Category Archive for: ‘Uncategorized’

Photos of Gaudi’s Dragon – Güell Pavilions

Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi created many beautiful Modernist works, mainly for his patron Guell. The more obvious tourist attractions are high on the lists of every visitors Things To Do In Barcelona such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila and Parc Guell. But there are other really striking pieces of work/art that can make your pictures of Barcelona stand out from everyone elses. For example, this is Gaudi’s Dragon Gate in the Guell Pavilions in the Sarria district.

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Also well worth a visit, but further out of Barcelona, is the Colonia Guell, which paid for a lot of the other beautiful buildings around Catalunya. There’s a Crypt there too, which while worth a visit, isn’t as photogenic as the amusing named abandoned Castillo del Diablo, or the Castle of Hell, which is nearby. It’s apparently the most haunted place in Spain, if you believe in that sort of thing; either way it’s an interesting, different location for photos in Barcelona. Know more? Let us know!

Fashion Photography in Barcelona

Fotografia de Moda en Barcelona!

Really enjoyed teaching fashion photography in Barcelona. Lots of great photographers capturing some beautiful fotos de moda of our four excellent models, who were beautifully made up by Katie Donoghue. We photographed with a street/ city/ urban theme around the Glories area near the Torre Agbar. It’s undergoing a lot of regeneration and there is some amazing new architecture like the Mercat del Encants and the Can Framis museum. Let us know which photos you like and we’ll explain exactly how to create similar photographs with your camera on one of our bespoke photography courses, right here in Barcelona!

Barcelona Photography – Our Free Guide!

We’ve just published our free guide to Photography in Barcelona! Check it out to find out what to do in Barcelona, where’s best to take pictures, how to improve your photography, more information about our courses and also the photography resources we love most here in Barcelona. Let us know what else you’d like to see for the next update 🙂

July 1st? Venice Photography Course!

We’re Going To Venice!

We’re going to Venice this month to photograph a fine-art wedding. Because Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, we knew we had to host a special one-day photography course while we’re there. What a place to develop your skills in the Art of Photography!

When?

1st July 2013 – Times to be confirmed – Sunrise and Sunset if you’re up for that!

What?

We’ll cover the Holistic Photography Essentials Course in the morning to give you the best possible foundations, then move on to advanced off-camera flash techniques and the principles of aesthetics in the afternoon.

Who?

Ben – www.EnglishPhotographer.com

‘Ben’s publications on photography are interesting, easy reads for newcomers to photography, but which make even experienced photographers step back and look at their work from a different and new perspective. … I cannot recommend Ben highly enough. His enthusiasm for photography is contagious and his photographic work is simply some of the best I have ever seen.’ – ML Leddy, Senior US Military Adviser

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g187497-d2149154-Reviews-Barcelona_Photography_Courses-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Where?

We’ll explore the most photogenic parts of Venice so you come away with the best possible pictures!

How Much?

Since we’ll be in Venice anyway, the whole day’s tuition is only €600, and this includes a year’s access to photography advice and unbiased equipment recommendations via email/Skype, as well as a copy of ‘Photography: The Few Things You Need To Know’ as an ebook and audiobook (>1hr long!).

Each extra person you bring can enjoy a €100 discount so you can experience the course together.

Workshop Size?

We’ll limit it to 5 students so everyone can get the most out of the day.

Level?

We welcome everyone from complete beginners to pro photographers. The Holistic Photography syllabus encourages and promotes self-learning after the course and has consistently proved invaluable to photographers of all skill levels.

How?

Send us a message with the form below, or email us at Info@BarcelonaPhotographyCourses.com and we’ll sign up up. Places are very limited; first come, first served.

See you in Venice!

Take The Best Photographs Of Your Life In Venice, Italy!

You can learn exactly how to make photographs like these on our courses; we share completely everything with you, and give you both the theory and practical techniques. Find out about our most popular Holistic Photography Essentials Course now.

Celler Can Roca World’s Best Restaurant Officially near Barcelona!

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A love of photography and the arts seems to go hand in hand with an appreciation of fine food cooked magnificently by artisans. Barcelona with its Catalan culture of Mediterranean cuisine has a generous helping of world-class restaurants.

Catalunya’s star chef Ferran Adria has the best restaurant in the world, El Bulli several miles North of Barcelona. This restaurant booked up years in advance and closed for half the year for cutting edge research for new dishes and reinventing traditional ones.

Well we’re very pleased that Barcelona once again is well located next to the world’s new best restaurant, El Celler Can Roca which once again is North of Barcelona in the heart of Catalunya.

Barcelona is near the world's new Best Restaurant, El Celler Can Roca in Girona, Catalunya, Spain.

Bottle and bottles of fine wine at El Celler Can Roca

El Celler Can Roca is close to Girona, a beautiful city in its own right. In fact, Girona equals Catalunya for Fine Art architectural photography and is an amazing place to spend a wedding, honeymoon or just a weekend getaway. It’s one of our favourite places for travel photography in Spain!

