Guggenheim Bilbo, part 1.

A story behind: This is the first part of my mini-series of photos of the modern and contemporary art museum in Bilbo, Basque country, Spain. Located commandingly in a slight curve of the Nervion river, the museum opened to the public in 1997 and now is the unchallenged highlight and the iconic symbol of the city. Designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry the site is really impressive. The steel metal curves dotted with sheets of glass have been designed to resemble a ship. As the architect ones said: "the randomness of the curves were designed to catch the light" and it really does ! From every angle during the magic hours of the day every surface and its curvaceous silver body attracts the light in the different and mysterious way. As you probably know I am not a modern-art man, but this piece of genius architecture takes my breath away. This photo was taken early in the morning when the first warm rays of sun were bouncing on the surface of the Nervion river hitting the curved museum walls to be reflected through different angles. Location: Bilbo/Bilbao, Spain.

Gear: Nikon D80, Nikkor 18-75 mm

Aperture: f/7.1 Exposure bias: -0.3 EV

Focal Length: 70 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: January 1st, 2011, 08:25

Maciek.

In the heart of Spanish Cordillera/Cantabrian mountains

This is how we spent a first day of the new 2011 year: cruising around windy roads of the Spanish Cordillera/Cantabrian mountains. This is an amazing landscape, one of the most beautiful we have ever encountered in Spain. Location: Riaño, Leon province, Spain.

Gear: Nikon D80

Aperture: f/25 Exposure bias: -0.3 EV

Focal Length: 11,5 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: January 1st, 2011, 16:07

Maciek.

An honorable mention

I am so happy to inform you that my photo of the spring floods of the volcano crater on the São Miguel island ( displayed above ) received an honorable mention in the AFAA ( Associação de Fotógrafos Amadores dos Açores ) competition and will be published in the album edition of the best Açores photos of the 2010. Maciek.

Spanish Asturias

San Miguel de Lillo church built in 842 a.c. is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located 3 km from Oviedo, the Asturias capital, the church is located at the hills of Naranco mountain. We parked at the car and had a nice walk around this astonishingly old piece of human genius. Maciek.

Happy New Year 2011

From Spanish city of Bilbao ( with a photo of the Guggenheim museum ) I wish you all happy new year !

Maciek.

Arrábida bridge

Arrábida 500 meters long bridge, constructed in 1963, is still a proof of perfect human engineering and a piece of modern art. It is the youngest, longest, and westernmost of the three spectacular bridges that span across the Douro river in the heart of city of Porto. 2000 meters further west the river meets the Atlantic ocean. In fact the bridge has become a part of our life being our everyday window neighbour. Photographed on the cold December evening from our house. Date: December 26th, 2010. Maciek.

Water: wild but somehow so well organized

This is the photo I took a couple of days ago close to the old lighthouse at the mouth of the Douro river, Porto, Portugal. That day the water waves were high, ferocious and ready to kill anyone that dare to enter it. The water was wild hitting the lighthouse strong that day. To the naked human eye it was perceived as the state of absolute chaos. But on a 2 second long exposition photograph long parallel water lines appeared. This phenomenon is due to the physical structure of the H2O molecule which has charged ( positive and negative ) parts. These opposite charges are attracted to each other that holds water molecules together. Date: December 23rd , 2010. Maciek.

One day to Christmas: Garden Flowers

Our garden December flowers: the wine color bracts with tiny flowers of Bougainvillea and large and conspicuous, up to 12 cm in diameter Camellia pink flowers. Photographed at noon at our garden. December 23rd, 2010. Maciek.

Two days to Christmas. A violet night.

My afternoon trip to Torrão do Lameiro, 40 kilometers south of Porto, Portugal. The lake and sky flooded with violet light.

Location: Torrão do Lameiro, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80

Aperture: f/20 Exposure bias: -0.3 EV

Focal Length: 13 mm

ISO: 160

Date Taken: Wednesday, December 22th, 2010, 18:04

Maciek.

A conversation

Two people taking over the beach stairs at Granja, Portugal Atlantic coast. Winter weather and wild sea below. Photographed on Monday early afternoon.

Location: Granja, Portugal Coast.

Gear: Nikon D80

Aperture: f/22 Exposure bias: 0 EV

Focal Length: 16 mm

ISO: 100

Date Taken: Monday, December 20th, 2010, 16:27

Maciek.