Fully Connected, Barcelona, 2024
“The quickest way to make money at photography is to sell your camera.”
– Anonymous
Yep, there is not a lot of money in art… unless you are damn good, and you find your way “in”. (Lots of exceptional artists out there who never make it “in”.)
Anyway…
Images seem to constantly accumulate on my mobile phone, like dust bunnies behind the couch. It’s time to see what’s there and chase them out. (To make space for more, of course!)
I no longer carry around the big, heavy DSLR whilst awandering or with family. The iPhone camera is plenty good enough for most of my needs. The big camera and tripod only come out for a specific project for which I might contemplate large prints… say, landscape photography of Montserrat in a storm.
I transferred the following sampling of random pics to my desktop and worked them through Silver Efex Pro in the case of B&W, or Color Efex Pro in the case of… well, you know… color.
B&W Images
What can you say? I guess he takes a certain pride in his image… or maybe it is just simple acceptance of a reality? (Or a gift from his significant other!?)
The Drunken Lazy Bastard, Barcelona, 2024
These giant fake facades often cover the fronts of buildings while restoration work is under way behind. Sometimes you can find creative compositions with them, though most have too many advertising words and slogans for that.
Urban Fantasy Dance, Barcelona, 2024
And here, a couple of found, centuries-old demons somewhere in the city center…
Ancient Visage, #1, Barcelona, 2024
Ancient Visage, #2, Barcelona, 2024
This one is more of a modern demon… spied in the layered reflections of a store window.
From Beyond the Grave, Barcelona, 2024
Maybe you have heard about tourists in the Barcelona city center being attacked by squirt guns awhile back? Relatedly, you will see these messages (below) scattered randomly throughout the city. It is an understandable reaction to the seemingly inexorable “Disneylandification” of the metropolis (and of other European cities). The tourism that is especially NOT appreciated is the “party tourism” involving drugs, alcohol, trash, noise, agressive behaviors, and vomit in the streets–a big thanks to the army of city employees who clean it all up every morning.
Tourists Go Home, Barcelona, 2024
I believe this is the site for Pabasfalto S.L., looking a bit surreal (extraterrestrial?) on a quiet weekend.
A Surreal Quarry, Catalunya, 2024
Don’t worry, they eventually did work their beloved dog into their post-wedding photos. This is an 11th century church (obviously restored) not far from Vallirana, outside Barcelona.
After the Wedding, Església de Sant Ponç de Corbera, Catalunya, 2024
On to the nature shots… three trees with personality.
Spirit Tree, Església de Sant Ponç de Corbera, Catalunya, 2024
Goiter Tree, Església de Sant Ponç de Corbera, Catalunya, 2024
A Natural Struggle, Montserrat, Catalunya, 2024
Color Images
Sometimes I actually do surrender to color, when it is obviously a critical component.
Like this picture, for example… a color version of the same image I posted above. I really like those dusty yellow super-industrial tones in the late afternoon light, and how they contrast with the blues and greens of the surrounding natural world.
A Surreal Quarry, Catalunya, 2024
The Acid Tunnel??? I think it is actually a pizza joint.
Red Acid Hallway, Barcelona, 2024
In the early 20th century, a newfangled electrical transformer station was housed here. Now actual human beans rather than electrons live in the structure. You’ll find it in Barri Raval. (Note the… uh… interesting sculpture just to the right of the bird. The note referencing “hastaloshuesos”–“to the bones”–on Instagram led me to something about electronic music, so I’m not sure of the painful symbolism depicted here.)
Avian Energy, Barcelona, 2024
Lego kits today are not your grandmother’s Lego toys anymore, Toto. They have gotten quite sophisticated and the store on Passeg de Gràcia is always packed with all ages, shapes, colors, and forms of humanity.
Lego Man, Barcelona, 2024
Mobile phones these days are starting to do a quite reasonable job even in low light. I’m especially impressed that it captured reasonable detail in the bright windows, despite how dark the interior was (=wide dynamic range). This church dates from around the 14th century, renovated several times over the centuries.
Santuari, Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes, Barcelona, 2024
I think this was a spooky light on the bedroom wall late in the evening?–enhanced a bit. I can’t remember exactly where it came from. Or maybe it was just a mistaken shutter press?
Globular Cluster on a Bedroom Wall, Barcelona, 2024
Let’s relax a bit after the overstimulating red red red above… La Paret de l’Os at Sant Llorenç de Montgai, Catalunya.
Tranquility, Sant Llorenç de Montgai, Catalunya, 2024
Finally, a calming green vine lovingly embraces its mother tree.
The Vine, Catalunya, 2024
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