Capturing Barcelona on Film: A Student’s Story of Travel, Art, and Discovery
- Simpl Barcelona
- Mar 11
- 6 min read
Lilly Thomas is a film photographer, traveler, and creative spirit who studied abroad in Barcelona. With a love for capturing the details of life, she has explored the world through her lens, immersing herself in local cultures and uncovering hidden gems. Lilly blends art, travel, and mindfulness into her daily life. Her journey offers a fresh perspective on studying abroad, creative expression, and discovering the best places in Barcelona beyond the tourist spots.
What inspired you to shoot film photography and how has living in Barcelona influenced your artistic style?
Photography is a way for me to express myself and how I interpret life through my lens. I’ve always been very observant of the world around me and my art is a way for me to capture life and emotions in a still shot picture form. It is like freezing a moment in time. It wasn’t until I moved to Barcelona that I really started to love the artistic craft of shooting film. I have always enjoyed photography, but never really dabbled in using analog to shoot. I remember about a week after I moved to Barcelona I randomly stumbled across Dubblefilm, a film lab in Poblenou, which I would soon become a regular at. It was here where I bought my first film camera, a Konica Zup-150, the camera I still shoot with today.
It had the coolest zoom lens and I just remember being so fascinated by it all. I left the lab with my camera and a roll of Kodak gold and walked around the city for hours that afternoon. Pretty sure I ended up shooting an entire roll, but how can you not when in Barcelona. As far as my creative expression, living in Barcelona has definitely influenced my art. I think the city is full of so much life and culture that you can’t help but feel inspired. I loved capturing the music, the street life, the performers, the chefs, the visitors, and the locals. The simplicity of life combined with the ecstatic energy is what I like to call it. I feel like Barcelona draws in the coolest artists and has a vibrant atmosphere that you just can’t match.
What are your favorite spots in Barcelona for capturing the perfect film photo?
I lived in the Gothic quarter and would always take my camera on strolls around the cathedral snapping away at all the life around me, so this easily became my favorite spot to shoot. I remember nights when I couldn’t sleep and I would leave my flat just to listen to someone play music on the steps of the Cathedral.
How did studying abroad in Barcelona shape your creative process and perspective as an artist?
I feel like studying in Barcelona put me in a constant flow state and shaped the way I perceive life in so many ways, the main being the inspiration I felt. It’s like I would walk out of my door and be greeted with so much art, whether that be in the sounds of the street or the gothic influence in the architecture. I feel like everything is intentional without even meaning to be. I think the city offers a beautiful blend of everything. From the rich culture and gastronomy, to the beautiful buildings and nature, I couldn’t ask for more from a home. The city’s diversity definitely helped in my creative process by expanding my perspective to different ways of life and landscapes. It provided me with the perfect array of shots to capture and helped me understand what I gravitate more towards as an artist. I loved being able to capture the life and voice of such a beautiful city.
What are some challenges of shooting film in a fast-moving digital world, especially while traveling?
Life feels very fast and shooting film is a way for me to slow it down. With that being said, there are challenges when it comes to film photography in the constant movement of a digital world. For starters, I think you have to be way more intentional with what you’re shooting. As a creative person, I tend to find inspiration and art in almost everything, and film photography helped me create more intentional and artistic images. There also is the chance for your photos to come out completely botched or with light leaks but I think the imperfection is what makes the shots so beautiful. It’s been super cool to lean more into the art of film photography because it's kind of like this is what I captured, take it or leave it. But at the end of the day, the best camera is the one you have in your hand ;).
If you only had one day in Barcelona, how would you spend it?
I don’t think I would ever schedule myself just one day in such a vibrant city because there is too much to explore. But if I only had one day, I would pack it full of all the things I love. I would start my morning sitting on my balcony and letting inspiration flow over me.
After my moment of stillness, I would get ready and head to get a coffee and a pastry. I don’t even drink coffee much, but when in Europe, I think you have to and there are too many cute cafes in Barcelona so it almost becomes a mandatory task added into your routine.
I would then go to a yoga or pilates class because there are so many lovely studios in the city and a lot of them offer classes in English. After my slow morning, I would try and meet up with friends and either go to a cool vintage market or the beach, depending on the weather. One thing I love about Barcelona is there is always something fun going on the weekends and you can find events for all your passions.
After some time out and about, I’ll definitely be thinking about what we are doing for food. My favorite local spot in Barcelona is Yesterday, a very authentic Spanish restaurant, and if I only had one day in the city, you can bet I’m going there for lunch.
After a delicious meal, if I’m not too full, I’ll make it to ciutadella park for a nice sunset walk or wine with friends. A time to escape from the city and be with nature for a bit. As the day ends, the night is only beginning. I love to dance and the music in Barcelona is great. I would probably find myself attending a house music event or going out in El Borne. For me, a perfect way to end the day is with some nice tunes and a wonderful group of friends. As I look back on my time, I think what I loved most about the city was the people that I shared my experiences with. I connected with so many inspirational, creative, and talented individuals and just hanging out enjoying eachothers company was always the best way to spend my days.
Any advice for students coming to Barcelona who really want to immerse themselves in the culture?
I will be honest and say that moving abroad to a new city can be an adjustment and comes with its own challenges but it is also the most rewarding and life changing experience. The advice I would offer to students coming to Barcelona to study would be to put yourself out there and soak up as much as you can. Barcelona has so many different communities and activities that give you the chance to get involved and meet both locals as well as people from all over the world.
Whether that’s taking an art class, workout class, going to the weekend markets, or doing a city tour, you should take every opportunity to explore that you can. Follow your excitements and passions because those passions will lead you to meet other like-minded individuals and who knows where those relationships will lead. I think the more you put yourself out there, the more you will meet new people and develop new perspectives and relationships.
I would also say to be comfortable doing things alone. I did a lot alone and that really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but ultimately taught me a lot about myself and what I enjoyed doing. I believe that if you follow your heart and your passions, even when you’re far away from home, the right people and places will gravitate towards you! Use this time in your life to experience, explore, and immerse yourself in the beautiful city of Barcelona!
Reflections on Her Journey
Taking a look at Lilly's journey you can understand how she made the most of her time in Barcelona. Moving to a new city can be difficult but as she said it is about finding the right people and places that make it special. For more content about Barcelona and what to do, download Simpl on the app store.
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