Now it’s possible to pair up a visit taking pictures of Girona and enjoy a meal in the best restaurant in the world too. You’ll need to book up far far in advance as tables are highly desirable and sought after.

Congratulations to the three brothers Joan, Josep and Jordi who run El Celler Can Roca restaurant!

Can Sunyer 48,

17007 Girona

+34 972 22 21 57

The Fuji X-Pro1 vs The X-E1

Barcelona Photography Courses Fuji Xpro1

The Fuji X-Pro1

Like most photographers, we love our gear. It’s definitely not essential for beautiful Barcelona pictures, but a good camera can change the way you photograph. We’ve been reviewing the Fuji X-Pro1 and X-E1 (Sexy One) separately and thought we’d make a video comparing the two to see how they compare.

The Beauty of Light

Plaça del Rei, Barcelona in the Blue Hour

A big thank you to Marian and Fujifilm Spain for the loan of their cameras!

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Placa Sant Felip de Neri, Barcelona

Barcelona’s Placa Sant Felip de Neri is incredibly photogenic, which is why it’s been the backdrop for many books and films, such as ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’, Zafón’s ‘The Shadow of the Wind’, and an Evanescence music video. It’s become a must-see in several guide books and websites about Barcelona.

Perhaps thankfully, it can be quite difficult to find for the first-time visitor. This gives an initial impression of serendipity, usually at the end of an enjoying walk through the Barri Gotico’s (Gothic Quarter’s) narrow streets.

For the best pictures of Barcelona, it’s important to know not just how to get there, but also the best time to visit for the right light. The sun can be harsh at some times, giving the hard shadows necessary to capture the textures. At other times, the square is lit indirectly through the foliage of Acacia trees and the light is softer, often requiring a tripod or higher ISOs.

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Flowers in the Fountain

At night, the street lights are LEDs which can burn out the highlights if you’re not careful. Don’t worry – if you want pictures of Placa Sant Felip Neri for your portfolio while you’re here, we’ll work with you to make sure you get them.

It’s as well to say something of the troubled past of Placa Sant Felip Neri. It was built on a mediaeval cemetery, the Montjuic del Bisbe. Antoni Gaudi, the famous Catalan Modernist architect was coming here when he was hit by a tram.

But most obvious are the pockmarked scars on the walls of the Baroque church, ‘San Felip Neri’. It was built in the 18th century, but sustained the damage in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War after a bomb was dropped on the square. Tragically, 42 people, including 20 children were killed in the bombardment.

Unmentioned by most is the living history of this horrific past. Brave judge Baltasar Garzon, who had Chilean dictator General Pinochet arrested in London, has attempted to look into the villains and victims of the Franco era.

For his efforts he was put on trial in 2012 for violating the 1977 ‘amnesty’ in which the past of Franco-era unexplained disappearances was locked up and deemed irreproachable. Tellingly, someone has written ‘Always Remember The Victims Of Fascist Regimes’ on the the church wall, and a memorial plaque has been put up in 2007.

The square feels charming however, and is certainly one of the most attractive locations in the city. It’s fountain is calming, and the temperature is generally warmer in winter and cooler in summer than elsewhere.

There’s now a Catalan school in Placa Sant Felipe de Neri, and playtime is incredibly ‘lively’. The little square fills with laughing, running children who play football and splash one another with water from the fountain.

Children Play In Sant Felip Neri

It was redesigned in the Fifties by an architect called Adolf Florensa, who sought to create an ancient-looking square. The city’s Museu del Calçat or Barcelona’s Shoe Museum is here.

If you’re planning a photoshoot in the square after seeing the Woody Allen film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, bear in mind that the umbrellas in the little cafe (Hotel Neri H&R) which used to be red are bright blue now.

Placa Sant Felip de Neri also has a merry cast of local chaps who like to play football, argue amongst themselves and occasionally sing boisterously after drinks. I’m grateful for one such fellow for this photo, made completely in-camera (no Photoshop).

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Enjoying A Bath

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Address: Plaça Sant Felip Neri, 08002 Barcelona

Photography Competition: Leica Award

May be of interest to our pro-photographer clients.

Eligibility: Professional Photographers

What: ‘The relationship between man and the environment … in a sequence of a minimum of 10 up to a maximum of 12 images. Entry submissions must be a self-contained series of images (about) the interaction between man and the environment with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creative, groundbreaking and unintrusive.’

Prize: A Leica M camera and a lens worth 10.000 Euros and a cash prize of 5,000 Euros.

When: 15 January and 1 March 2013.

How: http://www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com/

Girona Photography Daytrip

On Saturday we headed up to teach a travel photography masterclass in Girona; a beautiful city North of Barcelona. The light was incredible, and Girona was buzzing with their Girona10 weekend. Here are some photos from the day!