Tag: Spain

Digital · Photography

Lady Dumpling

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We walked past this place selling dumplings on a number of occasions while in Barcelona (although we didn’t get chance to purchase any). I thought it made for a nice picture.

Something good that happened today…

I’m still struggling to find something to put in this section on some days. I did have some good personal news, but it’s not something I want to talk about on here, so I’m clutching at straws a little otherwise. I think that the fact I tend to worry about things a lot can mean the good stuff gets obscured.

So I’m going to go with my weight. Not that it’s great – I’m overweight and at least a half-stone over what I was back in the autumn – but I’m still over a stone lighter than I was this time last year and, while my weight is not really dropping much at present (still some Christmas treats hanging around the house that need to be defeated!), it’s not increasing either, which bodes well for when I make a proper effort to get it under control soon. Hopefully I might hit my target this year!

Lady Dumpling

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 22 December 2024

Digital · Photography

Unstrung

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I managed to shoot another roll of film through my Yashica Mat 124G today – that’s four rolls in less than a week (and this one is officially my first of 2025). After a relatively sparse couple of months in terms of taking pictures, I hope I can get back into some sort of regularity again as the new year kicks in.

So, more film stuff coming, but another digital picture today (mainly because I’m tired after a day of shooting film!).

Head and neck

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 20 December 2024

Digital · Photography

By the skin of my teeth

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Although we booked our pre-Christmas trip to Barcelona several months ago, it was only a week before we were due to depart that I realised that my passport was close to its expiry. Checking the entry requirements for Spain I became pretty concerned when I realised my passport needed a minimum of three months until expiry from the date we returned home. Looking into this further on the Spanish consulate website, I got the slightly more specific “90 days, minimum” figure.

Thankfully, my passport just squeaked through the requirements, but there were definite nervous moments when going through border control where I wondered if they might refuse my entry and put me on a plane back home!

I’ve now sent off for a new passport so at least I’ll not have to worry about this again for the next decade!

Airport scene

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 23 December 2024

Digital · Photography

Bars on the window

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Clear skies in Barcelona meant there was some gorgeous light about, although the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter mean that this only falls on locations at certain times of the day. When you catch it though, it’s lovely.

Another misty day here in the UK today, so I got out for the third time in as many days with my Yashica Mat 124G and a roll of Tri-X. I’m hoping to start developing the three rolls on Monday.

Lamplight

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 20 December 2024

Digital · Photography

A room with a view (through the curtains)

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While we were in out hotel room in Barcelona last weekend, I noticed this scene through a gap in the curtains. I liked the contrast of light and shade, and the golden and blue colours of the scene outside.

Meanwhile, back at home after Christmas day, we’ve had misty conditions the past couple of days, so I’ve managed to get out and shoot a couple of rolls of Tri-X through my Yashica Mat 124G. I might get the opportunity to develop them over the next few days before I post my annual favourite photos post (and I don’t yet have any film photos for this month).

Beyond the veil

Ricoh GR III

Taken on 21 December 2024

Digital · Photography

A trip to Barcelona

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My wife and I spent the weekend just gone in Barcelona to visit the Christmas markets and just wander round the city. It’s the first time I’ve traveled overseas so close to Christmas and I was a little concerned that we might get caught up in a mass of travelers going home for Christmas, but everything went very smoothly and, while Barcelona was pretty busy, the travel was not.

We had a very nice time just wandering about the place, not doing anything in particular other than visiting shops and markets and eating nice food. We visited the Sagrada Familia as there was another Christmas market there, and I did consider going inside the cathedral, but I would have needed needed to book tickets in advance and there were none available to buy on the day as it was fully booked. My wife isn’t particularly interested in visiting cathedrals anyway, and I would have felt a little guilty if I was dragging her around the place while I took photos and admired the architecture, so I wasn’t too concerned about missing the opportunity. Maybe I’ll get another chance one day.

I shot a roll of colour 35mm film while there, but it will be after Christmas before that gets developed, but took some more photos with my Ricoh GRIII, including the one posted here today, so will share some of those once I’ve gone through them all.

This large star can be found in Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona, Spain. It is titled Origen and was created by Xevi Bayona and Àlex Posada. It projects light from the points of the star onto the facades of the buildings in the plaza.

ORIGEN

Ricoh GRIII

Taken on 20 December 2024

Digital · Photography

A digital interlude (and a new lens)

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I have another of my “Walk With a Camera” posts coming soon, but I haven’t put virtual pen to ink yet, and I don’t plan on rushing it today. I’ve been out mist of the day, firstly seeing The Fall Guy at the cinema with my wife, and then’ when I got home, on a shortish walk to Rother Valley Country Park to test a new lens I’ve bought.

I’ve bought a Tamron 28-300mm zoom lens that will fit my Nikon F80. I think it will be a good choice for when I go on future hikes as it should give me a lot of versatility. The F80 can make use of the image stabilisation on the lens (although I’ve found, slightly annoyingly, that only with a half-press of the shutter, and not with my preferred back-button focusing method). This should prove useful when using the longer focal lengths.

A zoom like this is never going to beat a prime, but as it’ll be used with 35mm film – probably 400asa – then I’m hoping any noticeable shortcomings will be minimal. I only took two shots with it today – all that remained on the roll already in the camera – but they’re at 200mm and 300mm, so should give me some idea of what I can expect when zoomed in. I’ll try the wide angle end on the next roll. I’ll give my thoughts and post some pictures once I’ve gotten them developed and scanned.

Anyway, in lieu of a film photograph today, here’s a digital shot from my trip to Malaga last summer. It’s been hot and humid here in the UK today, so it brought back memories of Spain.

Backstreet

Ricoh GRIII

Taken on 20 August 2023