shades of salamanca

Image | September 18, 2020 | andy townend

It comes to this: like all of us who have not yet died of plague he fully realizes that his freedom and his life may be snatched from him at any moment”
― Albert Camus

The streets of Salamanca stay muted as Covid-19 shows little sign of receding – although even in the darkest shadows light can be found.

A brief snapshot of the streets of Salamanca in September as the summer slides slowly towards the autumn. The outcome of my latest experimentation with the settings on my Nikon D850 and AF-S Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 E VR lens.

More to follow.

Wherever you are, stay safe and look for the light in the shadows…

*Images made with Nikon D850 and AF-S Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 E VR lens*

coquilla

Image | August 6, 2019August 6, 2019 | andy townend

i’ll be there as soon as I can
but I’m busy mending broken
pieces of the life I had before

– unintended, muse

in a tight corner

do they toll for thee?

they also serve who only perch and wait

bound and confined

reach for the sky

will you still love me?

fleeting romance

stacked

haunted

*all images made with nikon d700 with nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 and 50mm f/1.4 lenses, developed in lightroom cc*

windows

Image | September 28, 2017October 4, 2017 | andy townend

Strangely transparent, they seemed like windows to a world beyond, but however long I peered into their depths, there was nothing I could see
― Haruki Murakami

For WordPress weekly photo challenge – Windows

There are a lot more windows here and here.

*Shot with Fujifilm X100F with 23mm (35mm fixed frame equivalent) fixed lens, ISO 200, 1/140s at f/5.6 with some added mystery applied with Affinity Photo which, along with Affinity Designer, I’m exploring as a credible Photoshop CC replacement*

layered

Image | September 22, 2017September 24, 2017 | andy townend

In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost, and what you had, and what you lost
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac

I took this shot during a walk back in Salamanca before returning to Africa.

Even at the time I took the shot, I was captivated by this painting. Had the artist been there I would indeed have taken it there and then.

But, it was not to be.

There were at least three paintings, each with a dreamlike quality, each stacked against each other, seeming to peel back a layer of the beautiful city which formed a backdrop to the canvases.

And, in preparing this image, I couldn’t resist adding another layer of my own.

For WordPress weekly photo challenge – Layered.

*Made with Fujifilm X100F and 23mm (35mm full frame equivalent) fixed lens, ISO200, f/4 at 1/1500s with an extra layer of oil applied in Photoshop CC*

sardines

Image | July 24, 2016 | andy townend

We ate well and cheaply and drank well and cheaply and slept well and warm together and loved each other
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

iced

stirred

tapped

salted

burned

queued

smoked

shovelled

seated

forked

deserved

served

consumed

All shots taken with Nikon D700 and Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4 lens in Manual mode and ISO200. All other settings made on the fly using the camera’s on board exposure meter, plus I confess to drinking and shooting.

strawberry fields

June 7, 2016June 26, 2016 | andy townend

Nothing I write here could say any more than the lyrics. Obviously.

So, I won’t.

salamancastreets

living is easy with eyes closed
misunderstanding all you see
– lyrics from strawberry fields forever, the beatles

The third in a series of photographic posts featuring a group of friends hiking in the beautiful countryside in the province of Salamanca, Spain.

El tercero de una serie de publicaciones fotográficas que ofrecen un grupo de amigos en excursiones en el hermoso campo en la provincia de Salamanca, España.

senderismo,la fiesta de la fresa en linares de riofrio, 5junio de 2016
*images taken with nikon d700, nikkor afs 16-35mm f/4 G andafs50mm f/1.4 G lenses*

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face me (!)

Image | May 19, 2016 | andy townend

Fighting for peace, is like f***ing for chastity
― Stephen King, Hearts in Atlantis

2016_05_19_13774

I took this shot today during a photo shoot in Salamanca which I think will give me material for two more posts – featuring pianos and the work of Henry Moore.

But, for now, take a look at that face!

for wordpress weekly photo challenge – face

*shot with nikon d700 and nikkor 70-200mm af-s f/4G lens, no edits*

(another) face

Image | May 16, 2016May 19, 2016 | andy townend

I know faces, because I look through the fabric my own eye weaves, and behold the reality beneath
― Kahlil Gibran, The Madman

2016_05_15_13655

I took this shot yesterday during a hike with a group of friends in the beautiful countryside surrounding Ciudad Rodrigo, España. You can see more on my new photo-reportage site salamancastreets.

I thought this one apposite for the weekly photo challenge too!

for wordpress weekly photo challenge – face

*shot with nikon d700 and nikkor 70-200mm af-s f/4G lens, no edits*