MadPhotowalk: Walking, Sharing, and Learning Photography in Madrid

MadPhotowalk began with a conversation between Julio Marchamalo and me, and with a concern we had both shared for quite some time.

The day we first talked about Madphotowalk.

We had seen how different cities across Spain had street photography collectives capable of bringing people together around street photography. In Madrid, however, perhaps precisely because it is the capital and because of the individualistic pace of such a large city, every photographer seemed to be walking alone.

There were photographers, workshops, exhibitions, and plenty of enthusiasm for making pictures, but we missed having a space where we could meet, share knowledge, and learn from one another without competing or holding anything back.

So we decided to join forces.

One day, we organized an open gathering in central Madrid. There was no advertising or major promotional strategy. We simply shared the invitation through our Instagram accounts, without really knowing how many people would show up.

To our surprise, fourteen Madwalkers joined us for that first gathering.

We introduced ourselves, talked about the different ways we approached street photography, and walked through the streets in two separate groups. It was a simple day, but it was also the beginning of something we had not realized we needed. More than taking photographs, we had started building a community.

Our second gathering took place during the lighting of Madrid’s Christmas decorations. That afternoon, surrounded by crowded streets, constant stimulation, and situations that were difficult to control, we talked about the importance of learning how to surf the chaos.

Street photography does not depend solely on the camera or technical knowledge. The mental side of it plays a fundamental role. You have to learn to accept the circumstances, adapt to them, and keep confusion or frustration from paralyzing you.

Since then, MadPhotowalk has become a meeting point for photography enthusiasts, amateurs, and professionals who come together with one simple intention: to share knowledge and enjoy photography alongside other people.

That was our intention from the very beginning, and it remains the essence of the collective.

Learning Without Imitating

MadPhotowalk also emerged as a response to a way of teaching photography that we have never fully identified with.

From our own experience, we have attended workshops where participants simply observe how the photographer leading the session works. They watch how that person moves, what scenes they look for, what camera they use, and how they construct their images. They then try to repeat the same formula.

The problem is that this process does not always help people discover their own voice. It often results in photographs that feel disconnected from the personality of the person making them and that only manage to resemble, on a superficial level, the work of the photographer leading the workshop.

We want to offer something different.

We do not want people to leave our activities photographing like Julio or like me. We want every participant to find their own vision, better understand the way they observe the world, and discover what they genuinely have to contribute through their images.

Our intention is for participants to leave with tools, questions, ideas, and new ways of approaching the street. We want them to experiment, make mistakes, and allow their creativity to come out and play.

It is not about handing people a fixed formula. It is about helping each person build their own.

Sharing What Others Once Shared With Us

Weird situations in Gran Via.

This began out of a love for the craft, a love for street photography, and a desire to contribute something to the community.

Throughout our lives, Julio and I have been fortunate enough to meet people who shared their knowledge openly, without reservations or fear. Photographers who gave us tools and lessons that, over time, helped us discover a way of photographing that remains true to who we are.

MadPhotowalk is also our way of giving back a small part of everything we received.

That is why we do not want to hold anything back during our activities. We want to speak honestly about photography, share our experiences, and support those who are just beginning or looking for new ways to develop their vision.

There is still a long road ahead.

Soon, we will announce new activities, gatherings, and projects through which we will continue making our small contribution to the development of new generations of photographers.

People who, like us, love, breathe, and live to make photographs.