Photography in Barcelona

WestEndFoto

Proudgeek's request to tap my brain about shooting in Barcelona got me thinking. I am sure that other people would see a benefit from a discussion like that. So why don't we have the discussion where everyone can benefit and chime in.

One of the first things I like to do when I arrive in a new city is to go to my pre-researched sunrise and sunset locations. A good choice for a sunrise is on Montjuic, the small mountain overlooking Barcelona where the Olympics were held. Specifically, I was on the north-east corner of the hill along Miramar street, next to a very large hotel, where I had an excellent view where I caught this image at blue hour of the sun just before it started rising over Barcelona's harbour.



As the morning progressed, I turned my attention to the north and captured this image of Barcelona's cathedral at golden hour.

proudgeek

On this trip I'd like to travel lighter than usual. Can I get away with just a 24-70? Or is that not wide enough for all the architectual shots?

spraynpray

You can always stitch, so I would say yes.

kenadams

I've been doing city trips with just my 17-35 recently for weight reasons, and I find I'm at the wide end most of the time. I wouldn't bother to try and stitch, personally, b/c I think it's just too much hassle and the few times I tried I never got the seams quite right. The cathedral in the Barri Gotic alone screams for a wide end...

WestEndFoto

On this trip I'd like to travel lighter than usual. Can I get away with just a 24-70? Or is that not wide enough for all the architectual shots?

Many of my interior architectural shots are with a 24, but many are also with my 14-24, particularly in the Sagria Familia where I went "weird" (14mm) to catch the
"weird" interiors. I might suggest that you have the ability to shoot in the 16 or 17 range. I should note however, that in Rome and Florence I had a 20mm prime for the wide end and I don't feel that I missed anything. You can look through my portfolio to see numerous samples. There are more situations that demand a wide angle in Rome than their are in Barcelona.

Bottom line is that a 24 is not quite wide enough, but a 20 should suffice unless you are really demanding about being able to "get it all in".

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or

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spraynpray

I wouldn't bother to try and stitch, personally, b/c I think it's just too much hassle and the few times I tried I never got the seams quite right. The cathedral in the Barri Gotic alone screams for a wide end...

Practice makes perfect. One way that stitching beats an ultra-wide is the perspective distortion is reduced.

proudgeek

Leaving tomorrow and realized I never followed up on this. I'm thinking 1 fx body, 1 17-35 and 1 24-70. Right?

heartyfisher

I always take a backup camera ...

vtc2002

I agree with heartyfisher about a second body. You might want to consider the option of renting a lens if you run into a situation where you do not have what you need. Most large cities have camera shops that offer lens and camera rentals for a reasonable price. I have had to do this a couple of times. The good thing about renting from a local shop is that you can test the lens out in the shop to make sure it works with you camera and that it does not have any issues. Have a good trip.

NSXTypeR

This makes total sense, it's like filming for a movie, ideally you want to scout out the place first to plan your shots so that when the time comes things go smoothly. In a perfect world that would be done all the time, but sometimes the most satisfying shots are the ones you get off the cuff.

rmp

For travel, I go with stitching. The panorama function is Lightroom is literally just a few clicks. If you plan ahead and take the sequence of images to be stitched from the "no parallax" rotation point, the seams really do disappear.

proudgeek

In the airport waiting for my flight. One body only. If this were Africa or Alaska I'd bring two. Trying to travel light (for me at least). Catch you all on the flip side.

NSXTypeR

How long are you staying? I'm sure you'll have a great time.

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