Lens Flare #30 - Photographing Tourists
Valencia's International Visitors
A Popular Destination
The Spanish city of Valencia has changed a lot since I moved here full-time 20 years ago, and even more since my first visit in the 1990s. What was once an insider destination, not visited by many foreigners, is now one of Europe’s prime tourist destinations. Back then, the city was hard to navigate without a working knowledge of Spanish, Paella could only be found at lunchtime, and shorts and sandals were considered beachwear.
However, several high-profile, and sometimes controversial, investments, such as the shortlived Formula 1 street circuit, the construction of the City of Arts and Sciences, and the remodeling of the marina before and after the America’s Cup, have put Valencia on the map. Nowadays, the city is full of visitors, and it is rare to not see a large cruise ship docked at the marina.
Tourist destinations have one big advantage for street photographers: cameras are a common sight and do not attract attention. I take advantage of this by blending in. On recent excursions, I have started to photograph the tourists themselves, close up with wide-angle lenses. Today, I would like to share some results of this mini project, all taken with 24mm and 28mm focal lengths. Contrary to what might be expected, I find that getting very close facilitates remaining unnoticed since people assume I am photographing something behind them. However, it should noted that some tourists are protective of their personal space, due to an understandable fear of pickpockets and tourist scams. I have, on occasion, noticed worried and alert faces when walking straight at someone for a photo.
Images
A great project Stefan! Looking forward to seeing more