Liceu Opera House: Exploring Barcelona’s Most Haunted Historic Buildings

These photographs were captured as part of a specialized editorial series documenting Barcelona’s reportedly haunted locations. The project offered a fascinating intersection between architectural photography and local folklore, allowing me to document spaces rarely accessible to the public or casual photographers.

Barcelona’s historic buildings hold countless stories within their ancient walls, with some structures dating back several centuries. This particular location, with its atmospheric corridors and shadowy chambers, provided the perfect backdrop for exploring themes of history and mystery through photography.

Securing permission to photograph historic buildings often presents significant challenges for professional photographers. After navigating the typical bureaucratic processes—a familiar obstacle in architectural photography—I connected with a helpful administrator who granted me a brief 20-minute window in the early afternoon to capture these images.

The limited timeframe created additional pressure, especially considering the location’s numerous photographic opportunities. The administrator mentioned that the behind-the-scenes areas had been modernized and would likely not suit my aesthetic goals. She also expressed skepticism regarding the building’s supernatural reputation, a common reaction when discussing such subject matter with site officials.

During post-production, I applied subtle tonal adjustments to enhance the location’s inherent atmosphere. These deliberate editing choices amplified the mysterious qualities already present in the architecture without resorting to heavy-handed effects. The resulting images strike a balance between documentary photography and artistic interpretation, effectively conveying the space’s unique character.

A frustrating aspect of this project—and another similar shoot for the same story—emerged after sharing the completed images. The location representatives expressed considerable enthusiasm for the photographs and inquired about using them for their own purposes. I proposed a potential future working relationship in exchange for image usage rights, which they seemed receptive to at the time.

Unfortunately, despite numerous follow-up emails after the summer holiday period, I received no responses. More disappointingly, I later discovered imitative photographs appearing in their materials—an all-too-common experience in professional photography that highlights the importance of proper image licensing and contracts.