Madrid, Spain in B&W | Day 1 Part 2

We continued our walk west towards Plaza Mayor from the Parque del Retiro and I took many photos along the way to try and show a little bit of what life is like for those that live and work here.

Afternoon Walk | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm
Grocery shopping | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm
Afternoon View | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm
Late Lunch | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm
On a Mission | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm
Old friends | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm
Must have lost a wheel? | Ricoh GXR, Leica Summicron-C 1:2/40mm

Day 1 Part 3 continued….

210 responses to “Madrid, Spain in B&W | Day 1 Part 2”

  1. I love the setting an atmosphere! Reminds me of Old Montreal – but less crowded >.<
    Beautiful post!

    Katie
    http://katieraspberry.wordpress.com/

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    1. Hi Katie, thanks for stopping by. I tried my best to capture what I was seeing these past three days but the eye still sees better than the camera providing all the atmosphere one needs to stimulate the imagination.

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      1. I think you did a fantastic job Duane!

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  2. Absolutely love the black and white imagery, the look and feel of this is so very classic and artistic. Very well done!

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    1. Thanks Stan. Over the last few months I’m becoming much more comfortable seeing in B&W.

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  3. These photos are astonishing! I’ve just been in Madrid 2 weeks ago, and through these photos you just gave me a whole new perspective on it, thank you!

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    1. Thanks cityoftheweek, its been a great layover!

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  4. Just spotted you on Freshly Pressed, congratulations. Great images!

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    1. Thanks belgradestreets!

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  5. I miss Madrid… it is my one true goal in life to return to this place of absolute magic and live happily ever after there…..

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    1. Thanks Sara, just get on a plane and get here!!! Life’s too short to worry about all those things that get in the way. Push them aside and live!

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      1. I’ll be there in a jiffy! 🙂

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    2. Same thought. This post made me feel warm and fuzzy.

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  6. Great series… hope there are plenty more to come 🙂

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    1. I have another two days of photos 2 Rivers and I just got back to my hotel room from another long afternoon/evening.

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  7. Love the world in black and white. I would be stopping at that Vino Y Tapas cafe for sure. Thanks for sharing.
    You Matter! Smiles, Nancy

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    1. Thanks juststartwithmonday! There are plenty of great watering holes to drop in on here!

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  8. Gorgeous pictures! Really telling of the people and place, in my opinion. They remind me of Ireland, in a way – likely because we’re not hearing the conversations.

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  9. Stunnig set!! (I really mean it). Loved to see my city with your eyes. A fresh look to me.
    The much less important fact that you use Ricoh GXR caught my eye as well for my camera is a much humble one (GX200) but still great Ricoh gear.
    I’ll keep an eye on you.

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    1. Thanks Rafa, why don’t you join the rest of us Ricoh shooters over at http://www.ricohforum.com. Its a great forum with plenty of other Ricoh users posting photos, helping with gear and just a bunch of really nice folks from all over the world hang out.

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  10. The unicyclist is one useful way to get around 🙂

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    1. Hey Alex, as I was walking he was still leaning against the wall getting his gear ready to go. I tried my best to catch him as he went by but I knew shooting into the sun was not the best but I think it gets a feel that everyone can do their won thing here!

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  11. I lived in Madrid for fourteen years, and you’ve really captured the atmosphere.

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    1. Thanks aspyinthehouseofwords!

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  12. Wow I simply love these photos! My mom just arrived in Madrid today, so I can envision her strolling through some of your pictures! Congrats on being freshly pressed!

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    1. Thanks indigofletcher, I hope your mom enjoys her stay. Make sure you do get out for a stroll. Plus I’ve just added a new post with my Day 2 photos.

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  13. I lived in Madrid for four months and this makes me miss it! Thanks for capturing these beautiful images.

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    1. Thanks Paulina, BTW I just added another post with more of Madrid.

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  14. Great photos, full of life. I especially love the first one

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  15. Reblogged this on booktopiareviews and commented:
    This post made me wish I were in college again, enjoying my semester in Madrid. Someday I’ll get back! Thanks for the smile & memories. 🙂

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    1. Thanks booktopiareviews!

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  16. I love Madrid!! Take me there…

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    1. It would be my pleasure.

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  17. I had a scary teacher in a B&W photography class once, and to say she crushed my soul is to put it lightly. She would have absolutely adored you, though! The mood on your photos is simply sublime. 🙂

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    1. Thanks ishg, its just the past year I’ve begun shooting in B&W. My switch to my current camera kit has caused it. Hard to explain but my big DSLR just got in the way and my small Ricoh kit has made all the difference.

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      1. good thing it did, or we would never have got to seen these awesome shots. 🙂 keep discovering!

