Environmental Photography: Inside Barcelona’s Desalination Plant

Heavy Industry Meets Modern Architecture
As part of a story on environmental issues, I was assigned to photograph the new desalination plant near the Llobregat River. I was genuinely excited—big machinery and sleek industrial architecture are right up my street.

Dust, Wind, and Primary Colours
The plant itself is visually striking, with bright primary colours marking out the different machinery components—reds, blues, and yellows all over the place. Unfortunately, the whole place was cloaked in a fine dust, thanks to strong winds and the fact that construction was still underway. Many areas were exposed to the elements, so any thoughts of cleaning surfaces for the perfect shot were quickly abandoned.

Shooting With a Guide, Not Alone
I was given a tour by a very friendly young woman who, thanks to her brilliant green eyes, I correctly guessed was from Galicia (a small moment of pride). Still, as helpful as she was, being guided around meant I didn’t have the quiet time I usually prefer to take in a place and find the strongest compositions. Shooting industrial environments like this often requires patience, silence, and a bit of wandering.