Tag: nature photography

La Garrotxa: a photographer’s destination in Catalonia

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Sara Rodriguez Martinez

I feel lucky about the fact of being from Barcelona (Catalonia). It is a beautiful city with a great atmosphere and as a photographer I am aware of how charming it is. But as a local I also know that there are other places in Catalonia that are also paradises for photographers. Today I want to introduce you to one of my favorite regions in Catalonia: la Garrotxa. Although I will focus just in the places I have recently visited, I want you to know that this region has much more to offer. My objective today is to make you curious about this photographer’s travel destination.

What la Garrotxa is?

La Garrotxa is a county in the northeast of Catalonia. In the north of the county you find the Pyrenees mountains. But today I am not going to talk about this (also beautiful) part of the county. Instead, I am focusing on the central/southern part, that it is known for its volcanos. Yes, I said volcanos! Over 40 inactive volcano and lava flows cover much of the center/south part of the county. With my description, you might imagine this region as a dark and rocky area. But the reality is far from it. The region is green and fertile. I like to go there because of its impressive natural landscapes and its beautiful towns and villages. You will be surprise for the diversity in architectural styles and you will be delighted by the local gastronomy. You won’t stop shooting.

Sant Esteve Church, in the city of Olot (capital of la Garrotxa)

How to get there and other useful information

You can check the website of La Garrotxa turism to check options about how to get there, where to eat or where to sleep. It can be really handy to rent a car for the freedom this will give you to move around the villages and to get to starting points of hiking trails. But you can also get there by bus (the company bus is called Teisa). If you are a hiker, you will have great times in this region because they make a lot of effort in developing their hiking trails. I would like to point out that tourism in la Garrotxa is mostly local (a lot of Catalans like to go there, as I do). The place keeps all its authenticity. On the other hand, you will find a lot of travel information and guides also in English.

What to photograph in la Garrotxa?

The list of things to photograph are endless: medieval villages, art noveau or modernism, forests, volcanos, regional gastronomy… all kind of photographers will find this region interesting because of its variety. In order to keep it short, I selected some photogenic spots in the region, mostly in the city of Olot and nearby. I hope I will manage to show you the beauty of la Garrotxa and the love I feel for it.

Old city of Olot

Olot is the capital of the county. It is located at 92km from Barcelona and in 2015 its population was 34000. The first reference to Olot is from the year 872 (Middle Age). The original medieval city was destroyed by earthquakes in the fifteenth century. The city was reconstructed. Further on, it also suffered diverse wars. But besides all the historical inconveniences, the city grew and developed industrially. Today we can enjoy its beautiful streets, churches and old shops. Walking around the old city is a pleasure. The streets are quite typical from Catalonian villages and the colorful buildings are perfect models for any urban photographer.

One of Olot’s main streets (Tomas de Lorenzana street)

The streets of Olot are charming

You will also be impressed by the Sant Esteve Church, from 1763.

Sant Esteve Church, Olot. I edited this photo using the Brik and Mortar Workflow

The old city is full of old little stores where you can have a look (and buy!) local products. I find these old stores interesting because they kept their authenticity. These stores have the same look already like this 40 or even 50 years ago!

Perfume and beauty products store in Olot old city

Little store that sells local meat products (mainly pork)

If you like to take photos of local products, you must also pay a visit to Olot’s market.

You can find interesting products in Olot’s market

Photography tip: Locals are friendly and they wouldn’t mind that you take photos of their stores or the products they sell…if you ask them first! I saw that when I take photos without telling me, they give me strange looks. However, if you just ask them in catalan “Puc treure una foto?” that means “Can I take a photo?”, they will not just allow you to take the photo, they will also show you other interesting products or things to photograph! People in Olot are really hospitable.

Catalan Modernism in Olot

You might be familiar with the catalan modernism because of the works of Antoni Gaudi. Tha Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona is maybe the most well-known modernist icon. Modernism buildings usually have detailed decorations, a dominance of curved lines over straight ones and a dynamic use of forms. This cultural movement can be also enjoyed outside the outskirts of Barcelona. In Olot you can follow a route that will take you to several modernist buildings spread around the city center. Some examples are: Gaieta-Vila house, Casa Pujador or Casa Gassiot.

