THE PALM GROVE AT ELCHE

March 18, 2019

A few new images taken in the palm groves of Elche, Alicante. This place is very special and a little slice of North Africa in Spain. The only place in Europe where dates are still harvested using traditional methods…

New B&W images from Seville's April Fair

February 22, 2019

I’ve finally got around to mixing up some chemicals and processing some rolls of film from Seville last year. It was nice to be back in the darkroom and I’m pretty pleased with the results. All images were shot of Ilford HP5 at 1600ISO with no flash…

Adiós 2018

December 20, 2018

What a great year it’s been on the Sorolla project. The first third was taken up writing scripts, organising filming permits and arranging interviews for a week-long shoot for a work-in-progress Documentary down in Sevilla during the incredible April Fair. I was joined by an amazing team and many thanks go to Phil, Jack G, Jack K, James and Tom for making things a reality - I can’t think of a better bunch of guys to work with. The rest of the year was all about translating interviews, editing shots, recording voice-overs and putting together a showreel teaser and sequence. Now begins the hard work of generating some interest and getting the full doc made which will hopefully in 2019 - the centenary of the completion of Sorolla’s masterpiece, “Vision of Spain”. Watch this space…

2017; A great year for the Sorolla project

March 14, 2018

As March ticks by and the dust settles on 2017, I've finally got round to a look-back at last year. It's been over 5 years now on the Sorolla trail and 2017 was definitely the most action-packed one yet. I covered a few more thousand kilometres and crossed the country more than a couple of times! Photoshoots in Extremadura, Aragon and Castilla-la-Mancha were a highlight as well as a mad few days down in Seville for the April fair once more, hanging out with fighting bulls and the Matadors that face them. Corpus Christi in Valencia in the early summer heat was another standout and a reminder of how much I love that city. I rounded off the year in the palm groves of Elche in some extraordinary mediterranean winter light unique to this corner of Spain. Oh, I almost forgot, I also had the honor of exhibiting my photographs alongside some paintings of the great man himself over in Cáceres which attracted a few thousand visitors. Thanks to everyone you helped make things a reality. Let's hope 2018 brings many more surprises; I have a feeling it will....

Eastern Light; in the Palm Groves of Elche

December 13, 2017

Last week I made a trip across Spain to the Levante region. The light there was incredible and it was easy to see why Sorolla got so inspired to paint there. I spent a great afternoon in Elche, just outside Alicante, buried in Europe's largest palm forest. The harvesting of dates is still carried out in the region during the late Autumn and I was lucky enough to photograph a genuine Palmerero, Miguel Angel, his friend, Andres and his family. Many thanks to them for allowing me to glimpse a snapshot of their lives here.

Below is Sorolla's painting from Elche, painted during the winter of 1918/19, exactly 99 years ago. You can also see a few snaps of the shoot (B&W film photos to follow shortly...)

*El Palmeral de Elche, Joaquín Sorolla 1918-19*

Valencia: The Market, Albufera, Virgen and more...

October 10, 2017

Some other bits and pieces that make up Sorolla's Couples on Horseback. All shots were taken during my June visit to the region.

Valencia: Corpus Christi, June 2017

October 10, 2017

In June, for the third time for this project, I crossed Spain and found myself once again in Valencia. This time it was to see the famed Corpus Christi celebrations there on the 19th. The goal was to find some of the characters that populate Sorolla's canvas from that region. I wasn't disappointed...

*Couples on Horseback, Joaquin Sorolla, 1916*

ZARAGOZA: A DANCE IN THE PARK

September 28, 2017

This summer I headed to Zaragoza in the Spanish province of Aragon to photograph a traditional Jota dance for the Sorolla project. Many thanks to Juan Carlos Serrano and his group, Semblante Aragonés, for organizing what was a fantastic spectacle and experience...

Montehermoso, February&May 2017

June 2, 2017

I've made 2 visits to the rural Extremaduran town of Montehermoso this year where Sorolla got his models for his El Mercado panel set in Plasencia. Both times I've been met by extremely friendly people who have gone out of their way to help me with the project...

Ayamonte, May 2017

June 2, 2017

A return trip to the beautiful Ayamonte to photograph The Catch 3 years on from my last visit...

Sevilla Trip, May 2017: The Fería

June 2, 2017

The Fería de Abril is one of Spain's most vibrant and passionate festivals. Here is a selection of images taken both outside and inside the beating heart of this amazing spectacle...