaurants, in the terrace just in front of the beach and there she was with her slim figure and biting her tongue in the afternoon sun. The shot was not that bad but it had some golden counter light which made it right for a black and white image so I post-processed it with Photoshop CS2.
January 22, 2007
Humming Bird in Barcelona
Leaning over a small pond to take a picture of the flower I saw what I thought was a big drone or a bumblebee feeding. On looking at it closer I realized it was a hummingbird. I was not prepared so I relied on my luck. The bird was not as stunning as in a side profile picture but was visible in my image and the flower was not that bad so I chose to share them with you.
PS: I was wrong, it was a moth, a hummingbird hawk moth
January 21, 2007
Some Flowers in Riells near Barcelona
January 20, 2007
Tours of Barcelona: Park Guell, A Visionary's Whim
Like the water that flows through these small gargoyles or spouts connected to a gutter, visitors of all kinds come and go as part of the many Tours of Barcelona to enjoy the architectural design of a master applied to the natural environment of the mountain, in other less pompous words, Park Guell, the whim of a visionary architect, Antonio Gaudi, who was commissioned by Eusebi Güell i Bacigalupi, Count, textile industry businessman, art patron and friend.
Following the Count's idea he was supposed to build a luxury garden city made of private plots surrounded by common greens, based upon a British model by Ebenezer Howard thus the name Park and not Parc as in Catalan. The project was interrupted in 1914. Only three plots had been sold from a total amount of 60. The estate was sold in 1918 by Eusebi's heirs to the city council and became a public park.
Recommended: Some good tips for a Tour in Barcelona can be found in the travel section of The New York Times as Fodor's Choice
Labels:
gaudi,
guell,
güell,
park guell,
park güell
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Park Güell, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
January 19, 2007
Park Güell: A Personal Approach
Here is a sort of mixture between reality and canvas. I exaggerated the frame around the main subject which is the entrance to Park Güell by Gaudi.
It looks better from the distance I guess. I have a long way to go till I learn photography.
Have a nice weekend everybody.
Labels:
gaudi,
guell,
güell,
parc guell,
parc güell,
park guell,
park güell
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Park Güell, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
January 18, 2007
Sagrada Familia: Carrying the Cross
Once more I show you a scene from the Passion of Christ (not the film) at Sagrada Familia and one more time I am in a hurry. I am devoting more time to the pictures than to the post itself. As a matter of fact this is a photoblog not a journal or a diary. On the other hand, I know many of you are fed up with touristic pictures but some others can see beyond the obvious and admire the unrefutable beauty of Catalan patrimony. This picture is dedicated to architecture lovers. Are we daily bloggers carrying our own cross for the sake of others? That I leave up to you, but believe me sometimes it feels like redemption.
January 17, 2007
Domino Tiles: Double-6 or Double-9 Set
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Domino pieces, dominoes or tiles can be part of different sets being the most common the double-6, the double-9, the double-12 or even the double-15 sets. They are all named after the number of pips on the face of the highest tile. Hey, don't worry I am not into the games biz, maybe I should! My point is, now that I chose black and white detail, that in Barcelona as in many parts of the country is quite common to see people, mainly old people, playing dominoes in the bar (not downtown of course). It has been a traditional game here and they always use a double-6 set so I thought they would find this picture interesting and weird. In Latin America, especifically in the Caribbean. dominoes is considered the national game (I remember players shouting and sitting on the porch drinking beers or rum till late at night during a visit to Cuba where I bought this set) and they use double-9. Who would say that of a game invented in China as far back as the 12th century!.
January 16, 2007
Rusty Propeller
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There is not much to say about this one, except that it is part of an old ship, a fragment laid on one side of a park along the beach walk. There was no shipwreck there as far as I know. I took a snapshot that was dark and green but with an interesting composition so I used Photomatix and its superb tone mapping function which gave me a much better image.
January 15, 2007
Pirena 2007: Dog Sleigh Show by the Beach
Last weekend we went to Nova Icaria Beach in Barcelona to witness one of the weirdest events you can think of: dog sleds racing on the sand!. It was the Pirena 2007 show. Skillful mushers, huskies, harnesses...but no snow, not even a flake!. In fact it was quite warm. We arrived late so we couldn't enjoy the whole thing. At the end there was a side contest where participants made their trained dogs run through a set up circuit of hurdles, tunnels and slides such as the one in the picture. Some of them went really fast so I had another chance to practice speed photography.
