Mastering the ART (& Architecture) of a Weekend Trip

Carly Harshbarger is a student at Eckerd College and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Madrid, Spain.

Whether it’s a planned excursion through ISA or the perfect Parisian girls’ getaway, mastering the ART (and architecture) of a weekend trip while studying abroad is the best feeling. From fresh citrus trees and the sounds of flamenco in a Sevillian square, to the rich history and religious culture of Toledo, to the bustling French city life and sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower at midnight—grab your camera, take notes, and let’s explore!

Our first stop lies Toledo, an hour south via car from Madrid, Spain. Toledo used to be the old capital of Spain and has been the crossroads of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian culture for centuries. The most notable art in Toledo is Gothic architecture: pointed arches, stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings, and spires on the towers. I fell in love with the light shining on or through the architecture and the rich colors of the materials used.

The beautiful morning light shining through the San Juan de los Reyes Monastery offers stunning photo angles as you capture the Gothic window and ceiling arches.
Stunning Gothic arches and marble also make up the Toledo Primate Cathedral. Afternoon sunshine creates the perfect contrast between the tower peaks and layered marble busts and carvings.
When in doubt, crop it out! The main focus of this tower was the Gothic-style spires. Light versus shadow highlights the brick inlay and makes you feel connected to the steady hands who built it.
Look up, look down, look all around! Direction matters! Reflections from the stained glass windows of the Primate Cathedral guide your eyes to the stunning columns and high ceilings.

A quick trip to Toledo and you’ve mastered angles, contrast, cropping, and direction! You’re on your way to becoming a pro photographer! Now, let’s travel even further south to Sevilla, Spain, where I felt at home amongst the orange trees and beautiful sunny days! Even in Spain, I can find a little piece of Florida with me.

Sevilla is known for stunning architecture, religious monuments, flamenco dancing, and delicious tapas. It’s a great three-hour train ride from Madrid to escape the rainy spring weather! However, the most underappreciated piece of Sevillian culture in my opinion is the fresh citrus trees lining the streets and gardens. Seeing the fresh oranges and knowing they could have made the marmalade I eat with breakfast was so fulfilling and truly made me appreciate the richness and history of the city even more.

The Royal Alcázar offers a rich mix of Christian and Muslim architecture along with gothic and baroque influences. Use your angling techniques to create an optical illusion among the layered floors and arches!
Step outside into the sunshine and fresh citrus vines of the Alcázar courtyard. Crop out the rest of the arch to focus on the curve and its parallel of the orange trees on either side.
Mhmm… my mouth is watering! Utilize the sunshine and shadows it creates on the oranges to highlight their rich color and make them the focus of the picture. They’re associated with happiness for a reason :)
Utilize the sunshine again and the shadow of the curved arch to highlight your subject. What secrets and stories does the statue hold? This ambiance drew me to this unknown character of the Alcázar.
The endless architectural feats in Sevilla offer a balance between sculpture, painting, and environment. Shady trees are great for cooling off on sunnier days and having a picnic underneath them with friends! Grab some cheese, crackers, and jamón ibérico!

You’re even closer to mastering the ART of a weekend trip through optical illusion, curve, parallel, utilize, ambiance, and environment. Appreciating my surroundings within the places I travel to has allowed me to grow not only in my photography and travel skills but as a person as well. Sevilla was the perfect city to explore but also relax and rewind with friends after the hustle of Madrid city life every day. It’s no joke that Sevillians associate oranges with happiness and plant them in the streets!

Paris—the city of love, fashion, and food! A relatively short plane ride from Spain boasts this rich city of French culture and life. It’s the perfect getaway for a girls’ weekend amongst the craziness of classes and daily life as you continue to navigate living in another country.

The Notre-Dame cathedral is an architectural feat in itself! The stained glass, tall spires, and stone carvings glow even brighter in the evening sunset light. Utilize the rule of thirds to really focus on the cathedral and even the moon behind while capturing the bright blue sky as well!
The Winged Victory of Samothrace stands tall in the center of the Louvre Museum. She represents the strength of Greek goddess Nike. Her victorious wings play with the light as she is stepping forward into it, leaving the darker shadows behind.
Not far outside the Paris city boundary lies Versailles, once the home of the royal families. Frame the golden gate and statue to highlight the gold palace windows as well.
The Hall of Mirrors in the palace makes you feel like royalty ready for a ball! Combine your framing and angle techniques to make the chandeliers the centerpiece of the photo while also not ignoring the beautiful painted ceilings! Visit and try to count all 357 mirrors!

Whether your perfect weekend trip is reached by car, train, or plane, I hope you’ll be able to appreciate the rich culture and life of the cities you travel to with this guide! Mastering the ART (and architecture) of studying abroad is no easy feat, but plan ahead, grab your camera, and have fun! Thanks for traveling and learning with me through my weekend trips.

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