Monthly Archives: June 2017

NX300 Explorations: Enchanting Architecture and River Views in Budapest, Hungary

ByAllie Roqueta June 18, 2017 Budapest / Europe / Samsung Camera

Hungary is full of beautiful architecture from intricate building details you can easily spot oh the street, to the impressive river vistas that stand out from across some of its famous bridges. Black and white and sepia are a great effect to apply to ornate architectural shots. By removing color from a photo, the focus shifts toward the shapes, shadows, and gradients of a scene. With architecture, there is so much to appreciate in the details, and […]

The Spanish White Towns: Setenil de las Bodegas

ByAllie Roqueta June 17, 2017 Europe / Samsung Camera / Spain

While you may think of living in caves as something Neolithic, it might come as a nice surprise that one small town in Spain has taken cave-living to a whole new level. The unique town of Setenil de las Bodegas is located in the Andalucía region of Spain and part of Los Pueblos Blancos–a famous group of villages known for stark white buildings that spray along mountainsides. Many people venture on road trips along the Ruta de los Pueblos […]

Fez Morocco Spicy Souks and Medina Mazes

ByAllie Roqueta June 17, 2017 Africa / Morocco / Samsung Camera

Taking a trip to Morocco isn’t complete without a day trip to Fez, otherwise known to be a less touristy version of Marrakech. Stockpiled souks that sell mountains of leather goods, spices, tea kettles, and knickknacks introduce a maze of temptation for the souvenir-thirsty, and it’s here where you’ll sharpen your bargaining skills to get the most bang for your dirham. A quick 2-hour bus ride from the capital city of Rabat will lead you into this UNESCO […]

On the Streets in Lyon, France

ByAllie Roqueta June 17, 2017 Europe / France / Samsung Camera

Welcome to Lyon, the second largest city in France and its gastronomic capital. This was my first time traveling to France, and I’m glad to say this watercolor city met all of my expectations. Wandering around Lyon’s myriad of narrow alleyways, it was easy to spot bustling little bistros filling the air with delightful aromas, or see subtle pieces of street art hidden among the mix of cobblestone and brick. Walking around Lyon makes you feel like a kid on […]

Securing the Uptake

ByAllie Roqueta June 15, 2017 Europe / Italy / Tales Abroad: Bologna, Italy

I woke up at the crack of dawn today (aka 8am), excited to go to my first lecture of Filosofie dell’India, Asia, e l’Orientale. Late as usual, I rushed to class only to find myself sitting, sweat rolling off my forehead, waiting for the professor to arrive. Unlike in the US where classes start promptly on the hour, there seems to be some sort of unspoken rule in Italy that classes always start 15 minutes later than usual. So promptly […]

Understanding Digital ISO

ByAllie Roqueta June 15, 2017 Samsung Camera

While ISO has been typically known as being synonymous with “film speed,” or a film’s degree of sensitivity to light, the same principle can also be applied to digital cameras. In the digital world, ISO refers not to the sensitivity of film, but rather the sensitivity of the camera’s mechanical sensors. Typical ISO ratings are 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. You can see that each rating is twice as fast as the one before it. The lower the […]

Shooting Tips: Laguna Beach From Daytime to Dusk

ByAllie Roqueta June 15, 2017 North America / Samsung Camera

Laguna Beach’s beautiful coastline has attracted tourists from all over the world, sparked popular TV shows, and remains one of Southern California’s most popular treasures along the Pacific Coast Highway. It’s easy to spend a day wandering the hidden beaches and winding pathways, enjoying the turquoise tint of its calm waters. Photographing at the beach can sometimes be a tricky feat, since the sun can be extra glaring against the white sand. The most optimal times to achieve good lighting […]

NX300: Infuse Your Black and White Photos with Selective Color

ByAllie Roqueta June 15, 2017 Europe / Samsung Camera / Spain

Black and white versus color. That’s always a challenge for the photographer in the editing room. While black and white retains a sense of purity through shapes and textures, color can infuse vibrancy and life into a shot. But why not have both? With new techniques and filters being introduced into digital cameras, you can experiment with all types of saturation, from cross processing to vintage sepia. One of my favorites to play around with is the selective color SMART […]

Baja Mexico: Wineries, Skulls, and Seafood

ByAllie Roqueta June 14, 2017 North America

Baja, Mexico is full of surprises, so it was definitely a shock when I was told about a famous wine route only two hours south of San Diego, near the city of Ensenada. Valle de Guadalupe is Baja’s little viticultural treasure, nestled in the rural village of Guadalupe. The last place I would think to find the Napa of the South would be in the vast desert-like landscape of Mexico, where the temperatures keep the landscape arid and sparse. […]

Costa de la Luz From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean

ByAllie Roqueta June 11, 2017 Europe / Samsung Camera / Spain

With summer temperatures still lingering into the fall, a weekend trip was in order along La Costa de la Luz. Literally meaning the Coast of Light, it refers to the stretch of shoreline along Spain’s Atlantic that extends from Cádiz down to Tarifa. Beach-hopping here means getting your fill of crystal blue waters in El Palmar, catching sight of some epic kitesurfing acrobatics in Tarifa, and discovering some quirky seaside finds, like the Roman ruins at Playa Bolonia. It was […]

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For permissions to use this photo contact Alessandra Roqueta at roqueta2@gmail.com.