Lisbon

Hello! My name is Arvin Bondad. I currently reside in Trim, Ireland, which is a quiet and laid-back town known for its rich cultural heritage.

As for my professional life, I am engaged in Staff Nurse in a nursing home. I find great fulfillment in what I do as it allows me to exercise my passion and utilize my skills. I am responsible for assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care for my assigned residents. This includes administering medications, monitoring vital signs, dressing wounds, assisting with activities of daily living, and providing emotional support.

Some of my hobbies include watching films and TV series, as well as listening to music.

Living in Trim has been an incredible experience for me. The town’s bustling streets, picturesque landscapes, and welcoming atmosphere make it an ideal place to call home.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring the local cuisine, visiting museums and art galleries, and engaging in outdoor activities such as hiking or cycling. I also value spending quality time with my loved ones and building meaningful connections within my community.

Overall, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences that life has bestowed upon me, and I am excited to continue growing both personally and professionally in the future.

Traveling can be such an enriching and fulfilling experience. Whether it’s exploring new cultures, trying different cuisines, or immersing yourself in the natural beauty of different destinations, there is always something exciting to discover.

From 2022 to 2023, I travelled to the cities of Sibiu, Brasov, Edinburgh, London, Rome, Dubrovnik, Amsterdam and Lisbon. I particularly like Lisbon because it has a fascinating blend of history, culture, and architecture that makes it an excellent destination for capturing interesting and unique street photography. The city’s narrow streets, colorful buildings, and vibrant street life provide ample opportunities for capturing candid moments and telling compelling stories through my lens. Additionally, the relaxed pace of life in Lisbon and the warmth and friendliness of its people make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience for any photographer to explore.

I started having interest in street photography summer of 2022. I discovered street photographers on Instagram, namely Roman Fox, Eren Sarigul, Westcott and Billydee. I immediately fell in love with their work. They are my inspiration. The way they capture light, pick interesting subjects, their editing process and especially the way they compose cinematic photos out of ordinary.

I like street photography because exploring this genre of photography can be a wonderful way to capture the beauty and essence of everyday life.

My method is observing something interesting happening on the streets that will spark my curiosity. I enjoy capturing the energy and diversity of urban environments.

Documenting my travel experiences allows me to capture and preserve memories that can be cherished for years to come. Through photographs or videos, I can revisit those moments and relive the emotions and experiences I had during my trips.

Traveling exposes me to new cultures, perspectives, and experiences, which can significantly contribute to my personal growth. Documenting my travels allows me to reflect on these experiences and the lessons learned along the way, helping me grow as an individual. Documenting my travel experiences can improve my storytelling skills, as it gives me the opportunity to craft narratives around my adventures. It helps me refine my ability to communicate and share stories effectively.

Looking back at my documented travels can evoke a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to explore new places and cultures. It serves as a gentle reminder of the beauty and diversity that exists in the world, encouraging myself to appreciate the experiences I’ve had and the places I’ve been.

The reason why I chose the Fujifilm X system is its ergonomics and controls. I have the Fujifilm X-T4 and I really like the retro dials on top. It is also compact and lightweight, making it ideal for travel, street photography, or any situation where portability is crucial. I can carry my camera comfortably without sacrificing image quality or performance.

Currently, I do have the Fujifilm X-T4 and my lenses are Fujifilm XF 18mm F1.4 R LM WR, Fujifilm XF 33mm F1.4 R LM WR and Viltrox 56mm F 1.4.

Before I go do street photography, I do challenge myself and pick just one focal length that I’ll be shooting all throughout that day and stick with it. As what they say, zoom with your feet. My first lens to do street photography was the 85mm from Viltrox, I do like the compression it makes and it’s refreshing to see some not ordinary type of compressed street photos than the traditional focal length of 23/33mm.

I usually shoot raw, and Lightroom Mobile is my go-to post-processing software. I used Erenjam’s and Benj Villena’s preset and tweak it on my own liking. Adjust mainly the exposure, highlights, contrast and the white balance.

I visited Lisbon last May, because of the street photographers I follow and they all loved this city. Since then, it’s in my list to visit. And it really did not disappoint. The Golden lights, old town neighbourhoods, the people and its culture, it’s really refreshing to see. It’s a street photographer’s paradise. I used my trusty 33mm and 56mm lens for the whole duration on this trip because most photos I saw regarding Lisbon are wide-angled so I wanted to try different perspectives and shoot some details of Lisbon.

My advice and tips if you want to visit Lisbon are you may want to wake up early and ride the famous Tram 28 at Martim Moniz Station the queue can be long. Try Pastel de Nata at Manteigara check all the best viewpoints at:
● Miradouro de Santa Luzia,
● Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
● Caracol da Graca

Unless you really want to ride the Elevador de Santa Justa, I suggest walking there to save on the queue. Simply head towards Carmo Convent and from there you will see a path to the very same platform.

I know most people will tell you to bring a zoom lens when you’re travelling to a new place that you don’t have idea what focal length suits best. But not me, I’ll tell you to challenge yourself, pick 1 or 2 prime focal lengths you have, and adjust yourself from there. It’s more rewarding than using a zoom lens, at least for me.