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 thoughts on “Madrid, Spain in B&W | Day 1 Part 2

    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. 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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    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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  2. 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. 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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  3. 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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    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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  4. 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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    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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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. 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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    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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  11. 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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  12. 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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  13. 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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  14. 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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