Photographs from Seville

The south of Spain offers a compelling allure for photographers due to its diverse landscapes, unique architecture, and vibrant colours. When looking at destinations for this June trip, Spain, particularly Seville, was near the top of the list. In June, the south of Spain had a very good chance of having favourable weather for me. That entails plenty of sunshine and hot temperatures.

Seville was my first stop on a two-city trip to Spain, and in this post, I want to comment on a few of the photos taken during that trip, provide some background, and explain why I like these images. I was very pleased with the pictures I captured in Seville; I wanted the series of photos to have a sense of warmth and vibrance. Warmth that you could almost feel. It’s representative of the location and my experience in Seville.

Photo 1 - Monument to Tolerance

The Monument to Tolerance is situated at Muelle de la Sal. This area, once a small stretch between the Barcas Bridge and the Torre del Oro, earned its name because salt was historically unloaded there. Today, it serves as a pedestrian walkway along the right bank of the river. As you can see from my vantage point, I was in an elevated area, which gave me a perfect angle to the woman sitting in the middle, ideally situated in the curve of the portion of the structure closest to her. It can get very hot in Seville, but in the shade, it’s cool, and I liked how the woman was taking cover in the small amount of shade provided by the structure.

The woman, the geometric patterns and shadows, and the view across the canal came together nicely. This is a simple composition that leaves no question about the primary subject.

Photo 2 - Bicycle

The first photo isn’t far from where I was staying; probably a five-minute walk. As a result, I walked through this area probably a dozen times. But you stop and take note when you see light through a shaded corridor. This area is not necessarily overwhelmingly busy, but people are coming through. I captured a few similar compositions with people walking from side to side, and this one with the bicycle. The person on the bike serves as a recognizable reference point, providing viewers with a clear idea of the size and spatial relationship within the narrow street, which is essential for effectively conveying scale. Adding the bicycle also introduced a dynamic element that complemented the static architecture and light patterns.

Additionally, positioning myself further away and using the 23mm lens draws the viewer’s eye through the frame, enhancing the depth and emphasizing the scale of the space. The interplay of light and shadow drew attention to the cyclist, making the scene feel both intimate and spacious.

Photo 3 - Sal Gorda

I was interested in exploring the relationship between the colour patterns present in this scene. The two-tone paint scheme on the wall and door frame closely echoes the similar two-tone pattern on the van parked nearby. Although the colours don’t match perfectly, this near-alignment created an intriguing visual dynamic that caught my attention. The subtle variations in hue between the wall and the van add complexity rather than uniformity, which makes the composition more engaging by inviting the viewer to compare and contrast these elements.

I took several frames here, experimenting with slightly different compositions. Some included more of the vehicle, but when the frame included too much of the vehicle, the attention tended to shift toward the van’s details rather than the interplay of colours. Isolating the van’s colour scheme rather than its physical form, the photograph emphasizes colour as a primary compositional element. By narrowing the focus to highlight the van’s colour scheme alongside the painted wall and door frame, the picture conveys the harmonious yet imperfect relationship between these patterns more effectively.

Photo 4 - Hotel Alfonso XIII

The Hotel Alfonso XIII began construction in 1916 and is one of the most luxurious hotels in Seville. It combines historic Moorish architecture with modern luxury amenities in a prominent location near Seville’s cathedral and Royal Alcázar. The building has a pretty prominent footprint and is surrounded by lush foliage. I love the colours and vibrancy in this photo, and how the sun at the top left accentuates the vibrancy and edges of the leaves. With just a portion of the hotel in view, it’s a photo that feels very alive with its vibrance.

Photo 5 - Trees

This is along the first area where I entered to walk along the pedestrian area near the canal, and it’s one of those opportunities I could have easily missed if I had entered one street over, for example. Just before proceeding down the stairs, I saw these two people sitting there and quickly captured this photo. The first thing that stands out to me is the warmth. You can see it in the colour tone, which almost makes you feel and experience it. Secondly, the couple are dwarfed by the size of the trees. This is an excellent example of how scale can make or break a photo. It would not be easy to acknowledge the trees’ scale without the couple in the frame, and as a result, the photo would lose its impact. I like this photo as it represents my experience at that moment: the warm air and the pleasant weather. And I think that’s what counts.

Photo 6 - Setas de Sevilla

Setas de Sevilla is a unique structure in Seville, with its placement within the city being particularly interesting. It was built at Plaza de la Encarnación to revitalize an abandoned market site and parking lot. This wooden structure was chosen to protect the site after archaeological remains were discovered during initial construction plans. It’s now one of Seville’s most recognizable landmarks, and combines a market, museum, public gathering space, and panoramic terraces.

You can photograph this from various angles and walk around the entire structure. I did so a few times, as every time I left my Airbnb to wander south, I somehow always ended up here. After composing various shots, I didn’t feel that anything unique was occurring for me until I started to walk away, looked back and saw this angle through the two buildings. This angle introduces its existence but intrigues viewers as it’s only a partial view. In a way, I find that this angle invites you to go further into it to reveal the Setas de Sevilla in its entirety.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many photos I captured in Seville. Even though I back up my images each night, I rarely review them. I’ll review the LCD periodically as needed and may open a few images on my laptop back at the hotel or Airbnb, but other than that, I don’t know what I have until I get home. That’s when I can offload my images and import them into Lightroom for proper focus and review.

Interestingly, the images I become most excited about when capturing rarely become my favourites. Time after time, it is the surprises that put me in the right place at the right time. I guess that’s part of the joy of photography: wondering what we created.