green coast /spain 2022
9 photographers. 3 cars. 3 guides.
Andrés, Ara, Carlos, Damaris, Erika, Krishna, Michel, Mireya and Rox.
9 through the spanish green coast was the name of a road trip i designed and planned for Long Distance Photo Expeditions in october 2022. the promise was to live a week as if we were inside a road-trip movie. Connected with the road and the photographic opportunities that may present themselves, because the three guides on this trip knew well that in letting yourself be carried away and surprised by the unexpected, photography would unfold.
We slept in a variety of hotels chosen following a unique criteria, they had to be singular, sometimes because of the architecture, sometimes because of the landscape and some others simply because of their layout. The last morning of the trip, right before driving back to Madrid we had breakfast wearing a bathrobe next to a covered gothic pool. Our travellers were exhausted and deserved a treat.
We spent the days on the road, stopping wherever we saw the opportunity to photograph, we knew where we would sleep, but not necessarily how the day was going to go.
we departed from madrid, crossed castilla y leon, enjoyed asturias, wandered through cantabria and came back to madrid making a final stop in burgos.
My approach was as usual, very personal. It couldn't have been any other way because this has been my summer family holiday route for more than 10 years. Another personal trait was the welcome kit, inside each photographer received a notebook, pens, tape, clips, glue, and a variety of materials, including a fuji Instax mini, to build their own traveler notebook as any serious explorer would do.
Because roadtrips and travel notebooks go together, right? I definitely believe so.
This was a road trip to share, to photograph and to learn. Roberto, Julio and I were supporting our photographers on every step of the road, solving technical and conceptual aspects of their photography while encouraging each one of them to develop a narrative of the trip that was close to their personal point of view. After all, we all see differently, even when facing the exact same subject. Night reviews and critiques of their ongoing work, were crucial to develop the personal narrative. Having these sessions almost daily gave them the opportunity to implement new approaches to their photography practice during the trip.
Long Distance Photo Expeditions has been traveling the world with and for photographers for more than 20 years. It was an honor and a pleasure to design this experience for them and then to actually share it with an incredible crowd of 9 photographers coming from 5 different countries. Thank you Julio and Roberto for your trust and thank you travellers for your incredible energy during the trip.
MY LAST CAPRICIOUS IDEA FOR THE TRIP:
Cover photo: ©Ara González 2022
A final project. My eternal obsession with photographs not being real until you can feel them on paper, translated into a beautiful object. One that has texture, weight, sound when turning the pages, smell, and, unlike photos in hard drives, one that you will enjoy for years.
The first issue of a printed magazine containing the work developed by the 9 photographers. A visual logbook and the opportunity for the participants to see their work as part of a travel photography publication.
Concept and design: Lucia Marcano
Photography: Andrés Lapadula, Ara González, Carlos Anllo, Dámaris Rodriguez, Erika Medina, Krishna Herrera, Michel Catalán, Mireya Vargas, and Roxana Márquez.
Editing: Julio Estrada, Roberto Mata and Lucia Marcano
Production: Lucia Marcano
