DOUBLING UP

FREYA Rogers, who runs the successful Armario de Freya women’s clothes and accessories store in Orgiva, has opened a second store in the spa town of Lanjaron. Catering for every occasion - from fiestas and special events to work and leisure - the shop stocks a range of attractive clothing, handbags, purses, jewellery, and some homeware. Like its predecessor in Orgiva’s Calle Correos, it is hoped to become a magnet for the discerning shopper who would rather buy quality goods locally than drive to nearby cities to visit large chain stores.

Find Freya’s new store at: Avenida Alpujarra, 29, Lanjarón, 18420 Granada. Opening hours are 10am-2pm and 5-8.30pm.

Boutique

By Jo Chipchase

THE Sierra Nevada area of Granada is a dream for photographers, who will encounter some of the best scenery and atmosphere of Andalucia. This is especially true of the rural Alpujarra, lying on its southern flank.

Here, you’ll find towering mountain peaks, the Mediterranean Sea glistening on the horizon, impressive cloud formations, fiery sunsets, winter snowscapes, and diverse fauna and flora. With visual changes accompanying each season, this area is spectacular all year round. Add to that a wealth of colourful events - such as town processions, ferias, and fairs - as well as the old traditions and culture, and photographers are spoilt for choice.

The Olive Press spoke to some photographers (pros and amateurs) who made this region their home - and view it daily through the lens.

JO CHIPCHASE - OLIVE PRESS REPORTER

Jo first came to La Alpujarra in 2002, to visit friends who had moved beside the tiny village of Lobras, near Cadiar. She immediately fell in love with the area – the rolling hills of the Contraviesa and low Alpujarra with their terraced, crop-laden land, white villages nestling against the hillsides, winding roads, and the slower pace of life.

A few years later, she moved to the spa town of Lanjarón with her kids, and then to the higher mountains.

She says: “My favourite place for photography is the Sierra Nevada natural park, as seen from various mountain passes. I particularly like shooting sunrises and sunsets. The Contraveisa is another personal favourite.”

“When working, I enjoy taking event photos to create a story, from start to finish. This could be the San Juan water fiesta in Lanjaron or the Musica de las Mozuelas in Cañar. I like unusual events that you wouldn’t see anywhere else.”

LIZZIE WOLFENDEN - NATURAL LIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

Lizzie, a resident of Órgiva, was living in France before she moved to La Alpujarra in

Why the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarra region of Granada are a visual feast for your camera SNAP

“Get off the beaten track”

– Fred Shively (unless there are wells, holes, mines, or dense forests!)

“Wander in the golden hour – the spell before dawn and dusk” – Lizzie Woolfenden.

“A good image requires either a lot of patience or a lot of luck!” – Richard Hartley

“Don’t shoot in the haze of the direct midday sun” – Jo Chipchase

Hints & Tips

2017. She says: “We were attracted by a simpler, outdoor life. I fell in love with the pomegranates and photographing them, especially when they crack open at the end of autumn, exposing their jewels.” She adds: “I love portrait photography - on location and in the studio. Shooting portraits indoors with natural light coming through my window is possible most days in La Alpujarra. In England, it would be a different story.”

“The golden hour is when you’ll find me wandering La Estrella, Pago and by the Guadalfeo River, just below Orgiva.”

Lizzie’s work takes an artistic twist to subjects typically found in La Alpujarra. She has photographed many local people, showing their different facets.

FRED SHIVELY - EX CREATIVE DIRECTOR abierto lunes - sábado

Fred was raised in Pennsylvania, USA, and visited the UK with the US military intelligence in the 1960s. He worked as a creative director on both sides of the ‘pond’. In 2002, he moved to Lanjarón with his wife, Arpi.

The pair initially worked on magazine assignments.

Subsequently, Fred had several solo photo exhibitions in Granada, and as part of the Artists Network Alpujarra and Al-AndaLUZ Photographers Collective. He’s had two photography books published.

Says Fred: “The Alpujarra is a photographically rich environment.

NEW STORE Avenida Alpujarra, 29, Lanjarón, 18420 Granada Calle Correo, 1 Orgiva, Granada, 18400

The white villages, the mountainous backdrops, the flora and fauna, and the peoplethe ‘campesinos’ - their trades, crafts, and ways of life.”

He adds: “As a ‘photo-generalist’, I’ve covered subjects ranging from stark, monochrome architecture to people at work and play, and occa-