John Roach  


Tossa de Mar, Spain by John Roach

January 2022 - Tossa de Mar, Spain

About the Image(s)

When visiting Costa Bravo north of Barcelona a few years ago I was able to photograph the beautiful area and resort town. I used my Fuji X-Pro2 with 18-55mm f2.8-4 lens. My settings were ISO 400, 1/600s, f10 processed in Lightroom and Nik Silver Efex the global as well as some selective adjustments to manage tonality. I included the tree to give the scene the sense of place when looking from one of the hills that give expansive views of both the Mediterranean and the Town. Tossa de Mar is one of the most beautiful Spanish towns I have ever visited a lot of old and new existing within the rugged coast line.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted




Stan Bormann   Stan Bormann
Looks like a very interesting small city. It looks like they have preserved at least part of the old city wall, perhaps a main gate. This looks like a place to stop since we are doing a Midi canal cruise ending perhaps not far from here and probably going to Barcelona to get a flight out. I will do some searches on this place. I think it might work to crop some from the left. The tree might do an even better job of framing the most interesting part of the city.   Posted: 01/07/2022 22:01:25



Don York   Don York
A great travel shot that makes me want to go there.
I agree with a small crop off the left and top might keep your eye more on the town. I might also try some selective darkening of the white buildings, especially adjacent to the turret as they appear washed out.   Posted: 01/08/2022 12:26:20



Helen Sweet   Helen Sweet
Well done! This makes me want to look around at all the sharply detailed buildings, in fact, to visit. I, too, like the framing tree and would crop from the left. When I covered the left third, eliminating the sport court or swimming pool, I noticed the second turret for the first time. Of course, you would then lose the wonderful sky.   Posted: 01/08/2022 17:57:47



Jerry Snyder   Jerry Snyder
The tree on the right nicely frames the town scene and echos the trees in among the houses and on the hillside on the left. The white buildings are overexposed and lose detail in my opinion. You mention the Mediterranean but I couldn't see it in the image.   Posted: 01/12/2022 00:51:15



Stuart Ord   Stuart Ord
Years ago, my in-laws had a flat at Castellon, and later a house near Malaga, so I've seen a little of that coast except north of Barcelona. Barcelona and Tarragona are interesting places, as indeed is Malaga and many other places. The coastline is nice and green, but it soons gets dry and grey as you go inland, so it's not my favourite part of the world. Some coastline villages and towns are fscinating, as indeed this one seems to be.

I think this is an attractive photo, well taken and developed as usual for John. The aspect that disappoints me is the feeling of wanting to see more, and the tree obscuring that. I wonder if it would have been possible to go forwards a couple of metres, putting the tree into the sky and reducing the amount of the bush on the left which is visible? The towers and town would be then more dominant, with a bit more of that nice sky as well perhaps.
  Posted: 01/12/2022 03:17:34



John Roach   John Roach
Thanks for the comments. The suggested crop is a good alternative, but does impact the sky. A different vantage point could have been achieved to show more of the city or crouch down perhap might have been an option. Regarding moving forward, that was not an option given steep slope on the side of the trail and a railing. For me the sense of place and the nature of the environment is enhanced by the tree. Regarding the white of the buildings, the histogram shows I controlled the noon light fairly well. Even in the color version which is little left of spiking the at the end of the histogram the white is intense. Some of the buildings were very smooth white. It starts to become how far one goes with slider before the true white becomes blunted. Again, thanks for thoughts and suggestions.   Posted: 01/12/2022 09:19:20



John Roach   John Roach
Here is the original color version slightly tweaked in Lightroom. The Fuji 18-55mm f2.8-4 lens is exquisite for travel on any of the Fuji X series cameras. The X-Pro2 is an especially go performer with the lens. By the way, this was 18mm on APS crop sensor 1.5 such as Nikon or Sony. The Aspect Ratio of 2-3 was set in camera and wasn't changed for this presentation.   Posted: 01/12/2022 09:54:29
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An excellent travel photo, but I. Find your color version more appealing. I also agree with the sugggestion to crop off the left.p   Posted: 01/14/2022 03:04:47