Playing With The Light

Madrid, Spain Street Photography with Fujifilm X Half

Sunlit urban street with leafy trees and shadows over a bicycle and buildings, creating a tranquil cityscape. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1

Let’s check in for our flight to Madrid, I told my husband, who was supposed to travel to Spain for work and invited me to tag along. Turns out, I was the only one with the ticket to Madrid, as my husband’s office didn’t book him one…

Airplane boarding gate control panel with Emirates logo, featuring buttons and warning labels for operational use. Fujifilm X-Half.

I haven’t been to Spain, and I didn’t really know what to expect, so before going I watched a few walking around Madrid videos on YouTube – made me feel that the streets are enormous avenues, similar to Champs Elysees, and I thought it would be a struggle to do street photography on those. Turned out, there are plenty of smaller and friendlier to the eye streets, and the grand ones are very beautiful as well.

Elegant historic building under blue sky with wispy clouds, architectural beauty in urban setting. Madrid on Fujifilm X-Half.

I figured, in Madrid is going to be hot and sunny (and jeez it was), so I decided to take with me the Ricoh GRIV because you can see its screen with polarized sunglasses, but I also recently got a discounted Fujifilm X Half, and it’s so small that I thought it wouldn’t hurt to bring it along as well.

I know, that a lot of you would be more interested in reading about my experience with dealing with these two cameras, and I hope to write it up soon enough, but for now, let’s visit Madrid.

View of a vibrant cityscape with colorful buildings under a dynamic, cloud-filled sky.

Hotel with Air Con

Husband promised that the hotel where we would be staying would have air conditioning. It seemed that this hotel did have air-conditioning at some point of its existence, just not when we were visiting. The room was facing the sun most of the day, and was toasty to say the least. At least it had a fan. Still, it is mid-July.

The husband and his colleagues waged a war on the “Sleep with Bob” hotel for the a/c thievery, and the hotel tried to pretend by never having mentioned possession of the air con. Then went to a great length of removing its listing from every possible website.

Secondly, for whichever reason, we found ourselves in the middle of the gaybourhood. Coming straight from the Middle East to that was a bit of a shock, but entertaining, to say the least.

Cologne wipe advertisement on a pole, offering fresh scent for men. Bold text and QR code for more details.

Even though I woke up at 4 AM to catch that flight, I committed to seeing friends for dinner, which was scheduled for after 9 PM. But I got complimented on my shiny appearance in the eyes of some pretty high individual, who tried to invite me for a coffee. Also caught some photos of the beautiful light on the way. All the below photos shot on Fujifilm X-Half. I got to say, though, technically they are not perfect, but they convey the feelings of the moment just right.

Historic European building facade with ornate stonework and sunlight, framed by tree leaves. Fujifilm X-Half
Sunlit urban street with leafy trees and shadows over a bicycle and buildings, creating a tranquil cityscape. Fujifilm X-Half
Street view of a red brick building with balconies and a Spanish flag in the sun, pedestrians passing by. Fujifilm X-Half
City street at sunset with golden light casting long shadows on sidewalk and a parked scooter in the foreground. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Person walking along a sunlit urban street with trees casting long shadows in the late afternoon. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Urban street scene with classic European architecture and a tree, capturing afternoon sunlight in a lively neighborhood. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Historic statue in a sunlit plaza, surrounded by trees and cafes, capturing local culture and architecture. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Sunlight filtering through tree leaves in an urban plaza, with people walking and historic buildings in the background. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Urban construction site with torn mesh fencing and safety barriers in a city setting. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Mannequin in a shop window wearing a lace headscarf and brown dress, reflecting urban scenery in background. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Stacked chairs and tables outside a Ciudad de Tui café with a weathered wall backdrop. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Person shopping at ZapShop Outlet displaying shoes and accessories. Pink signage, evening lights, sale banners visible. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1

I did carry my newly beloved (and already dropped on the ground) GRIV, but I took most of the photos with Fuji, just because it is somewhat even smaller and lighter. And boy, do I love a crappy small camera.

Retiro Park

Next day, after a hearty (not) breakfast at Starbucks (because nothing else opens early), I directed my feet towards the Retiro Park of Madrid.

Historic European-style building with ornate facade under a partly cloudy sky. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1

The morning shadows in Madrid this time of the year are surprisingly long! In Dubai by 9-30 it feels like it’s already the middle of the day.

Two people standing on a sunlit sidewalk, casting long shadows. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1

The park itself also had some incredible play of lights and shadows, apart from being the most beautiful park I’ve ever seen. In my opinion, even better than Versailles, though when I was there the weather was crap.

A few examples below, all shot with Eterna film simulation and SOOC:

Sunlight illuminating a spider web and leafy foliage, creating intricate patterns and shadows in a lush green setting.
Sunny park path lined with lush green foliage and tall trees, creating a serene nature walk setting. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Sunlit park pathway surrounded by lush trees and hedges, creating a serene forest atmosphere. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Empty park bench on a shaded dirt path under trees with dappled sunlight casting patterns on the ground. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Dappled sunlight and tree shadows on a pavement, creating a serene, artistic pattern in a natural setting. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Tall trees and leafy canopy against a clear blue sky with scattered clouds, capturing a serene outdoor scene. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Elegant garden with a fountain surrounded by lush greenery and archways under a clear blue sky. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Bright red roses in full bloom against a clear blue sky, surrounded by lush greenery in a garden setting. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Lush garden with a central fountain, surrounded by greenery and clear blue sky, creating a peaceful outdoor atmosphere. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Man walking on a shaded park path surrounded by tall trees and clear blue sky above. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Lush greenery surrounds a serene lake with a central water fountain under a clear blue sky. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Sunlit park pathway lined with lush green trees and hedges, creating a peaceful, natural setting. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Sunlight filtering through lush green leaves of a tall tree, creating a serene woodland scene. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1

Streets and Bits of Madrid

I diligently applied the sunscreen and wore a hat for my Madrid roamings and though the sun felt punchy during the day, it was not as heavy as to deal with the Dubai heat+humidity. I did feel, however, that the air was very dry. My nose dried out to the ends of my sinuses, my hair started to be affected by static electricity and the skin felt irritated. Also, my feet were not very happy to have had to walk 15 kms per day, even though I did some treadmill walking at home.

Shadow of leaves on a wall beside the entrance to TAI Escuela Universitaria de Artes in Madrid. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Street art of a man in a suit on a wall with electric wave patterns beside an electrician's shop. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Vintage typewriter in a shop window with flowers and a tote bag, creating a nostalgic literary ambiance. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Painter carrying a ladder and paint supplies on a city street. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Ornate wooden door with sunlight casting shadows, next to an entryway in a stone building. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Old European city street with ornate building, balconies, parked scooter, and tree shadows on the sidewalk. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1
Charming outdoor café with striped umbrellas, wicker chairs, and greenery on a sunny day. Perfect for relaxed dining. Fujifilm X-Half X-HF1

La Gatoteca, Madrid

I thought I’d escape from the summer heat for a bit and visit the cat shelter, called La Gatoteca. Don’t tell my cats, but there were some fine kitties there. Most were a bit scaredy but still willing to play. Cat tax below:

Siamese cat lounging on a wooden floor near a cat scratcher and tree in cozy home setting.
Black and white cat resting on a cabinet with a blanket, against a stone wall indoors.
Sleeping black cat on a perch, enjoying a peaceful nap in soft indoor lighting.
Black and white cat sitting indoors on a wooden floor, looking at camera with curious green eyes.
Cat lounging in a cardboard box with a small orange ball, looking relaxed and curious inside its cozy hideout.

Final Thoughts

Even though my body didn’t agree with Madrid’s climate, I found the city lovely. The food lacked salad options for my liking, and leaned heavy on potatoes and meat side. I felt the prices were not too bad, and there was also the football cheer in the air.

Wish I could sleep more comfortably. I guess, for that I have to stay at home.

Thanks for reading,

Stay tuned for the camera reviews.

Anna

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