A selection of images from the Llobregat river, in the area between El Prat and Sant Vicenç dels Horts, near Barcelona.

These were shot on two visits to the river area, with the aim of exploring how to document an area such as this, where the river area is nominally described as a natural space and is surrounded by a mix of quasi-industrial agriculture and city infrastructure.

Between the two visits there was a deluge of rain, depositing up to 40L/m^2 in this area. The result was that huge areas were inundated with water and mud, and the river was still a deep brown colour.

Both walks were problematic for the heat. On the second walk, the temperatures in the shade were in the region of 35c, making it really difficult to walk, let alone to concentrate on the photography. This walk was cut shorter than I would have liked.

The two walks both used the GFX system, one with the GF45 and the other the GF55 lenses. The 45mm has the advantage of being lighter, wider, and easier to use. Both were shot using a polarising filter.

The GF55 has the advantage of a fast aperture, allowing shallower depth of field combined with a strong vignette (which is not corrected in these images). I am still unsure which style is most appropriate. The shallow DOF images having a more dream-like look which frankly fits with my metal state due to the heat, but I think that the more literal deep-depth-of-field images probably suit the subject matter better.

The images were processed as usual in DxO PL8, with little editing except for white balance adjustments, graduated filters to balance sky and foreground rendering, and geometry corrections (using the View Point add-on) to adjust perspective in some cases.

This was the first attempt at this area, but I hope to explore areas further upstream in the autumn, when temperatures have dropped.