Rodney Campbell's Blog

Park Güell is a public park system composed of gardens and architectonic elements located on Carmel Hill, in Barcelona. With urbanization in mind, Eusebi Güell assigned the design of the park to Antoni Gaudi. The park was built between 1900 and 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 42 mm, 1/50 sec at f/8, ISO 250

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 68 mm, 1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Park Güell is the reflection of Gaudí’s artistic plenitude, which belongs to his naturalist phase. During this period, the architect perfected his personal style through inspiration from organic shapes.

Park Güell

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/8, ISO 900

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/40 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Today turned out to be Gaudi day – we were visiting a number of Antonio Gaudi’s famous works here in Barcelona.

In the morning we were heading to Park Güell.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/8, ISO 110

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 720

First stop was Turó de les Tres Creus where we had a fabulous view over Barcelona.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 44 mm, 1/200 sec at f/8, ISO 100

It allowed me to take this very wide sixteen frame stitched panorama. The view here is perhaps 270° – so I’ve cut the long panorama into quarters to allow you to more easily see the slices of the view. Click the image below to see the full uncut panorama.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 100 x 16 Frames

The girls certainly enjoyed the view.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/40 sec at f/11, ISO 100

Tucked away in the back streets is the Picasso Museum

Picasso Museum

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/6.3, ISO 900

The Museu Picasso, houses one of the most extensive collections of artworks by the 20th-century Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. With thousands of works, the museum has one of the most complete permanent collections of works. The museum is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces in Barcelona’s La Ribera district.

Picasso Museum

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Picasso Underground

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/5.6, ISO 3600

Picasso Underground

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1400

Cathedral of Barcelona

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 68 mm, 1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

Tucked away in the heart of the Gothic Quarter is this lovely old church – the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar (actually there are many beautiful churches jammed in the back streets of Barcelona).

Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/4, ISO 220

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

“Saint Mary of the Sea” is an imposing church, built between 1329 and 1383 at the height of Aragon kingdom’s maritime and mercantile preeminence. It is an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic, with a purity and unity of style that is very unusual in large medieval buildings.

Inner Vaults

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/4, ISO 400

For our first full day in Barcelona we headed out to wander the inner city Neighbourhoods (Barrios) right on our doorstep. Primarily the Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter).

Laneways

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62 mm, 1/60 sec at f/7.1, ISO 1400

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

It was Sunday so most places were closed and the city was quiet and empty in the morning. This changed dramatically after midday when the city filled and the streets were busy with crowds of people.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/5.6, ISO 560

The beautiful neighbourhood known as the Gothic Quarter is so called because it used to be the Roman village and thus has some remnants of its glorious past. The “old city” is in the heart of Barcelona and the “original” Barcelona where the city all started. This area is characterised by winding cobbled ancient streets and wonderfully picturesque architecture.

Looking Up

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/30 sec at f/7.1, ISO 720

Eventually we arrived at the port and had a good view down Passeig de Colom to the Columbus Monument.

Columbus Monument

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 200 mm, 1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 100

Heading back we were about to stumble on the Picasso Museum.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 90 mm, 1/100 sec at f/5.3, ISO 5000