3 Ways The Urban Photography Tour Helps Me To Untangle My Feelings

The Art of Escapism is not in getting lost but in finding yourself Photo Captured by Vaibhav Kalekar

Anxiety is a wonderful form of emotional torture to reach the ultimate dream.

As I wait anxiously for my wishes and dreams to align with reality, I plan my escape to well-known town in the Catalan region, Barcelona.

My camera is primed and ready to capture this whole new side of the world along with my girlfriend for support.

Photo Captured by Vaibhav Kalekar

Escape the Monotony, Not the Feelings

“Insanity Is Doing The Same Thing Over And Over Again And Expecting Different Results.”

I am not going to dwell on the “who said it ?” over “Why do we attribute it to Einstein?”, the statement kept ringing in my head like an alarm or warning for the way I am feeling. The only thing on my mind was to find ways to make it stop.

It may be the after-effects of the frustrations of the job, maybe the little annoyances of the daily struggles of living in a country that does not speak a language I understand. The cloud of monotony was truly over me.

I needed to escape, not feel the emotions I am feeling right now. Travel always provided that escape for me and Photography allows me to pour my emotions out through my lens.

A quick search for the cheapest ticket I could purchase, but it was my well-researched girlfriend who planned the trip that landed me in Barcelona. “Not too shabby”, I said to myself.

Anticipating a mindful escape, I allowed myself to feel the excitement.

Photos captured by Vaibhav Kalekar

Lose the Mask, Not the Cloak

Barcelona is a colorful city. Friendly people, magnificent architecture, mind-blowing art, and food to fill your hearts. to the brim. A perfect city to get lost in all its glory, walk around with a smile, and soak in all the culture.

I was eager to shed all the frustrations and walk around the city with my camera and capture all the urban beauty, art, and people in their true nature.

Every alley provides a glimpse into the present, a working-class community, held together by the legacy of the past with a hopeful view of the future. It is bustling with people, locals, and tourists side by side rushing to overcome the day’s challenges.

Slowed down only by the strong coffee to go with the deliciousness of Spanish Tortillas, Croquettes, all types of fried and grilled seafood and the best of all is the paella. It helps when both of us are immense foodies to a fault. A special mention for the amazing dinner we enjoyed with Pasta and fantastic cocktails with dessert that could only be described as heavenly.

I felt I was indulging myself in the gastronomy but especially enjoying capturing all of it with my camera. I was lost in the city’s spirit while the smile made its way back to my face.

Photos captured by Vaibhav Kalekar

Find the Magic, Embrace the Charm

Urban cities are known to bring a unique charm of their own to encapsulate the tourists and travelers alike.

For Travelers, it’s always about something deeper than the sightseeing and flavor but for tourists it is all about the charm of the city. A good tourist destination provides the right balance of both of these two types of visitors.

I don’t hide away from the touristy stuff, maybe that’s why I fell for one of those tourist traps on the streets of Barcelona. To be fair it made for a brilliant photo memory for both of us. Anyway, I like to start with the touristy stuff and then scourge my way through something unique and memorable to capture with my camera.

An obvious trip through the Old Cathedral and Old Town to the Museum of Picasso and the work of Gaudi made me appreciate the city’s and its people’s love for art. Not just the way all these attractions were preserved but the sheer crowd lined up even on weekdays was impressive.

There was one major attraction we wanted to visit and had to wait for the tickets to be available, the famous Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The world-famous architectural marvel seemingly always under construction was worth every cent that we paid for it.

I was mesmerized by the artistic work and the meditative way by which the lights pierced through the windows to create a holographic effect. It immediately put me in a trance state. I closed my eyes, stood underneath the shade of rainbow-colored lights filtering through the glass pane of windows, and allowed them to saturate my emotions with their hue.

It was like finding the hidden temple of magic, I embraced its charm.

Photos captured by Vaibhav Kalekar

Conclusion

It might be a cliche to suggest travels heal all the wounds and untangle the mystery of our feelings. It is a cliche for a reason and one we can all indulge in it. If you decide to do the same, make sure to capture the moments.

The moments may come and go, but the magic never fades.

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