Three Days of Photography In Bilbao
Earlier this month, I went on a last-minute getaway with a friend to Bilbao, Spain. In this blog, I will share my experience and photos in the hopes of giving you an idea of what to expect if you were to go there too.
The main reason for choosing Bilbao was because I wanted to photograph the Guggenheim Museum. I’ve seen some photos from Mark Fearnley who visited not long ago, and I had to visit for myself. Also, this is a very short and affordable trip from London.
We visited in December, and the weather was a mixed bag. The first two days were warm and sunny with temperatures around 18°C. Day three and four, however, were a washout with gale-force winds and temperatures around 10°C.
All the photos in this blog were taken on a Leica Q3 43, which is a 43mm focal length. I found that in most cases, it was the perfect focal length for this city. At times, I wish I could go down to 35mm, especially for the establishing shots of the museum; however, I still managed to get what I wanted by crossing to the other side of the river and shooting from there.
We were there for two full days with a travel day on either side. I thought this was a perfect duration, and any longer would have felt somewhat repetitive. We stayed around the corner from the Guggenheim and found that location to be ideal. It’s only a 15-minute walk to the train station and 20 minutes to the old town. By staying near the Guggenheim, it meant we didn’t have to start early in order to get there for the opening. More on that later.
The first day was spent exploring the old town and then following the river down to the Guggenheim, crossing over and exploring the more modern part. The old town is just like any other you’d expect to find— plenty of small streets flooded with light, loads of details, old churches, bars, and amazing architecture. You will also find the main market in this part of town, which is great to explore and grab a bite in.
We then followed the river down to the modern bit, and while it isn’t as characterful, there are plenty of clean lines and compositions for more minimal shots. The river was also really nice. Towards the end of the day, we spent some time exploring outside the Guggenheim.
On day two, we got up early and made sure we made it to the Guggenheim for 10 a.m. when it opens. During peak times or when it rains, the museum can get packed out. The first thing you’d notice is the steam being pumped across the walkway outside. I am not sure exactly at what time they do it or how often, but it’s worth investigating.
From a photography standpoint, most of your time will be spent in the main exhibition area where you can play around with all the shapes and patterns.
After that, don’t forget to explore the rest of the artwork and installations, which I found fascinating.
Depending on what time you finish, you might find you still have a free afternoon. This is where you can grab a bus to Getxo to see one of the oldest bridge types in existence called Vizcaya Bridge. It’s a transporter-style bridge where you get on a platform suspended by cables, and it moves to the other side of the river. I’ve never seen one before, so this was pretty cool.
Getxo is a nice little seaside town; however, on that day, the weather was horrific to say the least, so after the bridge, we got a bus back to Bilbao and hid away in a wine bar till late into the night.
In short, I would recommend Bilbao as a nice little weekend away if you’re in Europe already. I would say, however, that it’s also a great starting point to explore the whole region, including places like San Sebastián. This is on my to-do list for next year.
Instead of telling you how these will change your life, I would rather be practical and answer the most common questions that people tend to have when buying presets.
What are presets?
They are editing settings that are saved in a file and can be applied to any image.
Why do people buy presets?
Sometimes because they like the work of the photographer and want that style for their own photos. Mostly because they would like to see how other people edit and learn by reverse engineering the presets. Other times it’s just to support their favourite photographers, thank you!
What’s the overall style of these presets?
- Filmic
- Warm
- Soft
- Bright
What are these presets suitable for?
Street & Travel Photography
Some Nature (with further editing)
Some Portraits (with extensive editing)
Do I actually use these?
Yes. This is the same pack I use right now for all my editing. This isn’t a pack made just to sell.
Do these presets get updated?
Yes, as my style changes, these presets will also be updated. Any time a new update is available, you will get a free update via email. Of course you also keep all the old presets in case you prefer the older looks. Only presets purchased from 2025 onwards will receive the updates.
What file types are these presets for?
- All RAW files
- JPEGs & TIFFs (not recommended)
What camera brands are these presets for?
These were designed around Fujifilm, Sony, and Leica sensors. With that said, they will work with all camera brands. While there might be differences due to individual camera colour science, the overall feel of the preset will carry over.
Will these work with JPEG files?
Yes, but you will need to reduce the intensity and make further edits. I strongly recommend editing RAW files.
Are these one click edits?
95% No. You would need to do some basic adjustments as each image is different. These adjustments can include exposure, colour balance etc. In 5% of cases you can just apply and leave it alone.
Do I need to know how to edit?
You need to have a basic understanding of adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, etc. A more comprehensive editing skillset will let you get the most out of them.
How many presets are included?
10 in the main pack and 24 in the extras pack
Why two packs?
The main pack is what I use for 99% of my edits and is kept small to reduce wasted time scrolling through presets. The extras pack is everything I don’t use often.
What software do I need?
These presets will work with any of the following:
- Photoshop (adobe camera raw)
- Lightroom Classic
- Lightroom Desktop
- Lightroom Mobile
Will these presets work with free versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed for the full paid versions.
Will these presets work with very old versions of the above software?
You need to research and double check before buying. These presets were designed on and for the latest software.
What file type do I get?
XMP
What else do I get?
- Comprehensive PDF guide
Can I modify these and turn them into my own?
Yes! In fact I encourage you to modify them and play around. Use these to help you get your own style.
I have more questions…. What do I do?
Make a cup of tea and drop me an email on hello@snapsbyfox.com
Please note that due to the nature of digital products, refunds are generally not accepted. However, if you experience any issues, feel free to contact me and I’ll review your situation individually. You are welcome to use this product for personal or commercial projects, but you may not copy, distribute, or resell the files in their original or modified form.
Finally I want to say a massive thank you for supporting me. Buying these presets is the most direct way you can support my work.
Thank you!