Gaieta-Vila House in Olot Casa Gassiot, Olot Casa Pujador

Photography tip: if you like to take photos of buildings or streets when there is nobody next to them, take advantage of the lunch break. You can walk around the city center almost alone between 14h and 17h because at that time the locals are at home having lunch and the stores are closed.

Volcano Montsacopa: Viewpoint in Olot

The Montsacopa Volcano is in Olot center. It is an interesting place to visit for several reasons. First of all, it is a good spot for nature photography without even leaving the city.

The Volcano Montsacopa is a place where you can take wonderful nature photographs without leaving the city (Olot) Volcanic stone. The area is full of them.

Another reason is that once in the top the volcano provides you will an all-round views to the city and its natural surroundings.

Views of Olot from the top of the Volcano Montsacopa

If this was not enough for you, once you get to the top, you can also take photos from two watchtowers that were built during the Carline war (in the second half of the XIXth century).

One of the two watchtowers that were built during the Carline war on the top of Montsacopa Volcano

If you are more an architectural photographer, your desires will also be satisfied in this volcano: there is a church (Church of Sant Francesc) on the top.

Church of Sant Francesc on the top of Montsacopa volcano

You can also go down and step on the 120m diameter circular crater.

Mostsacopa volcano has a 120m diameter crater

La Moixina

La Moixina is a natural area not far from the old city of Olot that is a must for nature photographers. This area is characterized by its oak woods (it is the type of forest that once covered the whole Olor region) and the marshy woodland. The landscape of la Moixina is not a common one in the area, so it is worth it to visit it.

La Moixina marshy woodland

La Fageda d’en Jorda

La Fageda d’en Jorda is another must-to-go place for nature photographers. It is close to Olot, You can access by car, a local bus or even walking (1h30min walk). It is a magnificent beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) that stands on the lava flow from a nearby volcano (called Croscat).

La Fageda d’en Jorda is a beech forest (Fagus sylvatica)

This forest change a lot between the seasons. In winter, the trees lose all their leaves. In spring and summer the forest is green and in autumn it turns totally golden. At any time, this forest has a fairy tale mood that makes this place almost magic.

La Fageda d’en Jorda

Photography tip: The golden colors of autumn are pretty spectacular. Lots of people come to visit the forest, especially in the weekend. If you want to photograph a relatively empty forest in autumn, you will need to schedule your visit for week days and walk a bit inside the forest in order to avoid the crowds that stays close to the parking lots that are near la Fageda.

I hope you to be interested in La Garrotxa. Feel free to contact me with any question. I will be happy to tell you whatever I know. Have a happy shooting!!!

Nature Photography Next To Your Home: Finding Beauty

Posted on September 1, 2016 by Sara Rodriguez Martinez

I did a degree in Biology because I am in love with the environment. I needed to study plant and animal physiology, ecology, genetics… I was always surprised about the complexity of life. As living beings, we are made by infinity of diverse molecules, each one with a specific function. Millions of chemical reactions are happening all the time to keep us alive. We interact with other living beings because we are all connected somehow by complex ecological networks. It is kind of a miracle that all these things are going on (and they actually work!!) without us even realizing. Nature is wise.

Nature photography in pink — Even the smaller flower is much more complex that it seems at the first sight.

My fascination for Mother Nature combine perfectly with photography. I love taking photos of living beings such as trees, plants, flowers or animals. I do it all the time. Sometimes I go in trips to wonderful mountains, the desert or to the forests. These are all places that we usually recognize as natural. However, I don’t have the ability for travelling all the time. I work in a laboratory and I need to stay around it in order to accomplish my duties. Does this fact stop me from taking nature photography? Not at all. Because in my opinion, nature is not sitting only in faraway places. I am not the only one thinking that way. Emma Marris (environmental writer and reporter) redefines nature saying that it should not just be about pristine wilderness but also about the untended patches of plants growing in urban spaces. So here you have it. Nature is next to us, even if we live in a city. Keep reading and I will give you some tips for finding nature photography opportunities next you your place.

Become a nature hunter

Do you think that your city is way to grey and full of cement? I am sure you are right. But I am almost sure that if you change your perspective about the place you will able to find some nature around you. Are there trees in the streets? Does your neighbor have some plants in the balcony? Is there any park nearby? Go out and try to look at the city with a new perspective. Become a nature hunter. You will find something. I will explain to you something that happens to me quite often: when I go out for a walk with some friends, I am always pointing out nature-related things. I ask them: “Have you seen this tree? And this flower? What about that cat?” The most part of the times their answer is “No, I didn’t notice them”. It is a matter of perspective. If you put your attention into nature, you will find nature.

Forgotten nature photography — Nature is there. You just need to change your perspective. Lots of people walked next to this little leave and they ignore it. They were too busy, running to arrive to their destinations and talking in the phones. I saw the leave because I was looking for something nature related. And I found it.

Think in seasons: what can you find each time?

Nature is everywhere, but this doesn’t means that it always keeps the same. Nature follows the rhythm of the seasons. Each season you will find different things. Knowing what is it possible to find and when will be very helpful and will save you some disappointments.

Part of the beauty of season is that they are completely different between them. For example, autumn is a good time to take photos of fallen leaves. They are quite photogenic.

Nature photography in spring — Spring has a total different vibe. You might find flowers and even some fruits.

Focus in the small

When we look at huge buildings or roads we might get discouraged. But don’t worry!! Here we are not talking about landscape photography. Instead of looking at the big picture, try to look into the details. Are there any plants or trees? Maybe there is a flower hidden somewhere. You need to get close. If you like macro photography, go for it! But you don’t need it. I take my photos without going into macro lens and it works well for me.

Focused nature photography — If you just see the big picture you might be losing a lot of chances for a good photo. This is how the big picture looks like. Beautiful? Not so much. But have a look inside the red circle.

Hidden nature photography — This is what I saw when I switched from looking at the big picture into looking for details. Nature likes to hide the best shots.

Keep it playful

Remember to have fun. When you are enjoying an activity you have more chances of success. I am always happy when I find nature in the middle of the city mess.

Nature photography close to your place — Taking nature related photos always makes me happy, especially when I am in the city. It might sound crazy, but when I get a nice nature shot in the middle of the city I feel that I still belong to some ecosystem and that not everything in life is made out of cement or metal.

I hope I encourage you to try some nature photos in your city! I will be happy to know about your experiences. Feel free to share with me any suggestion about this type of nature photography! Have a happy shooting!!

John De Bord – Landscape Photographer

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Marie Gardiner

Landscape photography has the power to transport us to a particular place, evoke certain feelings and often, to fill us with wanderlust!

John De Bord is a landscape, nature and travel photographer based in Denver, Colorado. I spoke with John to find out what ignited his passion for landscape photography and how he captures such stunning scenes time and time again.

Is landscape photography a job, a hobby or a passion for you?

I originally started out as an illustrator and have a BFA in the field with a minor in fine art from Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. It was there I began my love affair with photography while taking a B&W traditional film darkroom class which was required for my degree. I wound up taking the class twice because I loved it so much!

I shot with a Ricoh KR5 and a Minolta X370 shooting Kodak TMAX and Ilford film and started out photographing the rockabilly scene in Denver; hot rods, live shows, pinups and the overall lifestyle. While this was going on, I really wanted to learn more about landscape photography, as I studied some of the great painting masters while attending college. People like J.W. Turner, Albert Bierstadt, and others. There is no question that they have a tremendous influence on my work and style as they taught me a great deal. In fact, in many respects, I learned more from them than photographers.

Colorado is beautiful, what’s it like to have somewhere like that on your doorstep?