January 14, 2007
Urban Pirouette - Freestyle BMX in Barcelona
I recognize there is a whole world behind freestyle bmx, and I enjoy watching impossible pirouettes like these as I walk along the beach, but my hair is turning gray so I prefer to follow it from the distance and practice with my camera. Nevertheless, the fact that I am too old to practice doesn't mean my younger visitors have to sit and get bored looking at my architecture pictures. If you want to know more about bikes, and especially this style check this link: Freestyle BMX Tricks.
January 13, 2007
Remodeled Spires in Sagrada Familia
These are the spires of Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi showing off a brand new look after so many years of cranes and protective hoods. The cathedral was spectacular alright but those colorful tips are the cherry on top of the cake. Nice weekend everyone!
Recomended: I know many of you are after some good photography tips and links. This one is in my opinion one of the most attractive. I suggest you check the beginners guide for example: Photonhead
Labels:
architecture,
gaudi,
sagrada familia
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
January 12, 2007
Romancing the Stone
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Also taken at La Barceloneta was this odd arrangement of rocks, some of them in stacks facing each other like some sort of primitive totem on a forgotten primitive island. It is not strange that I often stop and fall in love with a sunset at Mar Bella beach, it is not weird then that I sit there and start "romancing the stone" silently with my camera. Remember that old song by Eddie Grant?:
'I'm romancing the stone, never leaving your poor heart alone
Every night and every day gonna love the hurtin' away
I'm romancing the stone, never leaving your poor heart alone
Every night and every day gonna love the hurtin' away'
January 11, 2007
Kaleidoscope
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"Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies; Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly, A girl with kaleidoscope eyes". She had strange eyes for sure, no wonder, if she was on LSD!. My mind is meandering while I wait for the weekend for more street shots.
January 10, 2007
Lonely Bike at Barcelona Beach
Another one for the road. This time we've got a solitary bike chained to the railings overlooking Bogatell beach, one of the many small sandy inlets separated by piers along Barcelona coast. As you probably know, for many years our city ignored the sea as a leisure spot, and the many industries, warehouses or fishermen's barracks acted as a curtain that kept the shore away from citizens.
January 09, 2007
Opposites
January 08, 2007
Pageants: The Letter Bearers
Letter Bearer in Three Wise Men Parade aka Cavalcada de Reis in Barcelona |
While standing with my family in the middle of the crowd and watching the Three Wise Men parade (sp. Cabalgata de Reyes or cat. Cavalcada de Reis) last Friday, I caught this beautiful pageant and through the viewfinder I noticed that face and that magic feeling you get when your model's eyes pierce through your lens and get into your mind and soul, I can't tell what it is, maybe it is just beauty or spiritual harmony.
After I shot and lowered my camera I was rewarded with the spontaneous smile of the letter bearer or was it an angel?.
Labels:
biblical magi,
cabalgata de reyes,
cavalcada de reis,
three kings,
three wise men,
traditions
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
January 07, 2007
Three Wise Men's Pageant in Barcelona
Pageant at Three Wise Men Parade or Cabalgata de Reyes in Barcelona |
In terms of royalty this would be a simple pageant but with all due respect to your majesties, the Three Kings of East, I took the liberty of immortalizing his graceful gestures and theatrical appeal.
This pageant who had the privilege of riding on a float instead of going on foot acted as an announcer of the imminent arrival of the Three Wise Men of Orient coming right behind him.
Labels:
biblical magi,
three kings,
three wise men,
traditions
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
January 06, 2007
Wise Men of the East Arrive in Barcelona
Biblical Magi or Wise Men arriving in Barcelona |
The Three Wise Men of the East, or Magi, or Three Kings of the Orient arrived in Barcelona this afternoon at six o'clock by ship and landed in our city harbor.
Caspar of Tarsus, Melchior of Persia and Balthasar of Saba who originally followed a star to Israel in search of the newborn Christ Child to offer him gold, incense and myrrh, were seen escorted by an entourage of diligent pageants and elegant camels packed with thousands of presents for kids who had been waiting anxiously all day long.
Nevertheless, those presents cannot be seized immediately by children as they should appear by magic inside their houses once they are asleep. It is recommended that some sweets and water are set conveniently somewhere outdoors for the exhausted camels.
Labels:
biblical magi,
three kings,
three wise men,
traditions
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
January 05, 2007
She Colors My World With Hope
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Remember the markers, now I am back with a similar array of boxes containing color pencils on the next table at my daughter's classroom. The picture was already colorful but I used Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 plugin in Photoshop to give it the sort of "life as I see it thru my rose colored glasses" mood. Just the way my daughter makes me see the world. Her classroom is lovely not only for the colorful decoration but for the fantastic view of Barcelona that I want to share with you today.
January 04, 2007
The Friend of a Friend
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Africa is her name, and she is my friends' new best friend. We don't have pets ourselves except for a farm she-rabbit and a couple of parakeets (one of them born here at home). My daughter goes nuts about having a dog so they let us have it a whole day last Christmas. The use of the flash so close gave the little animal this sort of David Bowie eyes so I thought you would like it. Awaiting for my next photo excursion I am experimenting with the camera at home as you can see. Odd enough I haven't taken any pictures of Barcelona streets in two weeks in spite of the holidays. I hope this somehow "reloads my batteries" for another year but don't worry, that doesn't mean I dont' have any in stock. As to the doggie, you know the breed alright, the quiet and lazy kind!...
January 03, 2007
Say Cheese Outloud
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I am in a hurry as usual and I have not enough pictures so I am using this narrow format images. I know some of you will have to scroll, I will try to avoid this enormous vertical pictures in the future which on the other hand look terrible when cropped. Said that, I suggest you say a big "cheese" and smile for the camera. This enormous Cantal cheese, made in France was being sold at Monistrol de Montserrat, a town near Barcelona, this past autumn.
January 02, 2007
Gaudi Window Fantasy in Park Guell
January 01, 2007
Gaudi Animals: Snakes in Park Guell
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This is my first 2007 post so who better than Gaudi to emphasize the whole idea of Barcelona Photoblog. A new year of daily pictures begins. In ten months I have known fantastic fellow bloggers all over the world, I have had moments of joy and sadness, days with lots of visitors and days with almost none, but above all I have enjoyed a new experience which is promoting Barcelona through my photographs, rediscovering my own city thanks to your interest, your time and your rewarding visits. Thank you very much, best wishes and Happy 2007!
December 31, 2006
Classic Cars at Auto Retro Barcelona: Jaguar
Thanks to some of you I found out that the red car on the right in my recent post about Auto Retro was a Jaguar and you even revealed some more details about the model. Well, in this image I can tell that we are also dealing with a Jaguar but as homework it is your turn to guess again the particular model.
December 30, 2006
Gaudi Animals: Snails in Sagrada Familia
Not too long ago I showed you the picture of two lizards by Gaudi on Sagrada Familia's cloister walls.
To enhance this aspect of Gaudi's creation, that is the use of mythology and animals in his work I leave you with these snails that seem to crawl as slowly as my posts go appearing this week.
Remember that modernisme was very fond of nature elements, floral or animal. I cannot imagine the faces of Gaudi's fellow citizens looking at these snails feeding on a giant lettuce wall.
Remember that modernisme was very fond of nature elements, floral or animal. I cannot imagine the faces of Gaudi's fellow citizens looking at these snails feeding on a giant lettuce wall.
Labels:
architecture,
gaudi,
modernisme,
sagrada familia
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
December 29, 2006
Classic Cars in Barcelona
If you can see both colors you are not Daltonic or color blind...I digress. These are classic cars in the past Auto Retro exhibition in Barcelona. The one on the left is an MG but I can't tell the other make. I know there are some fans among you, for example Curly from South Shields in the UK, who can help me with this.
PS: After I wrote these lines I paid Curly a virtual visit and found out he underwent an urgent operation recently so some words of support would be just great.
Update: The car on the right is a Jaguar XKE type "E". Thanks for your help in the comments.
Labels:
classic,
classic cars,
vintage
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Avinguda de la Reina Maria Cristina, s/n, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
December 28, 2006
Bronze Sculpture of Lady Near MNAC
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Some months ago I posted a picture of this sculpture taken from a different angle and including MNAC building in the background. The woman figure in bronze is such beautiful piece that I thought I should give you a different approach, this time using some HDR treatment. As I am not a pro it has a lot of imperfections but I like the result. If you click on label "bronze" you will be able to see both posts together (at least for now). Happy New Year everyone!
