169/365 challenge

Madrid Icon

The Puerta de Alcalá ("Alcalá Gate") is a Neo-classical monument in Madrid, Spain. It is regarded as the first modern post-roman triumphal arch built in Europe, older than the similar monuments Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. 

Madrid in the late 18th century still looked like a somewhat drab borough, surrounded by medieval walls. Around the year 1774, king Charles III commissioned Francesco Sabatini to construct a monumental gate in the city wall through which an expanded road to the city of Alcalá was to pass, replacing an older, smaller, gate that stood nearby. It was inaugurated in 1778.

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168/365 challenge

Shooting Calatrava  

This picture is part of a big project around renowned Spanish Architect Santiago Calatrava and his best known work in Valencia (Spain). I took the train from Madrid at dawn and arrived in the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias on time to catch a beautiful morning golden light. I spent the whole day and part of the night in this complex, a paradise for architecture photography, with another photographer,  trying to get the best of it. Although photograhers tend to be solitary people, I found most rewarding to be working in tandem, exchanging ideas and inspiration. I will publish the full project soon.

Canon D5MarKIII, Canon 17mm Tilt & Shift Lens

167/365 challenge

Welcome to the Royal Palace!

Color noise on the clouds due to strong artificial lightning in Madrid. On the pic, one of the iconic places for tourists and locals alike, the Royal Palace (Palacio Real).

History:  The palace, inspired by sketches made by Bernini for the construction of the Louvre in Paris, is built in the form of a square and looks out over a large courtyard with galleries and a parade ground. The decoration of the palace's rooms and their layout has gradually changed over the years as the building has been adapted to suit the needs of its residents.

It comprises over 3000 rooms!!!

166/365 challenge

Poinsettia

Christmas flowers... happy merry Christmas!!

165/365 challenge

Portrait shooting indoors: Andrea, Madrid

Thanks to my beautiful and very patient model !

Taken with Canon Lenses 85mm, f/1.8 + fine art post-production

164/365 challenge

Night lights, Madrid

Surprising orange lightning over the trees in the park. These are the original colors. It looked so surreal, like an art installation in the middel of the night

163/365 challenge

SE VENDE: House for sale.... spooky

Spooky neighbourhoods. At night all our imaginary monsters can hide behind each corner of the poorly lighten streets

162/365 challenge

Bodegon (still life), Madrid, Spain

Creating and composing the picture from nothing. I put together different objcts found at my family's home in Madrid and played with the lights at hand to create my first still life.  

161/365 challenge

First try at Still Life, pop art style

160/365 challenge

Palacio de Cristal

The history:        The Palacio de Cristal ("Crystal Palace") is a structure located in Madrid's Retiro Park built in 1887 and made almost entirely of glass set in an iron framework on a brick base, which is decorated with ceramics. Its cupola makes the structure over 22 metres high. It is no longer used as a greenhouse, and is currently used for art exhibits.

The shooting:     At night, when empty, the structure looks incredibly elegant and mysterious at the same time. I was shooting with very long exposure and a tripod due to the poor lightning. 

Post-production:  I used several filters to add some special effects to the already appealling subject. 

Gear: Canon 5dmarkIII, Lense; Canon 24-105mm at 24mm, Iso; 100, f/8, 25 seconds exposure

159/365 challenge

Urban exploration

Thrird go at the provisional amusement park in Plainpalais. Urban exploration can be very gratifying.  This time tehy were dismantling the whole thing, what a pity!

158/365 challenge

Closed today: lights and music are gone tonight, just a snow cover at the amusement park, Geneva

157/365 challenge

Time goes so fast...

Night reflection about time that goes by.  I got the special effects by zooming in and out during long exposure, only one shot !

Canon 5dmark III, Canon 42-105mm, night, interior picture

156/365 challenge

Waiting for the fun

Close to the Christmas season, la Plaine de Plainpalais in Geneva becomes a fairy tale place, where children and teenagers can enjoy themselves. An amusement park and a Circus put loads of color to those icy and dark winter nights. 

155/365 challenge

Objects in inusual settings, An attempt at object photography

154/365 challenge

Portrait of a Violinist

The art of portraiture. Catching a moment of beauty and perfecting it in post-production. For this particular portrait I choose a special filter to soften the skin which gives the picture a dreamlike appearance. 

Taken during a short interval at the concert by Geneva University Orchestra at the Eglise de Grand-Lany, Geneva with a special lense for portraits, Canon 85mm, f/1.8

153/365 challenge

KIWI ... Celebrating 5 months into the challenge !

Fighting the cold winter with fresh fruits remebering the summer

152/365 challenge

The little violinist

There was a concert tonight at the Ecole Internationale de Genève. I did a series of children musician portraits. There was a special blue light covering the stage which gave some mystery to my pictures.

Canon 5d Mark III, Canon 24-105 mm @ f/4 

151/365 challenge

Christmas lighting on a rainy day

It has been raining for the whole day. Just took a snapshot of some Christmas decoration. I thought they looked pretty with the reflection on the wet floor. 

Nikon D3300, Nikon Lens 35mm, f/1.8 

150/ 365 challenge

Close to Friburg, Switzerland, short after the blizzard. 

Canon 5dmarkIII, Canon 24-105mm, editing with special bnw filters