Street Photography - This time only and never again.

On May 23 and 24, we had the privilege of taking part in Fujikina Madrid 2026, Fujifilm’s flagship photography event and one of the most important meeting points for photographers, creators and visual storytellers in Spain.

Fujikina has brought the Fujifilm photography community together in cities such as New York, Tokyo, London, Berlin and Madrid. The 2026 Madrid edition was held at the COAM, where photography filled every corner of the building for two days.

We attended as invited guests to lead two street photography photowalks alongside Pilar Moreno from Fotonline, whose experience and logistical support were essential in coordinating both activities. Julio Marchamalo led the first Madrid photowalk on May 23, while I had the opportunity to guide the group through the streets of Madrid on May 24.

Leading a Street Photography Photowalk in Madrid

We never imagined that we would one day become part of an event of this scale. Beyond appearing on the programme or sharing the experience with respected photographers, the most meaningful part was connecting with every participant who joined our walk.

Both Fujikina photowalks sold out, which was a wonderful surprise. The energy the participants brought to the streets was incredible. There was a real hunger to learn, experiment and understand photography beyond camera settings and technical specifications.

Before we began walking, I had the opportunity to speak to the group about my approach to street photography. I was not interested in offering a formula, because street photography does not work through formulas. It grows through observation, patience, instinct and the ability to recognise visual relationships within the apparent disorder of everyday life.

The city is unpredictable. People move in and out of the frame, light changes and scenes are transformed in seconds. The challenge is not to control all of that, but to accept it and learn how to find a certain order inside the chaos.

During the photowalk, every participant moved through the same streets, but each person discovered something different. That is one of the most fascinating aspects of photography. We may share the same location, light and moment, but we never return with exactly the same photographs.

The Fujifilm Photography Experience

As Fujifilm users, we strongly believe in the creative freedom offered by the brand. Fujifilm cameras are intuitive, technologically advanced and beautifully designed, but their most distinctive quality is more difficult to describe.

They have character.

When you hold a Fujifilm camera, it feels like a tool created to accompany the photographer rather than distract them. The experience focuses less on endless menus and technical figures and more on observing, composing and enjoying the act of taking photographs.

A camera should help reduce the distance between what a photographer feels and the image they want to create. That is where the Fujifilm experience becomes particularly meaningful.

These cameras do not create a personal vision for us, but they can become powerful catalysts. They encourage us to walk, experiment and photograph with greater freedom. They make the process feel lighter, more instinctive and more playful.

That sense of play is important. After years of working professionally, photography can become connected to deadlines, expectations and responsibilities. A camera that invites you to explore without pressure can help you rediscover the curiosity that made you begin taking pictures in the first place.

At Fujikina Madrid, we also had the opportunity to discover the latest Fujifilm cameras and products, experiment with Instax instant printers, explore high quality printing systems and learn from photographers developing remarkable work in different areas of the medium.

Photography in Its Purest Form

For two days, photographers with different backgrounds, styles and levels of experience shared the same space. Conversations began around cameras, lenses, printing and technique, but quickly became conversations about observation, ideas, visual language and the need to create.

Photography is often practised alone. We walk, observe, edit and spend long periods questioning our own work. Events like Fujikina remind us that this solitary process can also become part of a wider community.

Sharing knowledge, listening to other photographers and walking alongside people with different perspectives can transform the way we understand our own images. Sometimes one question, one conversation or one photograph made by another person can open an entirely new way of seeing.

That was the greatest value of the photowalks. They were not simply organised routes through Madrid. They became spaces for exchange, curiosity and learning, where every participant could explore their own visual interests while feeling part of something larger.

Returning to the Streets

What truly matters is what we decide to do with it, the stories we choose to follow, the places we explore and the impression we leave on the people who share the journey with us.

Leaving Fujikina Madrid 2026 meant returning home with more energy, more curiosity and an even stronger desire to continue creating. It reminded us that photography is not only about producing images. It is also about attention, connection and remaining open to what happens around us.

Being invited to lead a street photography photowalk in Madrid was an honour, but seeing the enthusiasm of the participants was the real reward. Their questions, observations and desire to improve gave meaning to the entire experience.

When you spend time inside a community that shares your passion for photography, you remember that there will always be something new to learn, another street to walk, another perspective to discover and another photograph waiting to be made.

Fujikina Madrid 2026 was not simply an event about Fujifilm cameras. It was a celebration of photography as a way of seeing, sharing and understanding the world.