CAN YOU FIND SIMILARITUDES BETWEEN HOOLIGANS AND STUDENTS AT OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE?

VILLAREAL

After publishing the post of the end of year celebrations at Oxford and Cambridge there were several comments comparing with the English in Lloret for parties of bottle, etc. Then I remembered that years ago the editor of La Vanguardia Magazine, Pepe Baeza, sent me to cover the European Cup match Villarreal-Manchester United. And I could not help, perhaps a bit biased, compare images. Well, after all we are in August and the theme, sun, beer ... comes like a glove.

OXFORD

VILLAREAL

VILLAREAL

VILLAREAL

OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. COLLEGES GRADUATION PARTIES.

CAMBRIDGE

A few years ago, around this time, Albert Cañagueral and I travelled to Oxford and Cambridge for el Periodico Sunday newspaper. Our proposal was to make a portrait of two of the world most famous universities taking advantage of the current clip of their graduation ceremonies at the end of the course. I had read and seen a story about running wild celebrations that were held within the Colleges. I knew that access would be practically impossible, but I thought Iwould be able to find something in the streets, as it was.

In Cambridge I learned when I was one of the parties and the next day at dawn I was ready with my camera in front of the college where I could capture these images.

CAMBRIDGE

In Oxford, about nine in the morning in one of the pubs in the centre I photographed some of the graduates who had not been going to bed yet. They have all the earmarks of having had a very good time. Don’t you think?

OXFORD

OXFORD

The idea of this post I came after learning that journalism students of one of the universities where I teach had too, one of these parties. And I heard with nothing to envy to those of Oxford and Cambridge.
For me it really is exciting to realize that all these young journalists, to whom I have tried to convey my passion for photography, won’t be anymore on the other side of the table, but will be my new colleagues in this difficult but exciting profession.

CAMBRIDGE

FIFA WORLD CUP STARTS TODAY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Today starts the World Cup in South Africa with the opening ceremony at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.

Just one year ago, I toured South Africa taking pictures to publish then coinciding with this important event. Some were published last Sunday in Vanguardia Magazine

All the speeches of Nelson Mandela ended with Nikosia Sikelel 'Africa! ("God help Africa") and always appeared the sentence: "In this beautiful country ...." Mandela has every reason in the world. The immense beauty of South Africa remained deep in my heart.
Here I show it in more photos.

DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS

DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS

ISIMANGALISO WETLANDS

LION SANDS . CLOSE TO KRUGER

LION SANDS. BESIDES KRUGER

LION SANDS. BESIDES KRUGER

DURBAN

WEDDING IN DURBAN

ZULU VILLLAGE. KWAZULU-NATAL

ZULÚ VILLAGE. KWAZULU-NATAL

JOHANESBURG

NELSON MANDELA'S SQUARE. JOHANESBURG

If you want to know what photographic material I used click here.

SOUTH AFRICA FOR LA VANGUARDIA MAGAZINE

Next Friday, 11 of June, start the World Cup in South Africa. I traveled there, one year ago and the last Sunday my photos were published in La Vanguardia Sunday Issue. This are the rest of the pictures.

JOHANNESBURG. DOWNTOWN

ISIMANGALISO NATURAL RESERVE

ZULU VILLAGE

SOWETO

KWAZULU-NATAL

DURBAN BEACH

MONTECASINO MALL, JOHANNESBURG

ROOM ON A TREE, SANDS RIVER LODGE, BESIDES KRUGER PARK

This is the photographic equipment I used for this trip. Here you can see more explanations about it.

PHOTOS OF THE CORTE INGLES RACE 2010. BARCELONA

It’s a self assignemet for me: to photograph the Corte Ingles Race (Cursa del Corte Inglés) in Barcelona, with 58.000 runners, and publish it in my blog as soon as possible. The race started at 9, 30 h an I posted it before noon.. Not bad, itsn’t it?

I used a Nikon D90 with a 18-55 mm zoom and a 180 mm f. 2.8. And of course, I shot in jpg format.

Ah! Very important. I bring from home a ladder and I carried on the subway back and forth.

CLICKING ON THE PHOTOS YOU'LL SEE THEM LARGER

THE WINNER, MOHAMED BEN BARKA.

/ NEW ARCHITECTURE IN BARCELONA. A ROOM WITH A VIEW.

SEDE DE GAS NATURAL
SEDE DE GAS NATURAL
GAS NATURAL CENTRAL OFICCE

Recently I photographed the new Gas Natural central office in Barcelona for the Vanguardia Magazine. The creators are the architects Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue.
When I finished school I started Architecture at Barcelona University. I liked the image of the architect, working at home, and drawing beautiful building on a spectacular table. The reality was a complete disaster; I had no aptitude at all to convert the drawings’ two dimensions into three dimensions buildings. But, perhaps, this is not bad for photography that consists, basically, in transform the three dimensions reality into two on a paper or a screen. So I quit Architecture after the first year. Anyway, I enjoy this kind of assignments. I take my time, place my camera on the tripod and wait for the best light. Very different of the adrenaline and action of reportage, but is not bad at all.
This office supplies (and collects the money) of the gas and electricity we consume. The highest we are in the building, the top the executives, the best offices and the more breathtaking views.

TORRE AGBAR © PACO ELVIRA

TORRE AGBAR © PACO ELVIRA

I also photographed, before, the Agbar Tower ,for the Vanguardia Magazine. The architec is Jean Nouvel. The Tower is the Aguas de Barcelona central office and the relationship altitude-executives importance-views are the same than in the Agbar Tower. This building is a relevant sign in Barcelona skyline, but I decided to photograph it from Consell de Cent Street with a 300 mm tele lens; finally a 450 mm lens due to the 1, 5 conversion factor of my digital Nikon.