Photographs from Porto

Porto, Portugal, is a bucket-list destination for many travellers and photographers. Easily reached once you’re in Portugal, the northern city is connected by a direct train from Lisbon, where many visitors begin their trip. And although the two cities are relatively close, Lisbon and Porto feel very different.

This is my second time in Porto, and while I covered much of the same ground as before, this visit was accompanied by far better weather. Last time, I dealt with storms, which made photography more challenging. I don’t enjoy shooting in the rain, since light plays such a big role in my photography, and Porto can be tricky in that respect. Being in the north, it tends to get more rain and fewer predictable sunny days. This time, though, conditions were much more favourable. There were certainly stretches of cloud cover, but there were still plenty of opportunities to explore and photograph the city.

From my time wandering through Porto, here are some photos with a little background for each one.

Photo 1 - Beergetarian

“Beergetarian” is the word printed on the shirt of the gentleman on the left, and it seemed like the perfect title for this photo.

I made this image along the waterfront, where I blended in fairly easily. The area was crowded with people, and a festival was taking place nearby. I couldn’t say with certainty what the event was, but it had drawn a large crowd to the waterfront, with plenty of people dressed up and moving through the space. Because of that, I could move around with my camera without attracting much attention.

At one point, I noticed these three gentlemen sitting outside a cafe-bar, watching the scene unfold. They were all focused on the same thing, or at least something in the same general direction, and each had a beer in front of them; similar glasses, similar levels of beer. It was a simple, unposed moment, but one that felt naturally composed.

This photo captures a genuine moment: three men, the same outward focus, and a small detail on a shirt that gave the image its name.

Photo 2 - On the River

Both of these shots were taken with the 35mm instead of my usual 23mm. I tend to stick with the 23mm since the 35mm often feels a bit tight for how I like to compose, but in this case, I actually wanted that closer perspective.

For Photo 2, I was walking along, looking for something that captured the moment. I knew I wanted the river and something that felt like a summer evening, but I also wanted people in the frame to reflect that enjoyable experience.

What really stands out to me is the glow from the sun hitting the people off-frame to the left. Shooting at f/2 helped soften the foreground couple, which made a big difference. If they were in sharp focus, I don’t think the image would work as well. The softness, combined with that warm light, enhances the overall mood and brings them into the composition without drawing attention away from the river.

Photo 3 - Cálem

This place is actually the Cálem Port Wine Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia. I never really noticed this sign as a prominent fixture until I was behind it from this vantage point. As this was taken on a different night than Photo 2, I wanted to get a different perspective on another beautiful night. There is a road that leads up behind, which is pretty quiet compared to the waterfront. No surprise there, but it provided a great opportunity to work slowly here as I walked up the incline from right to left. I was never up this road on my first visit, so I’m glad I took the time to discover it on my second.

For a scene as expansive as this, it’s easy to go horizontal with composition to capture it all. However, I wanted to emphasize the sign and letters as they are a foundation of the composition, not just part of it. I started here with the 23mm, but based on my positioning, I could not get any closer to the river. The 35mm was a substantial advantage here, as I was able to capture the foreground elements of the rooftops without them taking up too much of the frame.

I took about a dozen shots here, all with slightly different positioning, and this is the one that stood out for me. Boats were passing, and you can see one to the left coming into frame, and one to the right, just exiting. I didn’t want anything obscuring the view of the CALEM letters, as I wanted a clear view of them, leading to the structures of Porto that complete your visual journey from the bottom up.

And the light is such a big factor here. I am drawn to nights like this. This is why I travel, and being immersed in a scene like this is what makes travel enticing to me. I continue to seek it out.

Photo 4 - Sunset Over the River Douro

This photo was taken at Jardim do Morro, one of the most popular viewpoints in Porto, just across the Dom Luís I Bridge. In the evening, especially when a strong sunset is expected, the hill fills up with people. You’ll see groups sitting around, talking, listening to music, eating, and drinking. It has a relaxed, social energy, and the view itself is easily one of the best in the city.

As the sun started to drop, I made my way back after wandering the surrounding area. As I expected, it was packed. There was nowhere to sit, but that wasn’t really the goal anyway. I was focused on finding a solid composition.

I worked my way carefully through the crowd, trying not to knock over drinks or step on someone’s hands. I took a few frames, and truthfully, I got a few that I think are great, but this is one I chose to highlight here. What makes it work for me is the single figure standing, seemingly taking a photo with their phone. If everyone were sitting, it still would have been a good scene, but that one person immediately draws your eye and pairs nicely with the curve of the river as the light reflecting off the river frames the subject.

There’s a strong sense of inclusion in this image. It captures that shared enjoyment and awe of a beautiful sunset, the kind that feels warm, open, and worth slowing down for.

Photo 5 - Seagull

This is a photo I really enjoy for several reasons; it is also one I deliberately set out to capture. Like many cities, Porto has no shortage of seagulls, especially around the waterfront, and I wanted to photograph a single gull in flight. That was the goal for this image. The sun was low, the light was beautiful, and I had plenty of space to work with.

I stayed in one spot and tracked seagulls through my viewfinder. I was shooting with the 35mm lens at f/2, since I wanted the bird to be the main focus. At the same time, I wanted the scene to feel definitively Porto, so I made sure the background helped establish that sense of place.

It took a few tries. Some frames were out of focus, some had too much background, and others caught a seagull too far away. In the end, though, I enjoy this photo because it matches my intention. It is simple, but it feels warm, peaceful, and unmistakably Porto.

Conclusion

Porto is fantastic, and it’s easy to see why it remains such a popular destination for travellers and photographers. It has a striking beauty, yet still holds on to its rugged charm. Some of the best sunsets I’ve ever experienced have been in Porto, with the sun dropping toward the horizon and the city stretching out in front of you as others gather around to watch the same scene. It becomes more than just a sunset; it’s an experience.

I was especially excited to go through my photos from Porto, and since this was my second visit, I was glad to experience the city more closely than I had expected on my first visit four years earlier. From my enjoyment in Porto, I’m not ruling out a third visit.