Atzucac - A life in El Raval
- Published on
- Eneko Sarasola --2 min read
In the heart of Barcelona lies El Raval—a neighborhood, full of grit and poetry. El Raval isn’t just a place; it’s an experience, wrapped in history and the unfiltered energy of its people. For my latest street photography project I tried to capture the unapologetic characters who call these streets home.
This project—"Atzucac"—is more than just pictures. It’s a collection of stories about the people who make El Raval unlike anywhere else.
Some people leaned into the camera with confidence, eager to share their essence. Others barely noticed, their oddities so deeply embedded in their existence they didn’t need to perform them.
Beauty in the Bizarre
There’s something real about strangeness. In a world obsessed with fitting in, those who stand out remind us that life is meant to be lived on your own terms. The people of El Raval embody that—they’re not trying to be different; they just are.
El Raval itself is a reminder of this: messy, imperfect, but alive with creativity and humanity. It’s not polished or pretentious. It just is—and that’s its charm.
You can check the project HERE
About my workflow and tools
This project was shot entirely in 35mm black and white film, developed and scanned at home. Cameras used:
- Nikon F2
- Nikon FM2
Lenses used:
- 135mm f2.8 AI
- 105mm f2.5 pre-AI
- 28mm f2.8 AI
Film stocks used:
- Rollei Retro 80S
- Rollei Retro 400S
- Fomapan 400
- Kodak Double XX