Fuji Cameras

Fuji X-E1 | XF35mm f1.4 | Exposure f2.8 @ 1/150 second | © James Gray

In the quiet backstreets of Palma on the island of Majorca in the Mediterranean, lie plenty of opportunities for street photographers. While on holiday a few years back, I came across a pensioner out walking her dog in the heat of the midday sun. Fortunately though, there are plenty of shadowed streets that offer some protection, including this one. This street was just off the old cathedral square and probably dates back to medieval times, and is full of streets that go this way and that. Most of the windows were shuttered in the Spanish style, and some had window boxes filled with plants and colourful flowers.

Since picking up a camera in my teens, the subject I photographed most was landscape, but I think street photography was probably a distant second. There’s something about photographing in the city. For a start, the city is always changing, buildings get built or knocked down and made way for something new.

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Lee Friedlander are photographers I studied when I did a City and Guild course many years ago. You always come across their photographs in magazines and books because they are original, timeless and their styles have been copied endlessly. But, they still help inspire me to pick up the camera and have a go.

Link to Magnum Contact Sheets at The Guardian.

Fuji X-E1 | XF35mm f1.4 Lens | ISO 200 | Exposure f1.4 @ 1/105 | © James Gray

Something about photographing a bar in the afternoon heat feels right. It could be the languid atmosphere or the fact that everyone seems to be taking a break from the sun. In any case, it’s a great time to capture a place’s character and charm.

In Spain, siesta time is when real action happens. Bars and restaurants are packed, and everyone seems to be taking a break from the sun. It’s a great opportunity to snap some photos of locals enjoying a cold beer, like this one of Cruzcampo in Mallorca.

The light is usually nice and soft at this time of day, and it’s perfect for capturing all the details of a bar. There’s always something worth capturing, from the interesting architectural features to the colourful drinks menu.