Fall 2019 trip

It was only a couple of weeks ago when we got back to Spain but the next trip is coming up quickly.

In just three weeks I’ll be hitting the road and visiting some spots in Spain I’d never been to, like Bardenas Reales. Then I’ll be heading to Germany where I’ll be joined by Rachel. We’ll be there for a week before driving south and entering Austria for the first time. Three weeks in beautiful Innsbruck followed by a couple of weeks in the Italian Alps and Genoa. Then back to Spain in time for Christmas - and fog season!

As you might have guessed, I’m beyond excited. Plenty of new places to explore: deserts, mountains, coastline... and of course, cities.

Image of the Month, October 2019: "Saguaro"

Saguaro is the new Image of the Month for the month of October. I made this image not too long ago, back in April, in Saguaro National Park.

I'd wanted to photograph the beautiful Saguaros for a long time, and I enjoyed every single minute of the many hours I had there.

This was the first image I made that day, and it ended up being my favorite.

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two sizes

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).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

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artist contract

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.

want to know more?

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.

Saguaro is available for purchase here.

Of Windmills and Bathrooms in the Netherlands

I'd been to the Netherlands a few times in the past, but this is the first time I try to make images in this beautiful country. First stop, Zaanse Schans.

Embracing thyself

A former boss of mine once told me:

You do your best under pressure

She was damn right. This was many years ago, but it has stuck with me since then. No one had ever figured me out so well so fast the way she did. Not only did I work better under pressure, I enjoyed my job more.

At that time I was doing zero self-reflection. All I knew about myself was whatever others thought of me: smart but lazy. I seemed to deal with pressure better than others, but surely this was due to my nature - too lazy to even care about deadlines.

For years, I approached this the only way I knew: trying to "fix" it. I should be able to work like everyone else.

Only recently I've started to reflect more about myself and to embrace parts of me that maybe, and just maybe, don't need to be fixed. If I thrive under pressure, maybe I should put myself under pressure more often.

I've found that I write my best when I give myself a limited time to finish. I've noticed that my best images happen when I don't have much time to make them - maybe that's why I enjoy fading scenes like sunrise and sunset so much.

I also tend to go all-in when I start something, I focus 200% on that. The general advice is to take it easy, to go slow, to do things little by little, one by one. That is sound advice for most people, it's not for me.

Reflecting on the last few months, I realize that I've created some of my best work and I've come to be in the best shape of my life - at age 37, despite my doctor's recommendation of "daily short walks and a beer afterwards".

Most importantly, I've become hungrier than ever: I want to learn more, I want to do more.

Pushing yourself to the extreme comes with some risks, it's important to be aware of our own limits so we don't go too far. But I also think that staying within our comfort zone doesn't lead to anywhere, it's not challenging, it's boring and brings no joy.

"We must all either wear out or rust out, everyone of us. My choice is to wear out"
- Theodore Roosevelt

I've chosen to wear out, too.

Taking the shot is the least important part of photography

Another video from New York (the last one) where I make one of my favorite images of the last few months. I also talk about why taking the shot (all that involves, from camera gear to settings) is the easiest and least important part of photography.

New York: 48 images of the big apple

First video from New York. I had a great time in the big apple, and made some images I really like. Check them out!

Washington DC, round two

Second part of my trip to Washington DC.

My first time in Washington DC

My first time in Washington DC. We visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument... and many other popular spots in the capital.

Our nomadic lifestyle

We are on the road again, and we share a few thoughts about the nomadic lifestyle we've had over the last 2 years. From Chicago, Illinois, where I also make some images.

Photographing 4 big cities

We left Indiana a few days ago. On our way back to Europe we'll be stopping by 4 big cities: Chicago, Washington DC, New York City and Amsterdam.

Actually, we've almost completed half of this tour: I'm writing this from Arlington, VA, as we are getting ready to leave for the big apple later today.

The image above pictures the Washington Monument. I made it yesterday, and I think I've got a few more with some potential. Photographing big cities is not my natural habitat but I'm having a lot of fun so far.

I still have a few more days left on this trip, and until then everything will be a bit slower around here. See you out there!

Image of the Month, September 2019: "Saint John's"

Saint John's is the new Image of the Month for the month of September. If The Nest took a little bit of patience and waiting, this one was definitely one the hardest images I've ever made.

This is a 10-minute long exposure under pouring rain and next to hundreds of cars and trucks stuck in rush hour. The conditions were perfect, though, I had been waiting for a day like this for months. When I finally got the chance to create the image I had envisioned, I wasn't going to pass on it.

I'm glad I didn't. This is still one of my favorite images, the first print I've ever sold and now, part of the Image of the Month collection.

Take advantage of the promotional price for the first 30 days, it will never be this cheap again!

View fullsize

two sizes

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).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

artist contract

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.

want to know more?

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.

The Nest is available for purchase here.

How to use a tripod

A short video with a few tips about tripods.

They're not here to capture an image, but to maintain one

Nobody sees the barn. Once you've seen the signs about the barn, it becomes impossible to see the barn.

They're not here to capture an image, we're here to maintain one. Every photograph reinforces an aura... We've agreed to be part of a collective perception. A religious experience in a way, like tourism...

They are taking pictures of taking pictures.

A quote from the novel The White Noise mentioned in this video, which Rachel shared with me because it reminded her of this post.

A day in the life (of a photographer), part II

Second part of the mini-series "A day in the life". I show you what I do on a slow day.

