Spain - Eckart Mayer Photography

Window with metal bars and flower pots with cacti

Cacti behind bars

Not sure what crime these cacti have been convicted for to end up behind bars? Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Toledo, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-03)

Green palm tree shaped plant illuminated by the sun on a balcony with red wall

Balcony plant taking a sunbath

Considering the low temperatures and strong wind in Madrid, I am not sure if this plant survives outdoors the entire winter. Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-35)

Square-shaped window style air outlet in a yellow wall

Blinded window in yellow wall

The longer I look at this image, the more I doubt that it deserves to be called a window. Initially, I thought the glass was just covered by metal blinds. However, this rather appears to be an air outlet for ventilation of whatever is behind. Anyway, the shape and the interesting color combination justify to include it in my Segovia urban exploration portfolio. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-24)

View on a resident home through the arch at the end of an alley

The end of an old town alley

Sometimes, the single elements of a photo don't have anything special. However, once you find the right angle and compose them into an image, the result becomes quite eye-catching. This picture from the old town of Segovia might be a good example. Neither the alley itself, nor the house with its doors and windows stand out for architectural excellence. Yet I very much liked how the end of the road is framed by the arch and the red walls. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-29)

Close-up on a green flower pot with daffodils hanging on a balcony railing

Daffodil balcony plants

Whenever I see daffodils, I know that Easter time is coming up! I found these during a stroll in Madrid. Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-34)

Diagonal angle view of brick wall with all windows blocked with metal bars

Bars and bricks

Sometimes it makes sense to look for another angle than the most obvious location for a photoshoot. Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-05)

Close-up on an old metal door painted with green color

Metal door painted in light green

This image is a good example how zooming in on specific details can make a photo a lot more interesting than just shooting the complete scenery. Yes, the green metal door in the old town of Segovia alone was an interesting motif, contrasting with the building wall. However, to really appreciate the different shades of green, once needs to take a closer look. This one also reveals the decay with spots of rust and the two keyholes. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-26)

A balcony with a Spanish flag folded on top of the metal railing

Spanish flag gone with the wind

Whilst this balcony seems to be well protected against pigeons, the Spanish flag clearly has seen better days. Constantly moved by the strong wind between the buildings, it has been stabbed by the metal wire on top of the railing. This is not meant to be symbolic; it just caught my attention. And I love the color scheme ranging from yellow over brown to red. (Avila, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-22)

Close-up on a green metal balcony with yellow flowerpot and pigeon

Green balcony with pigeon and flowers

I don't like pigeons, I really don't. For this reason, I have very few pictures with theses "rats of the air". For this shot, however, I really liked to have this single bird on the balcony railing. Together with one of the blinds being half open, it added a nice aspect to an otherwise rather symmetrical photo. If you like balconies as a photo subject, Madrid is a great location to go to. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-31)

No parking sign next to a closed window with spear-shaped bars

Confusing arrows

Obviously, the arrow on the street sign has no relation whatsoever with the spearhead-shaped bars in front of the closed window. Nevertheless, I found it funny how they seem to point into different directions. I also liked the particular structure in the stones used for building this house. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-25)

Rustic stone wall with two empty black plastic chairs in front

Two black plastic chairs waiting

Chairs are one of my long-standing favorite photo motifs. One reason is that you find them everywhere on this planet, in countless different shapes, materials, and colors. Placing them in an interesting location, be it in- our outdoors, multiplies the opportunities for capturing something special. In addition to this, chairs tend to be something pleasant, silently waiting and inviting us to take a rest. (Avila, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-20)

Close-up on black street lantern against red and yellow building facade

Street lantern meets colorful facade

Apart from doors, windows and balconies, Madrid also has a lot of diverse and attractive street lanterns. Walking around town, this offers many opportunities for photographers. Depending on where you stand and which background you choose, the same motif can give you countless different results. For me, combining old metal lanterns with colorful building facades was the best option to capture their beauty. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-32)

Low angle view of the Roman aqueduct bridge in Segovia

Segovia's impressive Roman aqueduct bridge

There are certain places that leave you speechless once you start thinking about their history and construction. The Roman aqueduct in Segovia (Spain) clearly falls into this category. It is hard to imagine how architects and craftsmen were able to design and actually build something like this almost 2.000 years ago. Supplying water to the city from the nearby mountains, the aqueduct was in use until 1973. And the bridge with its 167 arches made of unmortared granite blocks is absolutely stunning. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-23)

Small dog standing on balcony watching down

I am watching you

Without it barking, I would most likely not have seen this dog on the balcony of a Madrid apartment building. Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-06)

Diagonal view of the city wall of Avila with many towers

Avila city wall numerous towers

The historic city wall around Avila includes the unbelievable number of eighty (80!) towers. Before travelling to Madrid, I had never heard about Avila, a historic town approx. 100km northwest of the Spanish capital. Once we started to investigate worthwhile destinations for a day-trip, the images of the medieval city walls immediately caught my attention. I found it very impressive to walk around and to admire this breathtaking construction. (Avila, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-19)

Building tops of Madrid's Puerta del Sol reflecting in a round-shaped glass panel

Puerta del Sol reflections

The "Puerta del Sol" square in Madrid usually is quite a busy place. No matter if you visit during the day or at night, there are always a lot of visitors there, both locals and tourists. Despite of the beautiful and impressive architecture surrounding the place, I didn't really want to take the usual photo. Walking around a bit, I found something different. The top of some of the buildings nicely reflected in a round glass panel against the blue sky. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-33)

Tree blooming with pink flowers in old town Madrid alley

Springtime in the city

Even though it was rather cold during our visit to Madrid in early March, the awakening of Spring was obvious everywhere. Fresh flowers on the balconies, blooming bushes in the numerous parks, and the first trees in full blossom added even more color to the already beautiful city center. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-13)

Six pairs of denim trousers on a rod converted into flower pots

Denim jeans flower pots

Isn't is amazing with what kind of creative ideas some people come up with. Converting denim jeans with shoes into flower pots is absolutely eye-catching. Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-07)

Facade of an old apartment building with many balcony equipped windows for sale

Historic building for sale

Sometimes it is quite surprising to find historic real estate in prime locations being up for sale. During our trip to Spain, we found a number of old buildings such as hotels and apartment buildings on the market. This one is right on the main square of Segovia, the Plaza Mayor. I guess one of the reasons why it has not found a new owner might be necessary investments in renovation and the high ongoing maintenance costs. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-28)

Scenic view of the Gothic cathedral of Segovia against cloudy blue sky

Segovia cathedral against sky

Officially called "Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and of Saint Fructus", this Roman Catholic cathedral is one of the landmarks in the Spanish city of Segovia. Dedicated in 1768, it is one of the last Gothic cathedrals built in Europe. The extensive stone carvings and exterior decoration make it a very impressive view. I took this image from the main town square, the Plaza Mayor. The interior of the cathedral with its chapels is equally interesting to visit. (Segovia, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-27)

Peach and yellow colored wall with weathered paint

Weathered peach fuzz and yellow paint - II

Closing in on weathered paint offers countless opportunities for capturing interesting and colorful patterns. I really like the combination of yellow patches with the peach surface. Historic towns and their city centers are always great places for urban exploration photography. Instead of ticking off the "Must Visit" tourist attractions, there usually is no specific plan for this activity. The whole idea is to just walk around, absorb the look & feel and keep an open eye for interesting details. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-11)

Low angle view of one of the city gates of Avila with towers

Avila city gate and towers

Before travelling to Madrid, I had never heard about Avila, a historic town approx. 100km northwest of the Spanish capital. Once we started to investigate worthwhile destinations for a day-trip, the images of the medieval city walls immediately caught my attention. Unfortunately, we went there on a Monday, and in winter access is closed that day. However, just walking around the impressive construction was already quite impressive. (Avila, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-18)

Metro station sign with nice Madrid building facade as background

Madrid metro station sign

One of the things that impressed me most in the heart of Madrid were the almost artistic and well-maintained facades of the buildings. This refers not only to museums, palaces, hotels, churches etc., but also to the apartment buildings. Most of them seem to have been recently repainted, and as such create an eye-catching architectural ensemble. The sign of the metro station in front of this house added a striking color contrast. (Madrid, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-17)

Partial view of old town Toledo from scenic viewpoint

Tagus river with Toledo old town in winter

This close-up from the "Mirador del Valle" viewpoint shows the stunning panorama of Toledo. The "Imperial City" is testimony of its long history dating back more than 2.000 years. It is also called the "City of the Three Cultures" because of the strong influence of Christian, Jewish and Muslim people living together in peace of centuries. Once you move into the narrow alleys of the Old Town with high walls around you, it is very difficult to get an overview of the beauty of this historic place (Toledo, Spain, March 2024 - Image ID: 202403-ES-02)

About this archive

The Spain archives contain all my images taken in this fascinating country in the South of Europe. This also includes some of its amazing islands.

I travelled to Spain the first time as early as 1984. However, there are still a lot of places that I don’t know and would like to explore in the future. The initial trip – as one might expect – was a beach holiday to the Costa Blanca. Unfortunately, there are no good photos from that trip.

The next destination was the Basque region. This was just a short trip across the boarder during a holiday on the French Atlantic coast. I really loved this area with the green mountains and the spectacular fissured beaches.

Another vacation trip brought me to the island of Mallorca, which is extremely popular amongst German visitors. We decided to stay neither in Palma nor in one of the very touristic places. Instead, we went to a resort on the North Coast. From there, we explored the surroundings with breathtaking cliffs and beaches.

A photo collection about Spain wouldn’t be complete without Barcelona and Madrid.

The first one became our family vacation destination for Christmas 2019. Even in winter, we had beautiful weather, and there were a lot of tourists. We used this opportunity for a day trip into the Pyrenees. With their wild natural beauty, they became one of the highlights.

In 2024, we finally made it to Madrid, once again as an off-season trip. Apart from some of the usual tourist destinations, I truly enjoyed exploring the roads and narrow alleys of the city center with my camera. We also did two day trips to the nearby cities of Toledo, Avila and Segovia. All three of them are full of history and impressive Roman and medieval architecture.

Please enjoy scrolling through my Spain archives.

back