This 30 foot high spider is situated just outside the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. It was designed and made by Louise Bourgeois in bronze and stainless steel. There are even 10 marble eggs in the womb cage of the spider. It was originally commissioned for the Tate Modern and "Maman" translated is "mother" and was a tribute to the artists mother.

I used a mono conversion with Nik Silver Efex Pro, which I think helps bring out the scale and texture of the sculpture.

Tags:   Guggenheim Bilbao Spain Maman Spider Sculpture Statue Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 Arachnid Black and White Mono

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I promise this is the last post of a shot from Gatzelugatxe. I tried to get the causeway to act as a lead in line all the way up to the hermitage of St Juan. It didn't quite stand out in colour, but I think the black and white helps show the path zig zagging up to the chapel a little better.

The hermitage chapel on the summit of Gatzelugatxe dates from the 10th Century and has a very interesting history. It was attacked and sacked by non other than Francis Drake in 1593. It has much more recently attracted interest as it was used for the setting of "Dragonstone" in HBO's series "Game of Thrones" with a Castle digitally created on the top of the islet. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway and 241 steps which zig zag all the way to the Chapel of San Juan.

Tags:   St Juan Gatzelugatxe Bermeo Bilbao Biscay Spain Causeway Black and White Mono Nikon Nik Silver Efex Pro 2 Bay of Biscay D850 Seascape Morning Coast Rocks Sea miketongephotography.co.uk

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The spectacular setting of the chapel of San Juan de Gatztelugatxe on top of this small island on the Biscay coastline of Northern Spain. My wife and I managed to set off from our Hotel in Bilbao for a 45 minute drive out here just before dawn. We clambered down the steep long climb to the bottom of the steps leading to the island before anyone else had got there. At first the island was in shadow but the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the upper island and the Chapel. I used a 10 stop ND filter to get a little motion in the clouds and sea and a soft grad to bring the sky brightness down a little.

You can certainly see why this setting was used to create "Dragonstone" in "The Game of Thrones" drama. the causeway is spectacular. Even with the backbreaking walk back up to the top of the cliffs lugging all my camera gear, it was certainly worth the effort!

Tags:   Nik Silver Efex Pro Dragonstone Game of Thrones Bermeo Ermita de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe Bilbao Island NISI Filters Nikon D850 Bay of Biscay Chapel Hermitage Ermita Seascape Spain mono Gaztelugatxe

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The spectacular setting of the chapel of San Juan de Gatztelugatxe on top of this small island on the Biscay coastline of Northern Spain. My wife and I managed to set off from our Hotel in Bilbao for a 45 minute drive out here just before dawn. We clambered down the steep long climb to the bottom of the steps leading to the island before anyone else had got there. At first the island was in shadow but the sun broke through the clouds and lit up the upper island and the Chapel. I used a 10 stop ND filter to get a little motion in the clouds and sea and a soft grad to bring the sky brightness down a little.

You can certainly see why this setting was used to create "Dragonstone" in "The Game of Thrones" drama. the causeway is spectacular. Even with the backbreaking walk back up to the top of the cliffs lugging all my camera gear, it was certainly worth the effort!

Tags:   D850 Gatzelugatxe Bilbao Spain Hermitage Biscay Causeway Dragonstone Game of Thrones Chapel Seascape Sea Water Cliffs Island LE Long Exposure Nikon NISI S5

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A view of the islands of Gatzelugatxe and Akatxa on this wild stretch of coastline near Bermeo, Spain. The hermitage chapel on the summit of Gatzelugatxe dates from the 10th Century and has a very interesting history. It was attacked and sacked by non other than Francis Drake in 1593. It has much more recently attracted interest as it was used for the setting of "Dragonstone" in HBO's series "Game of Thrones" with a Castle digitally created on the top of the islet. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway and 241 steps which zig zag all the way to the Chapel of San Juan.

I took this on my way back up from visiting Gatzelugatxe when I paused for breath carrying all my kit!

Tags:   Gatzelugatxe

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