Fuerteventura

Fabulous Fuerteventura

/ mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

It’s a little speck of Spanish territory off the coast of Africa that contains photographic riches beyond its size. Clear blue skies, light to die for, intriguing natural features and eye-catching architecture.

This definitive album from my stay there features some shots I’ve yet to unveil – and there still some left over. It’s an indication of the influence this island exerts over your compulsion to click.

Click first image for the full gallery experience

You can find out more about Fuerteventura in these other posts:

Gone fishin’

El campanario

Corralejo colour

The dunes

Canarian sunset

Gone fishin’

/ mikeosbornphoto / 5 Comments

My trip to the Spanish island of Fuerteventura involved some people watching. The other tourists – particularly fellow British ones – are always a source of fascination and bemusement.

But on the shores of the colourful town of Corralejo, it was another species that warranted photographic attention. Fishing is a popular pastime, and cuts across nationalities and age here.

During one lunch in the sun, I observed a young Spanish man on the shoreline, his blue shirt melding with the azure waters as he deftly hauled in a catch, barefoot and without fear of the rocks. And of course he was totally unaware that he was being photographed as he went about his task.

Another scene from the jetty sees British visitors milling about as two people are fishing. By chance I captured a young woman absorbed in the act of taking a photo – just like I was.

Click first image to launch the gallery

This marks the last of my posts from the island. An extensive gallery will follow soon, including several shots which have not yet been featured.

Poolside

/ mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

Poolside abstract I

An inviting blue Spanish pool. Your instinct isn’t to dive into the cool waters, but to observe its ripples, glints of sunshine, textures and colours. Click first image to view the gallery

You also feel compelled to capture the top arch of the steps that take you gently into the water – but never set a foot in yourself. It’s almost a crying shame that the searingly bright metal is dappled with watermarks.

Photography rules over a luxuriously cool dip in a Spanish pool.

Watermarks

El campanario

/ mikeosbornphoto / 14 Comments

Fuerteventura bellOn the outskirts of the Canarian town of Corralejo, there is a modern complex which houses a cluster of shops and restaurants. It’s been built in traditional style, and has at its heart a bell tower – campanario in Spanish.

Not only does it chime every hour, but provides a wonderful viewpoint over the entire seaside resort and beyond. It’s easy to see Corralejo’s twin wind turbines (Fuerteventura can be very blustery), the harbour and across the sea to Lanzarote and the nearby islet of Lobos.

I clambered up several flights of stairs on a couple of occasions, the more memorable being for the end of the day and a dramatic sunset.  The viewing platform was always empty. A very handy resource for a photographer looking for some elevation.

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Marilyn

/ mikeosbornphoto / 11 Comments

I was taking a stroll around the outer reaches of the Canarian town of Corralejo on my recent holiday, and came across something totally unexpected.

On a whitewashed wall next to an ordinary pavement on an undistinguished street, was an image of Marilyn Monroe. A simple stencil graffiti in dark paint, with those iconic features very clear in the fading light.

Who put her there and why? I can’t find the answers to those questions but am pleased with the photograph – she is almost outdone by the bokeh from some distant traffic in this shot.

It seems there is a lot of Marilyn street art all over the world. If anyone knows any more about this example, I would love to find out.

Marilyn