Hey, Put a Record On

Finally, yes finally! Finally I got myself a turntable. It happened some weeks ago. After years of thinking I should get a new turntable I finally got round to researching the market a bit and making the purchase. In the end I went for Pro-Ject Debut Carbon. In case you were wondering (what do you mean you don't care?!). I must say it's not a kind market, either you go high end or you get something automatic and/or poorly constructed. At least round here. Of course if you were a true (?!) audiophile you'd get one of those old ones and fix it up. 

Records are fun to shoot with multiple exposure feature. Slower shutter speed for motion and sense of movement. And a stopped record for getting the title in focus.

I used to have a record player as kid, so I wanted one. Plus we have a pile of vinyls back at home. In Madrid I have a handful of records, but well - now I have a legit reason to get more. 

And oh boy, those modern day records look fun. It's like having a piece of tangible art at home, not just the sound.

One odd thing tho. When I went to second hand record stores I noticed they're packed with guys. I was the only female there in most cases. Where do girls shop for music? It's not an appropriate pastime for a lady?! :)

So, what now? Will I go all old school and shop vinyls only and sticking my nose up when it comes to CDs, mp3s etc?! Noooo! However, while my childhood record player still works and I bought a single from 1968 for one euro and it played fine on my new player, then during my CD-era I have gone through several CD players and some CDs have just stopped working though I have taken good care of them. Makes one wonder what shall last longer... One way or another, music is love. 

One more fun try with photographing the records - I used a slow shutter speed and moved the zoom during shooting. 

What's on your playlist at the moment? I am hooked on Arcade Fire's Reflektor! 

xoxo

Week 39: Sources of Light

Score! Nothing could more appropriate than sources of light as topic now that dark gloomy autumn is creeping by, it's basically here, you know! Okay, autumn is not creepy (well, maybe on Halloween it is), it's kinda fun and cool. But surely it takes a bit of time to get used to the sleepy darkness. If cats can do it, so can we! 

Honestly, I just happen to visit places with lots of cats and I know that cats sell well, so ought to include them in virtuality. Plus I think it's easier to be a darkness embracing cat in a town like Marrakech as opposed to some dark snowy cold place.

So, like I mentioned on Facebook recently - I love all those Arabic lights and I wish I could bring them all home (which would be silly as I would have no place to put them). The shapes, the colors, that magical extra something.

Also, I would love to have some of those windows that transform daylight in such awesome ways.

Or you know, I think those would make lovely Christmas lanterns.

However, honestly, the minimalistic hipster style would be so much more me. Also found in Marrakech. 

Seriously, a mixture of different light bulbs is not the worst idea ever, right!? Riiiight?!!

Have a light-filled October! Yup, it's a new month yet again.

xx

Week 35: Stone

When 'kivi' (stone, rock) popped up from my weekly project jar I felt a little jammed. There are awesome rocks and stones and mountains and all in Spain, but not exactly in central Madrid. I had some ideas that failed (like yeah, wow, crappy photo, rats). So, I decided to use what I have - the city and all its pavements and big stone buildings (okay, using the word 'stone' loosely here - anything that looks like stone, may it be asphalt, concrete etc ;)). I remembered having a lot of fun with multiple exposure in June (see the banana shot here), so I decided to give it another go. My aim was to give different elements on the street a stone-like texture. Kinda like this.

The shot above is my fave from the stone-series (I have some other favorites, but those I shall share in the future as they don't relate to the topic at hand).

All in all double exposure is a lot of trial and error. One can do it in Photoshop, but since I can do it in-camera, then well - in-camera gives instant idea what you might end up with. I like in-camera multiple exposure option. One could say I am a fan.

Also, of course, double exposure can be just fun. I am sure no-one thought it was weird when I shot my hand and then the land and then the hand... narcissistic weirdness is a winner at times. Gotta love the flowery version I have on Facebook (ahem, I tried to make a shadow animal; not my strongest suit). 

Other than that this weekend I have been listening to this song a lot and cooked some (that's to all you who ask me if I ever cook - I do!) and cleaned some. Visited a photo exhibition, watched Parks&Recs, Help! (life must have been so much fun in the 1960s!) and went to the local park and obviously - took photos of my hand. Good weekend. Hope it leads to a good new week.

xoxo

Week 37: Fake

I am SO close to getting back on track with my weekly project updates. I feel accomplished. Even though you know I have been shooting SO (see, this whole caps lock monosyllable thing is growing on me) much more during those past weeks than I normally do. Traveling is inspirational. If I haven't already mentioned it then I will do so now - I spent four days in Marrakech, Morocco. Good times, I'm one lucky duck. Why is the duck lucky? Because it rhymes? Or because the ugly duckling grew into a dashing swan?! But I mean seriously, 99% of the ugly ducklings end up being the ugly ducks. I suppose it doesn't matter as long as  they're lucky. Case closed. Back to the topic.

Madrid (as any other big city, I suspect) is packed with all those famous characters. 

Looking picture-perfect. But it's all fake. Alternative Disneyland in Park Retiro, Madrid.

Frankly I am glad that I am not a kid any more as I would be very bothered seeing that beloved characters are not real. 

Okay, back to editing holiday photos (my mom can't wait). I have already shared some shots on my Facebook page. 

xx

Happy Monday

You have probably figured out that I really like photography and well... music! About a week ago I saw Foals live for the very first time. The played at DCODE Festival in Madrid. I was there jumping and singing along in the crowd while trying to take some photos. I took this one (among many others).

It's one of my favorite live concert shots ever. So I was super stoked when DCODE Festival decided to share this photo on their timeline on Facebook.

So this is my happy Monday. Hope your week has kicked off on a positive not as well!

xoxo

Week 38: Impressionism

Word of the week - impressionism. It's not so much a creative topic as it is a technique I discovered. Okay, I probably didn't discover anything (new), but last year in a park I accidentally took a blurry photo that looked kinda cool and so I started blurring on purpose. To me those images reminded of impressionist paintings. 

So today I said hello to autumn in park Retiro and while chasing the amazing sunset (click here to see my favorite shot) I also tried to create some "impressionist images" with my camera.

It's a fine line between accidentally blurry (yeah, really shaky hands and all), purposefully blurry and so blurry it's just in motion (like the scarf here).

It's especially tricky with other moving objects like people. They might look like blurry aliens. Can you guess what this alien man is up to?

However, you cannot avoid people in a park on a Sunday afternoon. No, sir.

The blur doesn't have to be lineal, it is fun to create different "brush strokes".

So, basically, if you have really shaky hands and lousy light conditions (and you have no clue what to do about it all) then you can call your blurry images a 21st century impressionist masterpiece. Possibly. Or then not. :)

Happy autumn, people! 

xx

Week 36: Tradition

Bullfighting. Spain equals flamenco, paella and bullfighting in many people's heads, right?! While bullfighting is prohibited in some parts of Spain it is still taking place every Sunday evening in Madrid (from spring to fall). The venue - Las Ventas is one of the most prominent buildings in the city, it looks awesome. 

So, I went to see bullfighting, because I needed to see something so famous and controversial. Did I like it? Well, I don't regret going, it was interesting to see something unique and different. Did I enjoy it? No. And I don't understand it. 

Here are some photos from the event. Mind you there are bulls and fighting and a little bit of blood. No hardcore shots, but just in case you feel strongly about it.