December 27, 2006
The Muses at Palau de la Musica Catalana by Montaner in Barcelona
In spite of the awful framing and the rest of technical errors, due to the secrecy of the snapshot,(remember it is generally not allowed to take pictures inside Palau de la Música Catalana or Catalan Music Concert Hall) you are able to see just there on the left, at the end of the stage...
Six of the Nine Muses by Eusebi Arnau coming from the wall like silent ghosts.
There were three ushers and a lady carrying a staff badge, personally reminding me not to shoot, although some people in the middle of the audience managed to take out their compact cameras and I could see some flashes fired. Nevertheless, whenever I raised my reflex someone came and told me off.
Anyway, this stolen glimpse at one of the altars of Catalan modernisme made breaking the rules inevitable and almost justifiable.
Location: Barcelona, Spain
C/ Palau de la Música, 4-6, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
December 26, 2006
Optical Illusion at Palau de la Música, Barcelona
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On the Palau de la Música façade in Barcelona you can admire this sculptoric group protruding out of the wall. I was just shooting randomly and back home I discovered this white trail behind a jet plane that funny enough seems to come out of the soldier's groin (my rotten mind!). The sculpture by Miquel Blay is larger and it is located on the corner of the building. The group is entitled La cançó popular catalana (popular Catalan song) and its main figure is a maid located right below. The soldier on top is a copy of a silver statuette of St. George in the Palau de la Generalitat chapel.
December 25, 2006
Via Laietana in Barcelona
© All Rights Reserved
I don't have much time due to these days of Christmas celebrations but I want all of those nostalgic people craving for a fresh image of Barcelona to have their daily "dose". So here you are, an image of Via Laietana, one of the main streets crossing Barcelona from the Eixample towards the sea and one of the first ones to appear in the history of the city. It was built in 1907 and it's named after an Iberian tribe who dwelled in this zone before the arrival of the Romans. The building you see in the image is the headquarters of La Caixa, an important savings bank.
December 24, 2006
Park Güell: Chocolate, Candy and Marzipan
Remember Hansel and Gretel story where two kids find a house in the woods made of chocolate, candy and marzipan, well maybe you imagined something like this. I don't think Brothers Grimm were alive to see this masterpiece of Catalan modernisme so I guess Gaudi read a lot of fairy tales.
One of the major works of Gaudí in Barcelona, Park Güell is a public park made of gardens and architectonic elements like this beautiful house with an incredible roof made using the trencadis technique, that consists in breaking tiles to compose a mosaic. As usual Gaudi went beyond many architects of his time and of generations to come.
Labels:
architecture,
casa modernista,
gaudi,
guell,
güell,
modernisme,
modernist building,
modernista,
mosaic,
park guell,
park güell,
trencadis
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Park Güell, 08024 Barcelona, Spain
December 23, 2006
Gaudi's Lizard at Park Guell, Barcelona
© All Rights Reserved
Resuming my visit to Park Güell, and browsing my pictures I found this closeup of Gaudi's lizard with a beautiful tourist in the background. I guess I could have entitled the post as the Beast and the Beauty but I prefer better keywords in my headings. The reason I came this close is simple, the monster (looks like the Big White in famous Jaws jumping out of the water) is so "photo trodden" that you can't hardly take anyone by surprise. From here I would like to thank my anonymous model for her casual appearance in the image.
Recommended: A new tool to search for amazon products called Amaznode. I am not promoting anything here but it called my attention for its innovative performance. Say for example you look up "Gaudi" in the books section, a whole bunch of interconnected thumbs with the book covers in 3d appearance start multiplying in front of your face.
December 22, 2006
Christmas Shopping
© All Rights Reserved
It's Friday and Christmas weekend is coming!. Shops are out there getting ready for skyrocketing sales. Me, I am just playing with colors in those scintillating Christmas balls trying not to get too affected by the throng. The new year is around the corner back again! This one passed me by and caught me unawares. Hey, cheer up! Let's go look for our presents. Oh no, not coal again!
