Dreaming of Handstands

Wandering around Lisbon I came across this bus stop in the middle of the city. The guy pictured in the back of the bus stop caught my attention, contrasting nicely with the people waiting at the stop.

When I got home, I looked up the text, “O SONHO NÃO PARA, ARRANCA”, it says, “THE DREAM DOESN’T STOP, IT STARTS”. I guess his dream was to do handstands?


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/800s

The Tram in the Window

We took a trip around Lisbon on a tourist tram. It’s probably not worth it unless you’re obsessed with taking photos, so I loved it.You do get to see a lot of the city, and it is relaxing. It is cheaper to get an ordinary tram, say route 28, and sight see that way, but you’ll be bumping into annoyed locals then.

This is sort of a selfie as I can be seen sitting at one of the windows of the tram reflected in this mirrored window.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/500s

In Ler Devagar

Ler Devagar is a bookshop in the LX Factory in Lisbon. Books line the walls on shelves too far up to reach, and of course, most of them are in Portuguese. There are a few in English, and even a few photography books. Unfortunately, many of them concentrate on architecture, but there was a really nice book on shopfronts in Paris.

A man with a dog in a bookshop, with a woman walking up the stairs, looking at the books as she goes.

A dog in a bookshop! Try that in Ireland and the staff will chase you out of the shop. It was lovely to see dogs allowed in shops and some restaurants.

Two people looking at their phones in a bookshop. Shelves of books line the wall.

When in a bookshop, look at your phone. Oh, here’s a fire extinguisher too!


Apertureƒ/2.2
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length2.2mm
ISO800
Shutter speed1/25s

Look into my eyes

Sometimes I’m making photos on the street, or in this case, photographing from a moving tram, and someone will make eye contact. They’ll stand out from the crowd because they are different and made a connection.


Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO1250
Shutter speed1/500s

Cobbles, Light and Shadow

I visited the Igreja Paroquial da Graça (Church of Our Lady of Grace) in Lisbon early one morning. There’s a beautiful view of the city, but if you look behind and around you’ll find these lovely cobbles. In the early morning, the houses opposite cast a shadow on the street and on the wall of the church, and I loved it.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO400
Shutter speed1/500s

Red and Blue and a Bike

In the back of a taxi, looking out through a window laden with drops. The warm red and orange lights from street lighting and the rear brakes of a Tesla win against the cold, almost blue headlights of a passing car.
A bike in the background belongs to someone who isn’t home yet.


Apertureƒ/1.7
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length6.3mm
ISO1600
Shutter speed1/17s

Lisbon Tram 28

A tram on the world-famous route 28 in Lisbon rumbled past me as I walked up Rua da Graça. Many of the streets are very narrow, and the footpath is too, meaning the tram gets quite close as you walk along.


Apertureƒ/1.7
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length6.3mm
ISO50
Shutter speed1/500s

Three Friends

Three friends sit on the steps next to the Tagus in Lisbon, Portugal.

I was curious and looked up the area on Google Maps. I think I came across the best Google Street View image nearby! I wonder if that dog owner knows his dog is on Google Maps?

A man with his dog doing his business. A woman walks past.

Apertureƒ/2.8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length24mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/640s

Coloured Light in Water

It started raining while we were visiting LXFactory in Lisbon. It was lashing down and people hurried to get to shelter. Where one person sees a hindrance, another might see an opportunity, so I still had my camera out! I held it under my coat when necessary, but I got a few shots I’m happy with, including this one.

We were walking to shelter at the end of the street, to wait for our taxi, when I saw a puddle that was alive with colour! Of course, I had to take a photo. 🙂


Apertureƒ/2.4
CameraGalaxy S23 Ultra
Focal length7.9mm
ISO2000
Shutter speed1/35s

The rooftops of Lisbon

The city of Lisbon lay before me as I looked out the window of my apartment. We had quite a view from the living room window, so one night I made this time blend photo of the city. In the background you’ll find the statue of the Sanctuary of Christ the King and the suspension bridge, the Ponte 25 de Abril, linking Lisbon with Almada on the other side of the river.

I was lucky there was any sort of sunset that night as the weather had been terrible all day long with heavy rain rolling over the city, making the cobbled streets slippy.


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length58mm
ISO100
Shutter speed1/15s

The chihuahua model

I spotted a woman walking past with her two dogs. Moments before, the chihuahua was barking his head off, but he quietened down when he saw me. An obvious poser, and he just loves the camera!


Apertureƒ/8
CameraILCE-7M3
Focal length61mm
ISO1600
Shutter speed1/500s