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  18. Thank you so much for those pictures 🙂 I lived in Madrid for half a year and I was totally captivated by the atmosphere from your pics.

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    1. Thanks northernlandscapedesign!

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  19. Great pictures. I really like your blog. I was wondering if you could check mine out. Come and see an 11 year old’s view on all things baseball. Please feel free to offer any advice.
    -David
    http://bleacherboy.wordpress.com/

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    1. Thanks for stopping by David. I will check out your blog and the best advice I can give this very second is pretty simple. Since you’re interested in sports the only way you get better at baseball, for example, practice, practice and practice. I always have my camera with me and I take photos every day. Most are just practice shots and are thrown away. But I want to ensure I can make it do what I want when I want. I remember reading about Jack Nicklaus and what he would do to get better. He would take out his 7 iron for example and hit a thousand golf balls at a time.

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      1. Tahnks for the advice and for checking it out

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  20. Great post!
    I love black and white photos, and I love your photos, it’s creative, unique, imaginative.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  21. Looks really comfortable living there. I love how you bring the best out of those photographs in B&W. Classic!

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  22. What rich, gorgeous photography that naturally documents a rich, gorgeous place. Thanks for sharing! I hope to visit Spain one day. I have long wanted to!

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    1. Thanks caloniedoesart. Don’t wait too long cause before you know it it might be too late!

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      1. You’re welcome! You are right and that would be tragic! A co-worker of mine just came back from Spain…spent one week there.

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      2. You’re welcome and very right!

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    1. I wish I did Mr. Farish. I was too busy trying to take it all in. But if I was really living there, man, so many places to hang out and chill!

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  23. Very enjoyable – particularly like the shot with the Vespa in the foreground, great street photography.

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    1. Thanks Ms Tina! Had a great time and the weather was perfect.

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  24. Amazing photos! You really captured the feel of the city. I especially like the first one and the shot of the guy through the restaurant window.

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  25. I like the pictures.The Black and White add more imagination.

    Did u get the time to visit (National Museum of Decorative Arts)?

    It is one of the oldest museums in the city.

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    1. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the National Museum. In fact I was only supposed to be there for one night. So had a gift getting a couple extra days. Now that I know more about the city, I will put that location on my bucket list for my next time.

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  26. Fantastic photographs…I think black and white photography is a stunning medium to work with and in this case you have used it well. Congratulations too on being feature on freshly pressed.

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    1. Thanks for the very nice compliment Kate! I finally created a B&W preset in Aperture that I like and used with all of these images. I want to have my own look and I think you’ve helped confirm that for me.

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  27. Beautiful pictures, I love going to Spain, and I’ve been to Madrid only twice, but when I look at your photos it feels like home… Have to come back there again!

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  28. Reblogged this on Another European Travel Blog and commented:
    Another side of Spain, absolutely beautiful

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    1. Thanks spaghettipirate!

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  29. I went to Spain three times, but I still want to visit more cities. I’ve never been in Madrid, and that’s a pity! Beautiful photos, anyway!

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    1. Better get there before its too late! Only young once!

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  30. Beautiful photos. I used to live in Madrid – my favorite city and you’ve captured it!

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    1. Thanks, I too would enjoy living here.

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  31. Jose M. López Avatar
    Jose M. López

    Quite rare how foreing value Spain and how we hate it right now. Wonderful pictures.

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    1. Thanks Jose, wonderful city.

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  32. Reblogged this on Drummerette~ and commented:
    Really like this photography!

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  33. Beautiful pictures. I lived in and around madrid for several years and you capture my favourite side of it away from the 8-lane Paseos

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    1. yes the 8 lane stuff is waaaay too busy for me. Where I live I might see 20 cars on my way to the airport, 28 miles away. So I hate traffic and most of the very busy cities, but I really enjoyed Madrid.

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    1. Thank you ezakmyworld!

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  34. I’ve lived in Madrid the past 2 years as an American expatriate. Every single one of these photos-this is Madrid to a tee!

    You see old people walking aided by their children/caregivers/nurses hired to take care of them all the time in the streets. I think Spain is number 1 when it comes to the mobility of their senior citizens–they’re always out and about in the streets! And the cafe picture and the two men talking with their drinks on the barrel–this is also very Madrid. To me it’s a little eerie how well you captured it! Thanks for sharing!

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  35. These are gorgeous in black and white!

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  36. Loved the photos! 🙂 Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!

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  37. txomingoitibera Avatar
    txomingoitibera

    Very nice photos. Reminds me Henri Cartier-Bresson.

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    1. Thanks Tx, that’s quite a compliment that in no way I deserve, but thank you.

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  38. Lovely Black and White photos. Sometimes ‘less is more!’
    I actually used to love black and white television…. strange!

