If the Sagrada Familia can continue to improve itself after 140 years, so can you boo-boo
My iPhone camera roll is chock-a-block full of high resolution captures of some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring locations in Barcelona. Those will see the light of day somewhere at some point. Today, I’m excited about all things analog. My local film developer has returned the five rolls of 35mm film I shot in and around Barcelona and there are some keepers (a relief considering the expense of both the film and development). I’m going to share some of those shots with you right here, right now.
To get things started, I must confess that I am not much of a photographer. While I’ve taken many professional photography gigs and produced great photo content for marketing clients in the past, I am comfortable knowing my limitations with this art form.
My limitations inform my approach: I like to keep things simple. That’s why I gravitate toward my iPhone for digital photography and point-and-shoot film cameras. I want my eyes and my intuition to do the work — if the subject and the lighting is right, I can click a button and expect satisfactory results.
My analog gear this trip consisted of a vintage Olympus XA 35mm camera — a beast of a rangefinder in a small plastic shell — and a mix of new and expired rolls of Portra 400, Kodak Gold 200, and Fuji 200. The expired film will be easy to detect due to the natural degradation of the film stock which often delivers unexpected and exciting results.
Without further ado, let’s look at Barcelona through my viewfinder:
Let’s start with Primavera Sound, the festival that I described in detail in my last post. This snap was a bit of a hail Mary considering the cloudy conditions, but I’m thrilled it turned out the way it did. To me, this shot neatly summarizes the festival experience in general, that anticipation that builds as you wait for your favorite band to take the stage.
The Parc del Fòrum has some interesting architectural pieces. Barcelona, in general, has a wealth of amazing architecture. We will see more of this as we move along.
Not a particularly great shot, but shout-out to Shellac who put on an incredible and loud performance. Metal guitar picks always.
An element from the Casa Battló rooftop. Not my favorite Antoni Gaudi building in Barcelona, but certain elements are impactful.
If time is limited, skip Casa Battló and go to La Pedrera. The tour is so much more natural and the rooftop is truly a wonder. The operators of Battló try too hard to turn their building into an immersive VR experience when the art should be an immersion onto itself.
The Palau de la Música Catalana, Catalonia’s national performing arts theater, is my favorite building in Barcelona. Lluís Domènech i Montaner had such a distinctive architectural style. It’s somehow both modern and neo-classical at the same time, and every detail shines with traditional Catalan artisanal pride. It’s one of the great spaces on this planet.
The photo opp at the Palau de la Música Catalana is more than just an Instagram background. The mosaic work is extraordinary and shows how nature touches every aspect of the theater’s design.
Domènech i Montaner also designed the Hospital of Sant Pau just a short distance away from the Sagrada Familia. While the Modernisme wing is no longer an active medical facility, the blend of practicality and nationalistic splendor is strikingly beautiful. This scene shows the hospital’s courtyard medicinal garden where patients would recover while taking in the sun and the scent of lavender, rosemary, and laurel.
The Sagrada Familia’s interior was designed with natural light in mind, brilliant and breath-taking through intricate stained glass.
A peak at Park Güell’s famous staircase. Another Gaudi site I found to be underwhelming, but mostly due to the sheer volume of tourists milling about. The park must be a different experience entirely in the off-season.
A quiet corner of Park Güell.
The Parc del Laberint d'Horta is a fun excursion at the northern tip of Barcelona. It’s outside the typical circle of tourist attractions but well worth a visit for a meditative walk through the hedge maze and other well-curated garden areas.
Looking back at the Parc del Laberint d'Horta
That’s all for now. I’ll be back next week with a film photo diary of Tarragona, the most important Roman city on the Iberian peninsula, the medieval town of Girona with its rich Jewish history and Game of Thrones filming locations, and the Costa Brava.
If you like what you see, check out my other posts and subscribe for free weekly goodies in your inbox. Adéu!