My thoughts on the new a6100 and a6600

As an APS-C shooter, I was interested in what Sony had to announce today. These are some of my thoughts on the new a6100 and a6600:

• Both cameras have 1:1 aspect ratio!!! Finally, after all these years.
• The a6100 looks like a wonderful camera, a true successor to my beloved a6000. The pricing and the feature set put it too close to the supposedly superior a6400, though. Should we expect a price decrease soon after launch?
• The a6600 is a minor update to the a6500. Price was expected, but I was hoping for a price drop on the a6500.
• Nice to see the Z battery making it to APS-C, but I don't understand why they didn't use it in the a6100 and a6400 as well. Now we have models within the same line that use incompatible batteries. Being able to use the same batteries is one of the greatest advantages of my combo a6000 + a6500. Maybe they see the a6600 as a b-camera to a full-frame body?

I have no need for a new camera as of right now, but if I had to buy one (for stills)... which one would it be?

To be honest, I'd just go for another a6000. At $400 is half the price of the a6100, I think it's still one of the best deals in photography. Now, it's still unclear how much they've improved the sensor and the processing capabilities. The a6000 does suffer of some banding, and it'd be nice to know those issues are fixed in the new entry-level body. With what I know now, though, I'd have to go with the a6000 as my choice.

That lens, though

Something I'd been thinking about was to add a longer telephoto lens to my system. I really like the compactness of the 55-210mm, but sometimes I just wish I had more reach. The only choice I had was the full frame 70-300mm... until today. Sony announced the APS-C 70-350mm f/5.6-6.3 lens, a very nice 105-525mm equivalent range!

I'm seriously considering it for when it comes out in November. My only concerns are the size and the weight, it is definitely bigger and heavier than my compact telephoto, and I think twice and three times before increasing the size and weight of my backpack. We'll see.

Lastly, the 16-55mm f/2.8 looks like the dream lens for APS-C cameras but it's not something I need (neither the optics nor the speed). I'm very happy with my 16-70 f/4, a slower lens but much cheaper, more compact and with longer reach.

The day I learned how to see

We were in Yosemite. It was Christmas Eve and a big snowstorm had just passed by, leaving a beautiful white layer all over the park.

There weren’t many people around, but when we arrived at the Tunnel View viewpoint to photograph sunrise, we found a couple dozen photographers and their tripods anxiously waiting for the moment.

The landscape was beautiful. The valley was still sleepy as the light started to hit El Capitan. Everyone was focused on the scene, including me. Everyone but Rachel.

After taking a few shots, I saw her backing up. I thought she was going back to the car, it was freezing after all. But I noticed she kept shooting, in the same direction, and I couldn't figure out what in hell she was capturing.

I walked towards her and turned around. Then I saw it. I remember wondering: "How didn't I see it before?"

As beautiful as the landscape was, this scene was something else: all those photographers lining up at the viewpoint, all making the same images over and over.

I wasn't able to make a great image of them, this snapshot is all that remains. But I still remember the feeling of seeing something that was there, in front of you, that I couldn't manage to see before.

It was an eye-opening moment, a lesson I will never forget. I consider this to be the day when I learned how to see.

Keep your eyes open, always.

The best camera is the one you master

After using all sorts of cameras, from phones to medium format, I've come to the realization:

The best camera is the one you master

When you know your way around your camera, how to perform everything you need to do, and do it without thinking, you are free to pay attention to what really matters: what you are trying to capture.

Make your camera as simple as possible (shoot in P mode, or aperture priority) and master everything else you might use.

The longer you take, the faster the scene will fade. The sharper your camera, the sharper your mistakes will look.

A day in the life (of a photographer), part I

In this video I show you everything I do since I wake up to when I go to bed. Everything related to photography, of course. It was a fun day with some pretty images to be made as well.

It's ok to be dissatisfied

Actually, I'd go so far as to say that dissatisfaction is something desirable.

When we look at our idols -musicians, writers, businessmen and women, photographers...-, we think they've all got everything figured out. In reality, most struggle with very similar things we struggle with.

Successful people use this in their favor.

Success comes when we embrace that dissatisfaction and turn it into a force that pushes us to create more.

On the other hand, satisfaction might lead to a lack of motivation and ambition.

Just remember to want the right things (why and what you create, not how), try to stay as consistent as you can (don't be all over the place), and let that dissatisfaction drive you.

Why I don't take photos with my phone anymore

Like it or not, smartphones have changed photography forever. But photography isn't the only thing they've changed: look around when riding the bus, waiting in line at the grocery store, or dining out. Most people are physically there, but their minds are far, far away.

Even though mine is a mostly distraction free phone, this happens to me way too often: I pull out my phone to check the time, end up opening a few apps and still have no idea what time it is when I put it back in my pocket.

This is why I wear a watch.

The same thing happens when I want to just take a quick snap. It's never just a snap, there's always something to do on your little device.

This is why I always bring a standalone camera with me (RX100VA).

The photos look better and I never find myself wasting 15 minutes browsing through the menus of the camera.

Avoid the exposure

The simple act of pulling your phone out to take a snapshot can trigger a chain reaction. We didn't mean to reply to that message, we weren't thinking about checking the weather, we surely didn't plan on opening Facebook. It was just a quick photo.

Sometimes avoiding exposure to what triggers a bad behavior is our best option. Bringing the RX100VA with me has kept me away from my phone and saved me many wasted hours.