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    1. I still remember my grandmother’s black and white TV. Yes, B&W brings a different perspective to our color life!

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  39. black and white pics bring a different era all together to any place. It is like you have transcended times..

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  40. Lovely photos! I really like your B&W processing.

    City of Madrid!, which I can visit there sometime soon 🙂

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  41. Great places, I really like this photos!

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  42. Great photos. They bring back memories from the year I lived in Madrid.

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    1. It’s a beautiful place!

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  43. Thanks for sharing. I was in Madrid for a couple of days at the teen. Used to live in Madrid for three years. Connie
    http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/

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  44. orangepajamas Avatar

    Gr8 job with composition in each photograph…u can’t go wrong with streetphotography and B&W processing 🙂

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  45. Gorgeous pictures! thanks for sharing.

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  46. very timeless, thanks for posting

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  47. I lived 8 years in Madrid before moving to California. I miss it every day. Such a wonderful city with the most wonderful people. Congratulations for your post and pictures.

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    1. Thanks Ana, it truly is a wonderful town!

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  48. ferreiragiovanni Avatar
    ferreiragiovanni

    Madrid is very beautiful!!

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    1. It was a great couple days!

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  49. These are beautiful. I lived in Madrid for 5 years, left last July, and miss it often. You have really managed to capture the spirit of the people and the place, in what is my favourite city in the world

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    1. Thanks Olivia. It is a nice city!

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  50. Great in b/w. Are the people as relaxed as they appear to be? Bruce

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    1. Very relaxed Bruce! A fun city!

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  51. In one word: BRILLIANT! I love the photos! You have a wonderful eye for photography! Congrats for being on Freshly Pressed!

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  52. That settles it; Madrid just made my Life To-Do List. By the way–very good photography.

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    1. Make sure you have the churros and chocolate while there!

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  53. Nostalgia:) Like re visiting a place so dear to heart. Such graceful images. Thanks for sharing.

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  54. These are beautiful. I’ve always thought that Europe photographs better in B&W.

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  55. Good city, bad people. I’d rather to go to Barcelona, people is nicer!!!

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  56. I love Spain so much! Great pictures.

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    1. Thanks! I too enjoy the city.

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  57. moodybluebird Avatar

    Very atmospheric…

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  58. anditfeelslike Avatar
    anditfeelslike

    Classic and enthralling!

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  59. Sofie Marklund Avatar
    Sofie Marklund

    Madrid is colourful but I really liked your interpretation!

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  60. Wow! I like taking black and white photos too! Check out my blog: http://viasioson.wordpress.com But I’m still practicing on it. Your pictures are good! Just a question, did you edit your photos to black and white or it was already taken as black and white? Thank you! 🙂

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    1. Hi Vianca. I have my Ricoh GXR setup to save my shots in RAW+JPG. The camera uses the JPG file for viewing your image on the camera’s LCD. I have set the camera to capture the JPG in B&W so that while I’m shooting the LCD or EVF displays the live view in B&W.

      I have just recently finalized a B&W preset I’ve created in Apple’s Aperture. I normally only import the RAW file and as I do I apply my B&W preset.

      Since I’m not changing the actual RAW file I still have a colour image if I want.

      I also apply a unique naming scheme as I import too

      So the big advantage I have with my Ricoh is I see in B&W as I’m shooting.

      Hope this helps.

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      1. Thank you very much! This is super helpful. Might try this one time using our camera. Thank you very much!

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  61. I love the B&W images, giving me the sensation of time; or maybe eternity…it is a unique experience. I have been in Madrid on the 80th decade, in Puerta del Sol, etc…Thanks a lot.

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    1. Thanks Mojo, was a fun time.

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  62. Wonderful photos, and congratulations on being freshly pressed.

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  63. Jorge Ledesma Avatar

    Congrats Duane, well deserved !!

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    1. Thanks Jorge, hope you’re doing well!

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  64. Beautiful is the only word that comes to mind. I hope to see this for myself one day. Thank you for sharing the beauty of Spain with the world.

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  65. Reblogged this on adsnell and commented:
    wonderful love them

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  66. Lovely pics…seems to capture the candid life of Madrid pretty well. Keep it up Duane!

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    1. Thanks sumantraqc, I will do my best in documenting my travels.

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  67. Great pictures. Wish I was there!

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    1. Thanks Jane, its a great city.

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  68. Nice pics!! I particularly like the contrast that b&w creates. It might look like images of the past, but this is happening in the present time. Now, the curious thing is that you could actually tell they could have happened in the past. Madrid is a big city, modern and all that. But, it retains much of the feeling of a small town.

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  69. Meditative Reflections Avatar
    Meditative Reflections

    Great pictures, Duane! I just returned from Madrid a few days ago and can’t wait to go back. If you happen to be on Gran Via, please stop in to Parrilla De Maria (Calle Gran Via, 72) and say hello to Leo, Rudy, and Juan for me.

