Almond blossom, cork oak forests & rolling agricultural landscapes in Andalusia, Spain, February 2023
– Anja Baklien, Stockholm
Finally it was time! A new photo tour was just around the corner, and this time we headed to Andalusia with Frida Hermansson as our guide. For me, it’s a luxury to do the most enjoyable thing there is—spending a few days in a photography bubble where both time and space disappear, and where I get to meet others who are just as passionate about photography as I am. I always come home happy, filled with wonderful experiences, newly gained photographic knowledge, and new photography friends.
We were a small but very lovely group that flew to Malaga in February to experience almond blossom, cork oak forests, and rolling agricultural landscapes. Frida had planned fantastic photographic locations and drove us to new places every day in our little car. And as always on photo tours, it meant early mornings and late evenings to catch the best light (well… February does mean almost sleeping in!).
The first day began in a cork oak forest, where the trees—with their beautifully gnarled trunks—offered wonderful photographic opportunities in the sunrise. I was almost a little nervous that I would miss the light as it appeared and disappeared in what felt like a rapid pace. You know that feeling of missing a magical photo moment because you’ve chosen the wrong spot to stand… but also the joy when you actually manage to capture a great image.
Afterwards, we continued to a charming Spanish village inland, far from the mass tourism by the coast. There, we spent many hours photographing almond trees, both in the morning and evening light. It was spectacular to see these white and pink flowering trees with their dark trunks set against the Sierra Nevada. We probably all dreamed of staying here for a few more days to explore additional camera angles and lose ourselves in the beautiful scenery. Sometimes I become so focused on photographing that I completely forget to lift my gaze and simply enjoy what is around me.
The next day began with storms and driving rain, and we had to hold on tightly to our tripods. Getting any sharp images was simply out of the question. But the weather didn’t scare us—instead, we brought out our creative side and experimented with both ICM and double exposure. Personally, I think I captured my best image of the trip during those stormy hours.
On the final day, we photographed rolling agricultural landscapes and searched for graphic patterns in the terrain—a fascinating and fun challenge.
Now, several months after the trip, I still find myself longing back to the cozy Spanish villages, the delicious food, the stunning nature, all those hours of photography, and the wonderful company. And all of it under Frida’s attentive and highly competent leadership. It should also be said that she is exceptionally skilled at driving on winding, steep little roads. What a wonderful week we had! I might even tell you why we occasionally burst into shared laughter—but that will have to be a story for another time.
Alla bilder ©Anja Baklien