December 21, 2006
Color Markers
Some colorful markers to celebrate my dsl service is up and running again. Thanks for your patience. These improvised boxes I photographed yesterday while singing Christmas carols in my daughter's class. Merry Christmas my friends!
December 20, 2006
Citroen DS: Classic Cars at Auto Retro Barcelona
Citroën DS, one of the most beautiful classic cars as seen at one of the parking lots in front of Fira de Barcelona at Plaça Espanya during past Auto Retro Barcelona exhibition last Dec 10th.
As I said before I am not much of a classic car enthusiast but I can see beauty and art in such nice design.
For the picture I had to climb a wall which gave me an attractive perspective. The orange reflection on the left comes from the plastic barriers next to an improvised mechanical inspection ramp nearby but in my opinion not even this noise can alter the nice look of the DS, the elegant sleek shark of classic automobiles.
December 19, 2006
Montserrat: The Jagged Magic Mountain
The mountain of Montserrat used to be part of a delta in the Terciary Period. Sediments came from a mountain range located on what today is the Mediterranean Sea and were deposited on a narrow shallow sea that reached the Atlantic Ocean. From those times are the conglomerate rocks present in the area which are very resistant and that form those familiar monoliths that Gaudi perhaps evoked in his famous knights of La Pedrera's chimney stacks. In between the monoliths there are fractures of clay continuously altered by erosion thus the isolation of the big solid structures and the numerous caves. I mention all this because I was always amazed when some geology teacher back in my childhood days said: "You see these layers here, well, this region was once under the sea" - and you wondered, "how come!, we are miles away!". So this post goes to all those would-be scientists who still feel nostalgic about long gone field excursions.
December 18, 2006
Tapas: A Spanish Temptation
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This is a picture of a Spanish tapa called pincho or pintxo served in the Basque country in the north of Spain. There is a huge variety of them but they share a common feature they carry a toothpick that holds them to the slice of bread and that you are supposed to keep so they can count how many you eat. Pintxos are part of the big family of tapas that are known all over Spain especially in Andalusia but this way of serving them has rooted in many places of the country. In Barcelona there are lots of Basque restaurants preparing delicious combinations on that little piece of bread but they will never ever taste (this is common opinion I guess) as good as the ones you can have up North in San Sebastian, Bilbao, Vitoria, Trapagaran, Baiona, Mungia or Ulzama and Pamplona (these last two in Navarra). I am sure I am leaving someone out but it would be too long a list. I have another image to show you in coming days about pintxos. I would haven taken many pictures but I preferred to eat.
December 17, 2006
The Old Man and the Sea
© All Rights Reserved
Yet another shot of the beach in Barcelona city. I was trying to capture that quite restrictive sign post using the sea and the rocks as a background when this old man suddenly appeared on the corner of my eye. I had nothing but the sign in my picture and that was not too much appealing so instead of taking some steps back which would make the man notice I zoomed out and included him in my picture to improve composition.
December 16, 2006
Green Peppers
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These green pickled peppers called my attention while we were visiting the medieval market of Suria. I took many pictures there so you will hear the name of this town near Barcelona in many of my posts. I also like the color of those olives back there. I am not fond of peppers myself but they really make a good subject for a picture. I have managed to post today through one of my friends. Have a nice weekend!
December 15, 2006
Couple at the Beach in Barcelona
© All Rights Reserved
Today I am in a bit of a hurry but of course I won't let you without your daily picture of Barcelona. This time I chose another romantic image in the same line of a very recent post: Love Me Tender. As you can appreciate the world could be falling appart and they would still be holding each other. I think they call it love, an ancient "illness" as old as humanity itself.
December 14, 2006
A Dog's Day
© All Rights Reserved
As far as I am concerned I had no pictures of dogs. Recently I posted my first cat so I've got my classic animal pictures after so much time. Maybe I can even start an animal photoset at Flickr, who knows!. Last weekend, on our way to the Auto Retro exhibition in Fira de Barcelona and some steps ahead of me was this beautiful dog, a boxer or a bullboxer I guess (please correct me if I am wrong) walking unleashed near his owner. The light was so good that I started to chase him trying to find the right moment. I got his butt all the time in my viewfinder but suddenly he paused to wait for the master and here is the result. Then came the eternal question black and white or color. I settled for bw, using a tritone combination that looks more like sepia but maybe you prefer the original color version.
December 13, 2006
Palm Trees in Barcelona
Palm trees are common in Barcelona, almost 5,000 according to official figures. Besides the Mediterranean fan palm native of Catalonia, you can also find the Canaries palm or some members of the Washingtonia family like the California fan palm or the Mexican fan palm. In today's picture you can see the striking colors of Phoenix dactilifera or date palm tree and its fruit. In recent years a foreign species of bird has invaded Barcelona choosing such trees to nest and feed on the colorful and tasty dates. As many of you already know this bird is the quaker parrot.
December 12, 2006
Barcelona Street Artists: Cleopatra in a Trance
You have seen her before on this site. This time I managed to come up closer to Cleopatra to take a good look at those bracelets, those rings and the pearl tiara with the lethal asp.
Apparently she is still in a trance induced by the dreadful bite although she is quite aware of the noise of those coins falling in a can at her feet.
As you can see she is sitting on a chair which is quite more comfortable than standing still like many of the human statues along Las Ramblas: wise girl indeed!
Labels:
human statue,
living statue,
street artist
Location: Barcelona, Spain
La Rambla, Barcelona, Spain
December 11, 2006
Auto Retro Barcelona: Antique Cars and Motorcycles Exhibition
Auto Retro Barcelona (2006) came to an end after four days of exhibition in the Fira de Barcelona venue.
I am not a big fan of classic cars or motorbikes, at least not from the point of view of engines, value and so on. What I do like is the aesthetic aspect of these collector's exhibits, especially when you can capture them in your pictures.
Admission fees were a little above my standards (not being a fan and all) so I wandered about the esplanades at the entrance where improvised parking lots lodged some beauties you could easily snap. This was the case of this black Citroën. I've had a hard time identifying the brand and finding a proper link so I leave it up to you to suggest.
Fortunately, it appeared unexpectedly driving down the access road and against the marvelous Palau Nacional building in the background where MNAC (National Art Museum of Catalonia) is.
If you want to know about the history behind Fira de Barcelona i.e. the International Exhibition of 1929 please check my previous posts about this topic.
Labels:
classic cars,
montjuic,
vintage
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
December 10, 2006
December 09, 2006
Nativity Façade Detail in Sagrada Familia
This is a detail of the Nativity Façade by Gaudi. An explosion of imagination, the artist at his most.
I like those wingless angels blowing the trumpets. Did you know that Gaudi firmly believed that angels had no wings and so it goes that no angel in the basilica is represented as such?
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.
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.
Labels:
architecture,
gaudi,
modernisme,
nativity façade,
sagrada familia
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain
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amusement park
(27)
port
(27)
human statue
(26)
art
(25)
mosaic
(25)
tibidabo
(25)
guell
(23)
barcelona streets
(22)
sant pau
(22)
tips
(22)
Catalan traditions
(21)
barcelona shop
(21)
market
(21)
montjuic
(21)
gothic quarter
(19)
la boqueria market
(18)
opinion
(18)
carnival
(17)
costa brava
(17)
domenech i montaner
(17)
christmas
(16)
ciutadella
(16)
maremagnum
(16)
folklore
(15)
classic
(14)
balcony
(13)
modernist
(13)
sea
(13)
street art
(13)
barcelona hotels
(12)
catalan art nouveau
(12)
catalan towns
(12)
costumes
(12)
graffiti
(12)
la pedrera
(12)
stained glass
(12)
casa mila
(11)
casa modernista
(11)
door
(11)
fountain
(11)
history
(11)
barcelona market
(10)
ceiling
(10)
la rambla
(10)
barcelona port
(9)
bikes
(9)
chocolate
(9)
crafts
(9)
paper mache
(9)
pedralbes
(9)
port aventura
(9)
vintage
(9)
architects
(8)
cosmocaixa
(8)
harbor
(8)
hotel
(8)
motorbike
(8)
passeig de gracia
(8)
arc de triomf
(7)
classic cars
(7)
dali
(7)
gracia
(4)
palau de la musica
(4)
accommodation
(3)
barcelona bar
(3)
casa batllo
(2)
cheese
(2)
cruises
(2)
gracia quarter
(2)
ham
(2)
wine
(2)
hostel
(1)
parc guell
(1)
picasso
(1)