PORTO || A Photo Story Capturing Candid Scenes and Architecture in Porto
After two weeks in Portugal, I wanted something other than Portuguese cuisine for lunch.
I wandered away from my travel group to find a cafe where I could enjoy a latte and a croissant—which has always been a simple indulgence. I chanced upon Café A Brasileira, a grand cafe with tables spilling out onto the walkway and an ornate dining room. It was early afternoon, and most visitors would likely be enjoying their lunches in restaurants; thus, the cafe provided a quiet spot for me to people-watch and unwind.
Tables placed by double-height arched windows capture natural light in a way that begs for a photo, which I gladly obliged by snapping photos on my Fuji travel camera. On this rare occasion, I was fine with the slower pace of service, resting my chin in my hand as I took in the architectural details.
I would spend a few hours after enjoying my lunch here wandering the streets and capturing candid scenes and architecture on my camera. You know when you see a scene, and you wished your eyes could snap a photo instead of having to reach for a camera? This is my attempt to capture these moments as quickly as I could before the moment passed. An afternoon well-spent. meandering through the narrow, sloping streets of the coastal city.
Photography by Florence Leung
Light and shadow establishes the mood of this photo.
A candid scene outside of Café A Brasileira captures the diversity of its visitors and the building’s architectural beauty.
Narrow streets like this one characterize the city’s infrastructure.
A couple walking down to the riverfront. I also witnessed a couple pushing a baby stroller up these cobblestoned steps—it was a heroic effort. The photo doesn’t fully depict how steep the roads are in Porto.
Taking a photo of someone else taking a photo of someone across the street.
I can’t remember which church this was, but I found this this to be a beautiful scene, where the sunlight hits the organ to reflect the patina of the wood and its gold accents.
A trip to ‘the most beautiful bookstore in the world.’ This was the only photo I could take that didn’t have other visitors posing for selfies in the background. The stained glass skylight is beautiful, though.
A child down by the riverfront feeding the birds.
