PORTRAITS IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Nowadays, we can take photos and share them on social media with hand-held technology and enjoy browsing through the images from the other side of the world. Nevertheless , ship portraits are still being drawn and painted using traditional techniques.

SHIP SPOTTERS

Ship spotters, or ship observers, not only photograph ships: they know their technical characteristics, study their history, follow the routes, await their arrival at the nearest ports, organise themselves to portray them and then share videos and photos on websites, blogs and social media. Along with the images, they also share technical information on the ship.

They are found at ports all over the world, photographing cruise ships, containers, sail boats, fishing boats, warships and more.

Naval portraitists in the Port of Barcelona: Ramon Paya, Josep Piqué and Manuel Galilea

Reproduction. Gelatin silver copy

1965

Camil Busquets Vilanova

Minesweeper Eume at sea

Reproduction. Gelatin silver copy

1950-1960

Camil Busquets Vilanova

Ocean liner Cristoforo Colombo

Reproduction. Gelatin silver negative

1950-1960

Manuel Galilea i Palau

Turbine steam ship Federico C. docked at the International Maritime Station in the Port of Barcelona

Reproduction. Gelatin silver negative

1950-1960

Manuel Galilea i Palau

Ocean liner Alberto Dodero docked in the Port of Barcelona

Reproduction. Gelatin silver negative

1950-1960

Manuel Galilea i Palau

Tugboat Montoriol leaving the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2005

Josep de Dios Dacal

Ro-Ro vessel Eurostar Roma near the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2006

Jordi Montoro Fort

Container ship Burgas leaving the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2006

Jordi Montoro Fort

Pilot boat in the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2006

Jordi Montoro Fort

Ocean liner Queen Mary 2 docked in the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2007

Javier Sánchez García

High-level patrol boat P75 Descubierta arriving at the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2007

Josep de Dios Dacal

Training ship Palinuro at sea

Digital photograph

5.01.2008

Camil Busquets Vilanova

Training ship Libertad entering the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2017

Albert Campanera i Rovira

Trawler Sant Pau entering the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

14.05.2019

Antoni Casinos

Frigate Provence in the Port of Barcelona

Digital photograph

2019

Albert Campanera i Rovira

THE DIGITAL WORLD

Technological advances applied to photography mean professional photographers can take snapshots that were previously unthinkable. There are no rules: the image can be cut and off centre. What is valued is the importance of capturing a specific moment. The images are published with data identifying the ship, place and time.

New digital media have changed the way ships are portrayed. Drones allow images to be taken in movement while a ship is sailing; they can move around and get closer to record details that are impossible to see anywhere else.