Spain

The country of Spain is full of history and is certainly not a boring place. Its customs and culture have been formed over many centuries and has been influenced by Moors - Arabic conquerors from North Africa. With a camera in hand I was about to taste the smorgasbord of Spain's architecture, dance and countryside. Barcelona This is a first Spanish city that we have visited. Nestled on the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia province, it is famous for its unusual architecture. It is also well known for its Olympic history and association with the artist Pablo Picasso. The places I have found incredible to photograph were the ones created by Andreo Gaudi. This famous twentieth century architect had revolutionary ideas for his time. Even now they look somewhat futuristic. The incredible forms born of his imagination have become famous tourist attractions. Casa Mila building, Park Guell and Sagrada Familia cathedral are his most famous creations. The beautiful rounded forms of Casa Mila look great at any time of the day. You will need a really wide-angle lens to capture it in all its glory. However, sometimes picking a particular feature of the building with a telephoto will also produce interesting photos. The Sagrada Familia cathedral is an unbelievable creation and a place of religious worship. You can spend hours walking around it trying to guess at the hidden meanings behind the stone depictions of Christian history. As most of those buildings are more about shape than colour, I've converted images to black and white with a touch of sepia. There is more to Barcelona than just its architecture. The lovely street of La Rambla presents many opportunities for street photography. It is full of street vendors, colourful performers and tourists. Just watch your gear for pickpockets.A longer telephoto lens helps to isolate a subject and make inconspicuous shots. For night photography you should head off to Plaza d'Espana. Its splendid dancing fountain lights up with colour and presents a beautiful show. You must, however, bring a tripod or a monopod as hand held shots are difficult to make at night. Madrid The capital of Spain had immediate impact on me. Grotesque stone buildings, wide street and large squares carry all the attributes of a large European city. Visiting Royal palace was a joyful experience. The rich decorations are tastefully presented. As you walk down the corridors its walls are adorned with paintings and lined with antique furniture. You are taken back in time to the glory days of Spain. Night shots of the Royal Palace or Plaza d'Espana would work well. Don't forget to see the monument to Miguel de Cervantes with his famous characters of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. For those who like some action shots, corrida or bullfighting would definitely be an event to attend. However, a lot of people are against it. Use your best judgement. Seville The city of Seville in southern Spain has got some beautiful sights. Its huge cathedral is claimed to be the largest in the world and definitely makes an impression on visitors. It is here you will be able to see a very unusual monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus. There are a lot of sights in Seville that remind you of its Moorish past. Take for example the minaret of La Giralda and the Alcбzar Palace. Splendid Arabic architecture is well blended into its surroundings. In my opinion it is definitely worth photographing. Granada I was looking forward to visiting Granada for a number of reasons. For starters, it was a city associated with Christopher Columbus' life and his famous journey. Secondly, this area has been under Moorish dominance for many centuries symbolised by the Al-Hambra citadel. Thirdly, it is a home to a large community of gypsies. The Spanish dance flamenco, for example, has gypsy dance origins. Like many tourists, I went to one of the night performances. It was a splendid sight. Having a fast short telephoto, like 85mm 1.8, would have certainly helped in poorly lit premises. Spain is a definitely an interesting place to photograph whether it is architecture, people or landscapes.