My photo of matador Andrés Roca Rey, taken this summer in Algeciras, Spain, was included in Lenswork Magazine's recent publication Light, Glorious Light, which just arrived in my mailbox a few days ago.
Images chosen for this book were meant to capture a special quality of light.
There are pictures by many prominent photographers in this publication, and it is an honor to be chosen for inclusion in a Lenswork publication.
Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was a Russian-born American abstract artist.
He is known for his large pieces consisting of color rectangles.
Reaction to his art varies, some see it as simplistic, others see contemplating his art as a near-religious experience!
In fact, a non-denominational chapel in Houston was constructed around eleven of his works.
Here, a visitor walks past his untitled painting at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
I believe that this is the first Rothko painting I have seen in person.
My life is still the same.
Now something completely different!
As I was not completely impressed with the art within Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum, I set my sights on the stunning architecture, both within and without.
Here are a few minimalist, abstract shots of the many shapes and curves found in the interior:
Photographed in August of this year.
Let me know what you think!
My last stop in Spain was Bilbao, where the highlight, and perhaps lowlight, of my visit was the Guggenheim Museum.
The spectacular architecture of this Frank Gehry building put Bilbao on the international map.
The architecture did not disappoint, in fact, it exceeded my expectations!
Here is the "Puppy," a flower-covered sculpture by Jeff Coons, which has greeted museum visitors since 1992.
I first imagined the red dots were in honor of the Tour de France's mountain-climber jersey (the Tour started in Bilbao on July 1), but no, they were part of an exhibition by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama:
The steam may have been part of the exhibition, it added mystery to the architecture:
Though the architecture of the museum was spectacular and a thrill to see, (see tomorrow's post, also), I can't say the same about the art displayed inside.
Last year I visited the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City, another spectacular structure with a metallic exterior. The collection, assembled by Carlos Slim's late wife Soumaya Domit, has a simply jaw-dropping collection of Mexican and European art, where I spent hours exploring, and could have spent many hours more.
The collection on display at the Guggenheim, however, was nearly devoid of representational art. There was a very nice exhibition of expressionist paintings by Viennese Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980), who was new to me, another room with a Rothko painting, and a room with Kusama's playful and colorful works, but most rooms were full of various abstract shapes and sculptures which left me wishing I was at the Soumaya Museum!
I did, however, marvel at the abstract shapes, lines, and curves of the building! More on that tomorrow...
Earlier I posted photos of a Common Swift, taken while I was doing laundry in the small town of Cella, Spain.
My next laundry stop was in Ainsa, a small town in Aragon, at the foot of the Pyrenees.
While my clothes were getting clean, there were Common House-Martins nesting across the street, so once again I grabbed my camera:
Zooming in on the hungry youngsters:
Another food run!
Another Great Tit:
This may be the last photo I post from Hides Navarra. Reviewing my pictures I'm very pleased with the number and quality of shots I obtained. Eduardo says that a visit during spring or fall migration would greatly increase the variety of species seen.
Thanks to Eduardo for arranging two fantastic days of bird photography! If you are in northern Spain and would like to photograph birds, contact Hides Navarra!
A Great Tit, comfortably perched:
A Common Chaffinch decides to visit, the tit eyes her warily:
The Red Kite looks similar to the Black Kite, but has a more limited range and, guess, is more red!
The Red-legged Partridge is found mostly in France and Spain:
Photographed in the Hides Navarra near the town of Lumbier, Spain, in July of this year.
There are approximately 233 species of woodpecker in the world. Half a dozen are found in Spain, with the Greater Spotted Woodpecker being one of the two most common:
The Mistle Thrush is found through much of Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa:
Corn Buntings, photographed from blinds near Lumbier, Spain:
