Unsplash Around the World: Spain 🇪🇸

Spain’s rich cultural heritage and varied landscapes offer endless inspiration for local photographers like Ave Calvar, Yuliya Matuzava, Miguel Baixauli, and Jakub Pabis.

Discover why Spain should be on your travel list by hearing from those who know it best, as each photographer shares how the country influences their work.

Who are you and where are you located?

Ave Calvar: My name is Avelino (Ave for the friends) and I am a northwest Spain (Galicia) based lifestyle and portrait photographer — I actually never planned to be a photographer, I was studying linguistics and already 22 when I found I liked using a camera (never had one before). It was love at the first shutter!

Yuliya Matuzava: My name is Yuliya, I am a 28-year-old journalist and photographer from Belarus. Three years ago I moved to live in Spain, in the city of Málaga.

Miguel Baixauli: I am a Creative Designer and Journalist with a great passion for travelling and discovering new cultures, little hidden corners, and above all, distant islands with turquoise waters. At the moment I am returning to my Valencian roots as a base camp waiting to embark on new adventures.

Jakub Pabis: Mainly I’m a programmer and partially designer with a love for photography, currently based in Santiago de la Ribera. I got my first camera (Canon 200D) only 5 or so years ago, but good photography or filmography was something I cherished always.

What do you love most about Spanish culture?

Ave: Spanish culture itself, a culture based on a warm welcoming and friendly way of life, also the food! 

Yuliya: Spanish culture is very vibrant, colorful, which is something that I, as a photographer, admire. The most interesting thing is that each region, and sometimes even a town or village, has its own unique cultural features. The way Spaniards value and preserve their traditions is incredible.

Miguel: Our ability to laugh at ourselves. Also the passion, the effort we put into the things we do (we are very stubborn) and how much we love hugs and physical contact. If you know, you know!

How does living in Spain inspire your photography?

Miguel: We are lucky to live in such a diverse and unique country, where we literally have it all. From green and lush landscapes in the far north of Spain, to wild and rugged, to desert vibes and tiny white villages in the southern regions. Vibrant cities full of activities, a wide range of culture, amazing food and historic architecture, and plenty of island hopping, from our very own Caribbean in the Balearic Islands to our southern Canary Islands full of colours and flavours. An easy escape at your doorstep.

Jakub: Great scenery, beautiful architecture. The weather is always great for taking pictures. The amount of great-looking buildings is something I can’t comprehend. Even factories look great!

Which regions in Spain do you find particularly captivating for photography?

Yuliya: As I live in Andalusia, I find this region very captivating for photography. It has everything: centuries-old Spanish traditions, Arab heritage in architecture, beautiful coasts and mountains, famous white villages and of course amazing people. But to highlight only this region would be unfair. Spain is so diverse, that for me, any region of this country is seen as unique for photography. 

Jakub: I’m based in the south-east end of Spain, so this is the region I’m capturing the most.

What advice would you give to someone visiting Spain for the first time?

Ave: Don’t go to the big cities, skip Madrid and Barcelona, and visit the villages and small cities, there are the golden places of the country, and don’t skip Galicia!

Miguel: Just relax and mingle with the crowd. Rent a car, drive around, get lost, enjoy the scenery and the countryside. The cities are great, but we have so much more to offer if you are open to immersing yourself in the culture. Look for tiny bars, hidden villages and less crowded destinations. Food and culture go hand in hand, so embrace Spain as a country to be savored. From wineries to tapas destinations, you will not be disappointed.

Do you have a favorite festival or event to photograph?

Yuliya: I love observing and photographing religious celebrations such as Semana Santa. I have never seen anything like this in my life! First of all, it is very unusual and beautiful. Secondly, I love to see how sincerely the Spanish people appreciate this holiday. Every year, even Malaga-born Antonio Banderas comes to participate in it.

Miguel: It is my duty and obligation as a Valencian citizen and creative to spread my love and connection with one of our most impressive celebrations (this time my own roots speak for me), which has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO for being a unique celebration. I’m talking about the Fallas de Valencia, a unique spectacle that combines art, colour, light and sound, but above all, fire. A lively celebration of the new and the old, as an act of renovation. I do not want to spoil it, I would rather encourage you to go and see it.

What is something visitors should pack with them when traveling to Spain?

Ave: Whatever they use for taking a bath (or nothing) and a lot of energy to walk around the places.

Yuliya: You need to bring a good mood and set yourself up to relax, and let go of responsibilities and worries. In that state of mind, things will definitely go the right way in this country.

What is the one thing you would like people to know about your country?

Ave:  The cultural past of the north of Spain is pretty different from the rest of the peninsula and has a lot of interesting content.

Miguel: I think diversity is in our blood and that is what makes us so unique. The enormous variety of cultural backgrounds that exist in our country, coming from different regions and deeply attached to their traditions and beliefs, makes Spain a country of contrasts. We are all very similar and different at the same time, and the experience changes from north to south, east to west. You have to experience it for yourself.

What is your favorite photo you have taken on Unsplash that really captures Spain?

What is something you must eat when visiting Spain?

Yuliya: Each Spanish region has its own unique cuisine. If you are in Andalusia, try the famous tapas, cold soups, like salmorejo and gazpacho, and, of course, the freshest seafood.

Jakub: Paella or Fideua, both equally brilliant.

Do you have a preferred time of year or season for shooting in Spain?

Ave: Late summer, around the first few days of September! Still super cool light and ambient without the killing sun!

Yuliya: Yes, I enjoy shooting in late fall and spring. I love how the scenery changes at this time of year. It’s also the most comfortable time to shoot in terms of outdoor temperature.

Jakub: Summer is great, but the temperatures are brutal… I think winter or spring, as the sun is pretty low and you can get great light almost all day.

Are there any elements of the Spanish lifestyle and culture that you love to incorporate in your images? 

Ave: Happiness, I think that the way we express happiness is a part of our culture and I always try to portray it.

Yuliya: It’s definitely a peaceful and relaxed vibe. It’s not just about Spain being a “vacation country”. I would say that by moving here I’ve learned a different attitude to life from the locals. Not to rush, to notice the beautiful things around, to appreciate the time with your closest ones… These are the simple values that make life better.

Miguel: Still landscapes are my kind of photography, unique compositions touched by spontaneous birds, rainbows or rays of light. I love sunsets and the intimacy that these moments offer. Shadows, mysterious moments, faceless images, anonymous protagonists.

Describe your country in one word.

Ave:  Calm
Yuliya: Vibrant
Miguel: Flavoursome.
Jakub: Mañana — it means “tomorrow”, but here, it’s a style of living. Spanish people always have time for everything, but never now, always “tomorrow”.

See you next month at our next around-the-world location!