Marlowe Journal

Notes from the road

Hi, I'm Anna. I'm a freelance photographer living in Lisbon, and this is where I keep notes from the road: trip write-ups, gear I actually use, and the occasional photo walk that went sideways. I post every few weeks, usually with a cup of coffee going cold next to the laptop. Have a look around, and if something here is useful, I'm glad.

Latest posts

Blog

Lisbon in November: Chasing the Soft Light

· Anna Marlowe

Most guidebooks will tell you to visit Lisbon in spring, but I'd argue that November is when the city looks its best through a lens. The sun stays low all day, which means the golden hour stretches out across the afternoon, and the tiled façades in Alfama glow in a way they simply don't in July.

I spent three mornings this month wandering the hills with a single camera and no real plan. The trick I keep relearning is to walk uphill early and downhill late: the light hits the miradouros first, and by the time you're heading back toward the river, the streets are lit sideways and everyone's shadows are long. Tram 28 is crowded at any hour, so I mostly photograph it from the side streets instead of riding it.

If you come, pack a light rain jacket and a lens cloth. Showers move through quickly, and the wet cobblestones reflect the streetlights beautifully after dark. Some of my favorite frames from this year were taken in the ten minutes after a downpour.

← Back to all posts

One Lens for a Week: Lessons from a 50mm

· Anna Marlowe

Last month I left every zoom at home and traveled with a single 50mm prime. I expected to feel limited, and for the first two days I did. I kept stepping back to fit buildings into the frame and finding there was nowhere left to step.

By day three something shifted. Instead of reaching for the widest possible view, I started looking for details: a doorway, someone's hands, a laundry line in strong light. Having only one focal length took away a decision I normally make dozens of times a day, and the photographs got calmer and more deliberate for it.

I won't pretend it suits every job. Client work still needs flexibility. But for personal trips, I'd recommend the exercise to anyone who feels stuck. It's cheap, it's humbling, and you'll learn your own habits quickly.

← Back to all posts

The Slow Train to Porto

· Anna Marlowe

I almost flew to Porto, but the train was only a few euros more and I had a free afternoon, so I booked a seat by the window. It takes about three hours, and for most of it the line runs through small towns, eucalyptus groves, and the occasional glimpse of river that makes you reach for your camera.

A few practical notes for photographers: sit on the left side heading north if you want the better views, bring a polarizing filter for the glass, and keep your bag within reach because the stops are short. I also learned that shooting through a train window works best at a fast shutter speed. Anything under 1/500 gave me soft, streaky frames.

Arriving at São Bento station is worth the trip alone. The blue-and-white tile murals in the main hall tell the story of the city, and I lost a good half hour there before I even left the platform.

← Back to all posts

About

I'm Anna Marlowe, a freelance photographer based in Lisbon. I started with a secondhand film camera about fifteen years ago and never really stopped. These days I shoot a mix of editorial work and personal travel projects, and this site is where I write about the second kind. I like quiet streets, early mornings, and cameras that are a little bit too old.

If you'd like to say hello or ask about a photo, you can email me from the contact page.

Contact

The easiest way to reach me is by email: hello@marlowejournal.net.

I read everything, but I'm often traveling, so replies can take a few days. For questions about a specific post, mentioning its title helps a lot.

Page not found

The page you were looking for doesn't exist, or it may have moved. Head back to the home page or browse the blog.