Royal Palace / Palacio Real - Madrid Photos

This is actually the back of the palace (or at least I assume the side facing "Campo del Moro" is considered the front, making this the back). Anyway, those doors are usually closed and I have no idea who's car that is or what it is doing there but it's kind of cool to see inside there.

So if you are wondering what is up with the "look" (as in post processing) it's a single RAW file tonemapped in Photomatix and then tweaked (levels and what not) in Photoshop. Gives it a gritty look with a lot of contrast (I also removed my circular polarizer halfway through the few shots I grabbed here but don't recall if it was on for this one or not).

I'm having a hard time deciding if I like this look or not. It's very dramatic but if I'm going to be trying to sell images like this as general stock should I just leave them "alone" (well I can never leave an image entirely alone, there is always improvement to be had in post).

Oh well... see it larger at Stock Photos Madrid.

- Justin

Jon Spencer and Matt Verta-Ray - Madrid Photos / Fotos

Time to take out the Heavy Trash.

For those of you unfamiliar with Mr. Spencer by name, he was originally the front man for "Pussy Galore" among others, but is best known for his time with "Jon Spencers Blues Explosion." I must admit that I only considered myself a fan for one short summer way back when a friend in high school gave me a mixed tape (ya, I said tape). It was a soundgasmic mix of varying melodies and rhythms from Mr. Bungle and Bjork to Los Fabulosos Cadillas and Jon Spencers Blues Explosion. That tape shaped my music tastes in many ways for years to come as I had only really ever been exposed to mainstream acts like Pearl Jam and Nirvana (or Steely Dan and The Doors thanks to "Pa") but for one reason or another I never came across or sought out more Spencer.

Feel free to stop the video after the Heavy Trash
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Well, Mr. Blues Explosion is now touring and promoting his new side project "Heavy Trash" with the very rockin' Matt Verta-Ray (who only rocks more because he doesn't have a wikipedia page! Where'd Spencer get this cool cat?), of which I was asked to edit a video of a recent Madrid concert at Rock Palace.

What's even cooler? They are coming back this month on the 17th to play Sala Sol! Check'em out if you get the chance! A tried and true "dinosaur" rock/blues sound with a modern edge and fresh faces. If you ask me these guys were born about half a century late!



- Justin