Dec 1

Dec 1 Bella Ciao

November, unlike October was a veritable feast in terms of photography, with fireworks displays, a wetland visit, as well as a trip to Madrid to cap off the month in style. A true highlight of 2021

let’s get into it then with a literal bang with bonfire night…

Fireworks Display
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Fairground
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

After the colourful start to the month, I fulfilled a little bucket list tick off, with the opportunity to photograph a starling murmuration at RSPB Newport.

I had heard this was a good site to see this happen, but was still not prepared for how amazing it was when it began to unfold around me as I walked through the reedbeds that make up the reserve as the sun set.

Starling Murmuration
Camera - Canon 5D MKIII
Lens - Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary

MADRID

A trip to Madrid took up the end of the month, allowing me the opportunity to put the FujiFilm X100V well and truly through its paces in the Spanish capital.

Spain from the air
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

When I wasn’t eating my own weight in tapas and drinking the local beer, I was out and about taking photos throughout the streets and parks of Madrid, hoping to capture a little of what this city has to offer on camera.

My hotel view by day
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

My hotel View by night
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

I have tried to sort of group the images I captured over my time here into a few vague categories that I hope shows a little bit of how life is in the Spanish Capital.

Starting things off with Madrid’s Street graffiti which seems to permeate throughout the streets with some form of graffiti adorning the walls, windows and even cars across the city centre. I tried my best to capture some of the more quirky and interesting examples I came across while wandering around.

Tiled street Art
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Street Art
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Graffiti Doorway
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Graffiti Van
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Window display
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Madrid is fucking awesome
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Goat Dominatrix window display
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

The next few images are shots of the more day to day architecture that make up the bulk of the streets in the city. From small shops and restaurants, to large open bulevards, Madrid has it all in spades.

Lottery ticket Kiosk
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Park food Stall
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Restaurant front
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Bakery Shop Window
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Jambon Shop Window
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Street market Tapas
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Madrid Streets
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Christmas In Madrid
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Madrid Streets
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

One of the most fun, and equally challenging aspects of street photography I am finding is photographing people. This was something that until I got the X100V, was an area of photography I just didn’t feel comfortable doing, and came to the conclusion it just wasn’t for me. However with the silent shutter, 11 frames per second, and the unobtrusive look of the camera, I can now much more easily capture people as they go about their daily lives without them noticing I am taking their photo. This I hope also gives more context to the overall ‘feel’ of Madrid as a body of images rather than just a set of unconnected photographs that only shows the architecture.

Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Woman in a fur coat
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

News Kiosk
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Street ‘Performers’
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Man with Trolly
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Men Relaxing
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Street Life
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Window shopping
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Portrait Painter
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Couple in Silhouette
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Sleeping man
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Street Musician
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Soaking in the sun
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Man
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Stylish Man
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Old Man
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

The next group of images are the more touristy stuff that when you are visiting somewhere like Madrid cant be passed up on. I was a particular fan of photographing inside the Catedral de la Almudena, which provided some great images of one of if not the most impressive cathedrals I have ever been inside.

Royal Palace Of Madrid
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Catedral de la Almudena
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Plaza Mayor
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Temple of Debod
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

El Retiro Park Fountain
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Monument to Alfonso XII
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

El Retiro Park
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

El Retiro Lake
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Palacio de Cristal
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

With wildlife in short supply as well as having only my X100V with me with its 23mm (35mm full frame equivalent) lens, getting any ‘wildlife’ was near to impossible. I still tried my best to capture at least some of the local non human residents that inhabit this bustling metropolis, with even a small parrot species living their best lives in the local parks and gardens around the city.

Dog life
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - ACROS

Waiting
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

House Sparrow
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Mallards
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Monk Parakeet
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

Pigeon Bathtime
Camera- Fujifilm X100V
Film Simulation - Classic chrome

That’s about it for Madrid. An amazing place to go full on street photo crazy, with the X100V truly shining throughout the trip. Hopefully more trips like this to come in the future as my opinion on street photography continues to change. Lets just hope covid doesn’t ruin everything again…..

FIN

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DRONE:

Featured

Nov 30, 2020

Bristol

Nov 30, 2020

Sep 2, 2020

Architecture

Sep 2, 2020

Aug 2, 2020

Water

Aug 2, 2020

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Dec 1 Bella Ciao

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Dec 31 2021 - A Review

Oct 31 She Knows

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