Things to Photograph in Gibraltar......and Not Just the Monkeys!
Whilst I obviously love traveling, as i’m sure you do(why els would we be travel photographers!), I do love things from home. Fish and chips, English pubs, ‘Diet’ Coke, Tea, English supermarkets, well all English shopping really, are to name a few of the things I miss as a traveller.
Gibraltar, to me, was a god send.....not to mention a great photographic opportunity!! Opinions vary greatly on Gibraltar, but my opinion is clear, I love it(although only for a short time!).
A lot of travel photographers would completely dismiss Gibraltar as a photographic opportunity. With its strange clash of British and Spanish culture its a fantastic chance to photograph something quite unique, plus the chance to have a fry up!
Its small area with so much packed in, from British style streets to the Rock itself and of course the monkeys. You want to get a good spread and variety of everything Gibraltarian in your photographs.
Here are 6 things remember when photographing Gibraltar
The Airport
The big piece of land that separates Gibraltar and Spain has been made into an airport. The airplanes come in really close giving you a great view of them really close. Remember not to go actually on to the runway though!!
Really British things
Photograph things that you come across that are really British, for example the phone boxes or British bobbies. The pubs on Gibralter also help build the picture of the culture. Photograph people sitting in the beer gardens in the sun.
Little details
I was really surprised to see that almost everything is imported from Britain to Gibralter. Even the Pepsi had a GB sign on it. Photograph the little details like this to build the bigger picture.
The Rock
Whether you climb the rock or go up in the cable car it really is a Gibraltar must. The views are spectacular. Use a wide aperture so you can achieve a large depth of field. If your there on a really sunny day a polarizing filter will cut out reflections and brighten the blue of the sky and sea.
The Monkeys
You can visit Gibraltar without hearing about the monkeys. To see them you will have to go to the top of the rock. Here are some point to remember when photographing the monkeys;
-When the monkeys are about make sure you have your camera attached to you in some way, around the neck is best. They are only really interested in food but its best to be safe.
-The best way to photograph them is with a long lens, as you don’t want to get to close. A lens with a focal range of 200mm is all you need.
-If the monkey is sitting with the sun behind the use of a flash will work really well to illuminate its face. Try not to continuously flash in its flash though, for obvious reasons.
-Try and get the monkey with something interesting in the back ground. A view of the surrounding landscape will help the view immediately identify where the photograph has been taken.
Top Secret
The rock has been used by the British Navy for years and its rammed with top secret equipment. You wont be able to access this(Don’t even try!!), but you will be able to capture the Navies influences. This may include sailors or service men walking about, vehicles or simply signs.
Have fun and enjoy your Gibraltarian experience!