Colorado is a paradise for photographers, there’s no question about that. The terrain is so varied and offers an endless supply of subject matter. You can literally go out on the eastern plains to photograph wildlife and abandoned farms then stand on a mountain peak the next day.

I have my favourite haunts, places like Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and Rocky Mountain National Park, both of which I photograph on a regular basis. There are several local spots close to me that I photograph often such as Sloan’s Lake which has been the subject of many of my photographs.

I also enjoy just getting out there and exploring because the state offers something to capture with the camera around every corner and you never know what you might find. That’s one of the things that I love about living here, the beauty and excitement of it all. In some ways, it can be a tad overwhelming because there are so many choices. Of course, it also depends if I want to wake up at 3 am or at 6:30 am!

How important is the right light when you’re shooting landscapes?

Definitely, try and shoot in the best light possible. Light is so very important in photography and adds such a sense of drama and atmosphere to a scene.

I don’t plan for much outside of my fall and summer trips. Usually, I just pick a place and set my alarm and go knowing that 99% of the time I will come away with something I’m happy with. Many times, I find myself photographing wildlife, usually “big game” and the occasional predator such as coyotes.

As far as landscapes go, I do wake up at crazy hours in order to catch the best light and I find myself more of a morning shooter than an evening shooter. I think it’s because I enjoy the light at that time of the day, the quiet, and the tranquillity. I usually have a location to myself and it’s something I’ve grown to love and adore. The world seems at ease and happy; I think a lot of that plays into my photography.

I don’t really shoot exotic locations, in fact quite the opposite. I have made it my mission to photograph areas that the general public can access and enjoy. I want to show everybody that the world is still beautiful despite what might be going on it and that it isn’t difficult to find that beauty, either.

In order to get the shot, I use a variety of filters; almost all of which are Fotodiox brand. Generally, it’s the usual stuff; circular polarizers graduated and neutral density filters. This is mandatory in terms of “getting it right“, at least for me. I do try to get it right as best as I can in camera but I admit I’m not a photojournalist either.

Your images are so striking and full of colour, what’s your post-processing routine?

I don’t use JPEG and only shoot in RAW, which unfortunately eats up storage. My routine is pretty average, I start in Lightroom and export 16-bit TIFF files into Photoshop. I use Nik Efex extensively in almost all my work as well as some Lightroom presets. Photoshop actions are used for sharpening and minor clean-up.

I do take some artistic liberty with my images a lot of the time unless it is wildlife in which case I usually don’t. I don’t think it’s anything major, mostly colour adjustments, levels, curves, that sort of thing.

Time is always of the essence and I try to be as fast as possible and I’m currently examining ways to enhance that. I usually spend 5-15 minutes on wildlife images and 15-30 minutes on a landscape image. If I decide to do a variation of an image, it can take longer. I tend to do that a lot because I want to see how it looks both in B&W and colour. Sometimes an image works really well in B&W and I feel we have gotten away from that style.

For anyone wanting to shoot some impressive landscapes, what advice would you offer them?

I would say start off reading a book titled Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. The book is invaluable and one of the very best books I’ve read. I would also say that everything is a learning experience. Don’t get down because someone gave you honest feedback on something. It can be tough, but you have to look at it knowing that it will help you. I’ve seen people hang up their camera because of negative feedback.

Nothing happens overnight, and the more you shoot the better you get. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, we were all there at some point and most are more than happy to help you improve.

I’d also say that immersion is a really good way to go about things. Seek out as much as you can, but don’t overwhelm yourself. YouTube is one of the greatest assets we have, there is a wealth of information on there about photography and post processing.

Don’t be afraid to bend and break the rules either, experimentation is always good and it allows for growth as a photographer.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’d love to be able to teach people photography on a regular basis. I’ve given thought about teaching online, but it’s only in the beginning stages and at this time. In the near future, you can expect me to start offering workshops and tours. I also anticipate a major website design change in the not too distant future. I’m also exploring ways to expand the licensing and dissemination of my images.