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    1. Next time I will Meditative!

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  70. Such a wonderful city!

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  71. Thank you for reminding me how much I love that city! Beautiful photos! 🙂

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  72. Ron Scubadiver Avatar
    Ron Scubadiver

    I have been to Madrid a few times. Last year I was there during the Puerto del Sol demonstrations and got some great pics. I like yours too.

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  73. Pavements are very European styled, clean and stylish bricks. Cool.

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  74. A late congratz. Cool stuff with your GXR once again. Go Ricoh 😉

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    1. Thanks Alan, I love this camera and M mount kit!

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  75. Your pictures are really nice! 😀
    Keep up the good work 🙂
    http://journeythroughhtml.wordpress.com/

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    1. Thanks journeythrough, I will check you site!

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  76. I love B&W photos! What camera are you using, or did you change color to BW with PS? I want to go to Spain! Congrat’s on being FP’d!

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    1. Hi Susana, not that it matters, but I shot these images with my Ricoh GXR and the M mount module with an almost 40 year old manual Leica Summicron 40mm lens. I have it configured to save in both RAW & JPG with the JPG file set to B&W. This way as I look through the attached EVF or LCD on back I’m seeing in B&W as I shoot.

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  77. You really made amazing photos. We can feel the atmosphere… i neve been in Madrid… but next time i’ll travel surely i must go there! Wonderful.

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    1. Thanks MJ. It was a smashing couple days!

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  78. I love how you have captured the sloping landscape of the city; hauntingly beautiful!

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    1. Thanks chembelle! Beautiful city indeed!

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  79. aww… I miss home 😦

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    1. I can fully understand uninspiredart!

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  80. Simply beautiful. Quite possibly my favorite city on earth. Thank you for sharing these.

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    1. Thanks yandiyudhamara!

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  81. The pictures have so much of a old world charm. Carefree and laid back !! I love !!

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  82. Lindas fotos que me deixaram com saudades da mais fantástica cidade que conheci.

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    1. Madrid is an amazing city!

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  83. Reblogged this on Flower Blossoms' Blog and commented:
    Have you ever seen Madrid, Spain in black and white?

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  84. Gracias por compartir…thank u for sharing.

    Yo visite en Madrid en 2005 …and have wonderful memories that you are returning to me. Muchisimas Gracias

    I am, however, disappointed in the B&W…I want to see the vibrancy of the city’s culture,in all its wonderful colors. Sorry. (:

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    1. I’m sorry you didn’t like the B&W, but I wanted to stick with this theme in these photos and story. All of these images are in colour too. Maybe time permitting I can add a post with the more colorful photos I took.

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      1. Seria Magnifico …gracias!

        Have a wonderful and safe journey!

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  85. I love Spain. My family and I plan to go again this summer. I love the small streets where only one car can pass at a time, the olive trees and just driving from one city to the other. Let’s not forget the great weather, nice people and the Mediterranean sea. Love your pix.

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    1. Thanks Proflight. I too really enjoyed the city. Hope to get back again!

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  86. Reblogged this on Salerosa and commented:
    Φωτογραφίες από Μαδρίτη. Να δω πότε θα πάω κι εγώ να ανεβάσω και τις δικές μου!

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  87. Reblogged this on Salerosa and commented:
    That’s an interesting post! Γιατί 1 λεπτό ύπνος στο αυτοκίνητο ισοδυναμεί με 1 ώρας;

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  88. Reblogged this on Salerosa and commented:
    That’s an interesting post! Well done!

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  89. Love the fact that you did these photos in black and white.

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  90. TheRebeccaProject Avatar
    TheRebeccaProject

    Love the elegant simplicity in your pictures. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Rebecca, it was a fun couple of days!

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  91. 02 Aug 20, 2007 9:57 am Yeah, plays are fun aren’t they? For my wife’s birthday her folks got us tickets to see Wicked on Broadway, so we’re pretty excited. Well, my wife is ecstatic, I’m just happy to get out. Heh.None of your friends are into theater, Tish? And are there any theater social groups in your area? Like a social mixer type of thing where you attend movies or the theater? If so, that’s a great way to meet new people who share your interest (or are just trying to scam on your interest to meet new folks to date…)

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  92. J’ajoute, pour qu’on ne déforme pas mes propos, qu’évidemment, il ne faut pas confier d’enfants adoptés à des parents adoptifs dont on sait qu’ils sont « dangereux » pour l’enfant, à cause de leur alcoolisme, violence etc… mais cela n’a rien à voir avec l’homo/hétérosexualité.

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Thoughts? Leave a comment here and I’ll get back to you.