Mermaid Captured in La Rambla, Barcelona

Fishing for Sirens on Las Ramblas

I captured this mermaid with my trusty Nikon D70s while going on a little "fishing expedition" for human statues along Las Ramblas. And let me tell you, there were plenty of fishy things in that sea of tourists—mostly pickpockets and trileros (shell-game swindlers) trying to trick people with their cards. Those are dangerous species you definitely want to avoid playing with.

The Modern Odysseus

But this encounter was different. I felt charmed and subdued by her irresistible, silent chant. In the spirit of Greek mythology, I almost tried to tie myself up to that black cast-iron lamp post standing right next to her and cover my ears like a modern Odysseus to resist the temptation.

But it was no use. She pulled out a small jewel box covered in shells, insinuated a silver-painted smile, and I succumbed instantly. One more euro for the catch of the day!

A Marvel of Marble Human Statue

A Marvel of Marble on the Street

This is, for me, one of the greatest human statues at Las Ramblas de Barcelona. The texture, the costume, the way he holds the pose—it is all top-notch. But I have to admit, taking this photo wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

The Challenge of Shooting White on White

It was surprisingly hard to capture these white colors properly. As any photographer knows, the camera's sensor (or CCD, for us old-school shooters) can easily be fooled by large bright or dark surfaces. It tries to compensate, often making the picture look too grey or blowing out the highlights depending on where you focus.

I think I managed to balance it here, though. You can really see the "marble" details—the grey veining painted onto his face and the folds of the cowl are incredible. And that expression! The guy was smiling at me right after I gave him one euro. Sometimes a picture is worth the money, and these street artists really deserve it for the effort they put in.

A Little Art News

On a different note, I have some exciting news to share. Barcelona Photoblog has been invited to be part of Saatchi Gallery Online. It is a massive, free showcase for photographers and a world-leading interactive resource for the art community. It’s an honor to be included. You can see some of my pictures over at Saatchi Online if you want to check them out!

Giants in Catalonia: The Eagle

This is a detail of an eagle, the eagle that represents the city. Yes, it is not a closeup on a small adornment but a figure taller than me (anyone of course!) which can be admired among other giants in the Palau de la Virreina building at La Rambla, 99. This is the original figure from 1999 by Xavier Jansana. You can also see its replica at the popular site known as La Casa dels Entremesos. 

Long ago in medieval times when theater and religion used to go hand in hand in the form of mystery plays staged in the streets, giants began to play an important role in Catalan towns. One of them was the figure of L'Aliga (eagle). In spite of not being as tall as the rest of the figures, the animal was a symbol of the corresponding city and its municipal authorities, thus the crown, and was mainly used to receive important personalities that came into town. The eagle is often holding a white pigeon in the menacing beak. There was a time when the pigeon was alive and was to be eaten by participants later on. 

L'Aliga is the only giant that is allowed to dance before the altar in church and there are specific procedures to observe when walking her in processions.