**Finding My Focus: A Photographer's Journey Through Barcelona
Hi there,
Sofia here, writing to you from my cozy balcony in Barcelona on this beautifully sunny afternoon, September 10th, 2025, at 4:30 PM. It's been a day since I last shared my thoughts, and I find myself in a state of clarity and purpose, thanks to the obstacles I've faced and the growth I've experienced in the past few days.
As I sat down to write this post, I realized that my evolution as a photographer and a person has been a journey of finding focus - not just in my compositions, but in my life, my career, and my relationship with this city I now call home.
In my previous posts, I've talked about my desire to deepen my understanding of Barcelona, to tell its stories, and to find a balance between my wanderlust and the sense of belonging I've been cultivating here. I've also discussed the challenges I've faced - the language barrier, the limited access to certain places, and my initial fears about settling down.
Overcoming these challenges has been like honing my lens. Each obstacle has forced me to zoom in, to focus on the details, to understand the intricacies of this city and its people. I've realized that my project isn't just about capturing beautiful images and writing compelling stories. It's about understanding the heart of Barcelona, the soul of its people, and my place in it all.
I've been thinking a lot about focus in photography. It's not just about the aperture setting or the sharpness of an image. It's about choosing what to include in the frame and what to exclude. It's about finding the subject, the heart of the scene, and making that the center of attention. In a way, this is what I've been doing in my life here in Barcelona. I've been trying to find my focus, to decide what's important, what's worth my time and energy.
I've decided to make my project my main focus. I'll be dedicating more time to it, pouring more of myself into it. I'll be learning more Catalan, not just to communicate better, but to understand the culture on a deeper level. I'll be networking more, connecting with locals, building a community around this project.
I've also decided to be more patient with myself. Growth isn't linear, and it's okay if I stumble, if I face obstacles. What's important is that I keep moving forward, keep learning, keep evolving. I've come to understand that my evolution isn't just about where I go, but also about who I become along the way.
So, here's to finding focus, to honing our lenses, to choosing what to include in our frames and what to leave out. Here's to my Genesis, to the many more layers of Barcelona and myself that I hope to uncover.
Until the next sunrise,
Sofia
P.S. I'd love to hear about your own journeys of finding focus - in photography, in life, or in any other pursuits. Share your stories in the comments, let's inspire each other.
P.P.S. I've attached a photograph I took today - a close-up of a door handle in the Gothic Quarter. It's a simple scene, but it's one that I found particularly captivating. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful moments are found in the details.