Welcome to Espaiñ

Hello!
I kick started my first post talking about one of my favourite photographers from Spain... and carrying on from that I would like to talk about yet another Spanish photographer; Jordi Bernadó (Born in Lleida 1966. Lives and works in Barcelona).

I first discovered this photographer by this very book actually, it was given to me as a birthday gift along with another book (that is a whole other post though!). I am hoping to one day have a large library of fascinating beautiful photography/art/designer books. I believe that books leave a great legacy and are an amazing investment, and I love being able to have that keepsake of an amazing piece of art.

So onto the book, and the photographer that is Jordi Bernadó.. You'll be able to find his photography here: Jordi Bernado. I must admit I don't know much more of his work beyond this book really. However, from what I gather, he has dipped his brush in quite a few different inks within the creative industry. One major one being Architecture. I think this is what pleases me about his photography, something which I also love to incorporate within my photography.

Welcome to Espaiñ is an almost an satiric parody look of life in Spain, you can see this even down to the title of the book. The images are bright and gaudy, almost dated back in time. They also have an essence of middle America, a lot of the places deserted and lost and forlorn looking.
Being from Spain myself, I like this view as its something I know and recognise. I suppose a lot of the time Spain is viewed as a cheap holiday destination under the sun, people not really getting to see. I think it is this mix of providing for that culture and the very traditional values that Spain adheres too, and this is what is depicted for me in the photos, that strange mix. I like it because it shows the forgotten side of Spain, the parts that are not usually readily available to tourists to see. It also portrays a large part of how the Spanish culture is and works.
One reason I love these photographs is because it manages to show Spain in a different way that really shows the character of this enormous diverse country.

Esteve Lucerón: An inspiration.

Fuente de las fotos : http://www.agenda-upifc.org/
Photo source: http://www.agenda-upifc.org/


Nada mejor para empezar con este blog que con este fotografo conocido para algunos, desconocido para muchos. Esteve Lucerón fue un descubrimiento muy positivo y popularmente conocido por sus magníficas fotografias en el asentamiento de barracas conocido como "La Perona" entre los años 1980 y 1989. Retratando todas aquellas personas que vivian en la marginidad dentro del respeto que merece quien no tiene nada. En lo personal, sentimientos encontrados al recordar viejos tiempos de como lejos parecen aquellos recuerdos buenos y malos de lo que un dia fue mi barrio.

I could think of nothing better than starting this blog with this photographer, known to a few and unknown by most. The discovery of Esteve Lucerón was a very positive find for me, and quite an inspirational one at that, a treasure of a find that I am glad about. Esteve Lucerón is known for his amazing vivid photos depicting the settlements of "barracas" (little huts) that were known as "La Perona", the photos show the era of Barcelona in the 1980-1989.
He took portraits of all of the characters that lived there, who had next to nothing, always obtaining the upmost respect for subjects in which he was depicting. The ability to show this life in an honest clear way, without painting the scene in a glamorous or condensing light. On a personal note, the photographs took me back to a time where I was living in this area (I am from this district). They made me remember the old times of this area and life, memories that are quite hard to reach as they feel so far from what is now. The good and the bad memories that made my neighborhood exactly what it once was.