monforte de lemos
I am a big fan of local, everyday photography. I don’t want to limit myself to photographing just a few days or weeks a year, whenever I have the chance to go to an overcrowded, and over-photographed place. I like that too, of course, but even though it can be very frustrating at times, carving my own path, discovering images that are unique to me, that — that is way more interesting.
I walk a lot. Perhaps I got tired of driving after my last road trip through Europe; perhaps the Camino got me hooked. Whatever the reason, I am obsessed with walking.
Of course, I always carry a camera with me. Sometimes, I'll listen to music or to a podcast. Most of the time, though, I'll just take in whatever is around -be it birds chirping or a loud highway.
Almost all the photography I've done during these past 2 months has been done on these walks, I barely used the car. This is a big shift from the way I used to do photography, not too long ago. I've found joy in just walking around with a compact camera and capturing whatever I see, wherever I happen to be.
In fact, photography while walking has become a meditation of sorts for me. During those walks, I don't think about anything, I don't reach for my phone, I don't worry about the images I'm making. I feel present and in the moment, seeing what's around me, and capturing whatever feels right. Only time will tell if the images are any good, but I've been enjoying these walks so much that it doesn't really matter.
Don't worry, though, in just a few weeks I'll be hitting the road again, on a trip that will take me to 3 islands. Stay tuned!
For now, some images I made this morning:
I always carry one of my RX100s with me and try to take a few photos everyday no matter where I am or what I am doing. Most of these photographs are no good, but every once in a while, I run into a scene I love.
This was the case a couple of days ago coming back from the grocery store, shopping bag on the shoulder and camera in my pocket. It was a nice and calm night, and these two swans were hanging out on the river. I loved the contrast between the dark water and the white birds.
The RX100 doesn't excel in low light, but it is the best camera -by far- to carry along with the groceries. I took a few shots, hoping for the best, and kept walking. I really like the final image, an unexpected one that I was able to make only because I was carrying my camera with me.
Some images I made last night at the "roman bridge" (even though the locals call it roman, the bridge is actually from the medieval ages) in heavy fog.
I visit and photograph my old high school, where I studied more than 20 years ago.
The Nest is the new Image of the Month for the month of August. This one took quite a bit of patience and waiting in the cold.
I made this image early on a foggy morning in NW Spain. The atmosphere was beautiful and I hope to have captured that with this picture. You can watch the video where I make it here: "Wildlife" photography with the Bronica.
Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).
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White Moon is my bestselling image to date. Since I released it later in the month, it's still available at a reduced price. Hurry up, the offer will end in just a few days!
A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.
You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.
This image was one of my first attempts at wildlife photography with my Bronica SQ-Ai. I failed.
As soon as I got close, the storks flew away and never came back. I waited with my tripod and camera ready for almost an hour. They didn't trust me and I don't blame them.
I moved on and kept making images, but decided to check on them again on my way back home, and good I did. They were back, and this time I won't let them leave without an image.
Having ran out of film, I grabbed my digital camera. That would've been my choice anyway, even if I had film. The Bronica proved too big and slow for a scene like this.
I clicked a few times, but it was with this last composition that I got what I was looking for. Inmediately after, they flew away again. This time, I didn't mind.
You can watch the whole thing on this video: "Wildlife" photography with the Bronica.
This is the first image made in 2019 I feature on this blog. I took a shot of this old train station on a very foggy and cold day.
Camera and Lens: Sony a6000, Holga Pinhole Lens
Settings: ISO 1600, 1/3 sec
This is my favorite image I've made with the Holga Pinhole Lens so far.
This is the view I get every morning when I'm in Spain and I'm checking for the morning weather. The same ugly building, every day.
A completely different view when looking through the pinhole.
I really didn't want to wake up, it was still early and I needed the sleep if I wanted to catch the sunrise as I had planned. But the storm insisted, getting louder and the lightning more often and brighter. It was relatively close and the whole bedroom would light up.
Bye, sunrise. I got up and set up the camera. The storm moved away quickly, but before it did, I was able to get a couple of good shots.
Read MoreI woke up early that morning, hoping for some fog. There was some indeed, but not enough to make me go out and shoot an hour before dawn.
Then I went to the living room and looked at the castle, on top of the hill. That window is the only one in the house with a clear view of the medieval structure.
I couldn't see it. The fog was, obviously, thicker up there. I put my clothes on and headed outside.
I took a few exposures, this one being my favorite, I believe. It was dark, not was there half an hour left until sunrise, but the fog didn't help the light to get through.
This is why I won't get tired of saying: wake up and get out.
I finally got to get out and make some images, after 2 weeks of no photography, and it felt awesome! I was able to make a couple of images I like, so I'd say it was almost perfect.
This is the first image from Spain, definitely not the last one. I was planning on shooting sunrise, but the trip of the previous day took a toll on me and I couldn't wake up in time.
However, once I looked out the window I knew I had to get out and go somewhere, anywhere. The fog was pretty intense but it was going away quickly, and the Sun was still rising. Perfect for some dramatic imagery.
I drove to the nearest "mountain" (I quote it because it's not that tall, it's more a hill, but anyway) called Marroxo (literally "Red Sea") and I saw this line of trees with the Sun behind. It was hidden by the fog, but I knew I wasn't going to find a better location that morning and I took the chance.
I think I made the right decision. The fog cleared a little bit, but not completely, just to let the Sun do its magic. A layer of clouds was hiding the upper half of the star, I couldn't ask for anything better!
I used the Sony a6500 and the 70-200mm f/4 lens, handheld (I didn't have time to set up the tripod), to take this photo. Which is, by the way, a combination of 3 different exposures (scenes involving the Sun always have extreme dynamic range so I usually bracket them, if possible).
