I had the opportunity to explore and photograph Seville and Malaga during my recent travels in June. These two locations are two places I have been looking forward to visiting. Seville has been on my list for a few years now, and Malaga, with its proximity to Seville, was an easy decision to include on this trip.

I chose Malaga as my second destination because I’ve heard it is one of the must-visit cities in Spain. I’ve also seen some photographs from there, and I was excited to have the opportunity to take my own photographs. Additionally, it’s pretty close to Seville, making it easily accessible. It’s just over two hours with one switch in Cordoba. Malaga is situated south of Seville and is located on the Mediterranean Sea.

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.

“You must be excited about your trip; it’s coming soon!” Next week, I’ll be on my way to Spain! And yes, I’m excited! I didn’t think that hit me until this past weekend. I partially believe this has crept up quietly because the weather has been unpleasant here. I thought it would be beautiful, sunny in June, and…well, summer. It isn’t. It isn’t at all! When I booked this trip in January, I felt it was so far away, and really, it was.

Travelling to Barcelona, I wondered what and how I wanted to capture. First, I wanted to be able to capture everything as sharply as possible, and that meant I had to sacrifice something. As I wanted a minimum shutter speed in all conditions, the ISO would inevitably need to increase based on the lighting conditions. Second, I wanted to shoot “blind.” The X-H2 has an articulating screen that makes it easy to shoot without looking at your subject.

While exploring Barcelona last month, we experienced a variation of weather. Initially, I was worried. Would I not experience Barcelona in what I imagined—beautiful weather and a favourable climate I love? After capturing only around 100 photos from the first 24 hours, I remember thinking, “I’m not going to get anything from this trip.” I was patient. I pushed that frustration aside and enjoyed what was before us regardless of what was to come.

As you probably guessed from the title, Barcelona was our destination for an impromptu trip. We had some fun choosing where to go. I listed each option on small pieces of paper, and we each chose our top three. If one location matched, that was our choice. Only after that would we look at accommodations, flights, and the weather. Travelling at the last minute is exciting, but something so close to embarkation time can get expensive.