A Week Of Street Photography In Lisbon
My First International Trip with the Fujifilm X-T5
Back in September, I took my first international photography trip to Lisbon, Portugal, with two close friends, Faizal and Matej. As a street photographer who's always been drawn to the charm of European cities, Lisbon had been on my radar for years. After spending six days exploring its winding streets, I’m excited to share my experiences and thoughts, especially as I put the Fujifilm X-T5 to the test.
Why Lisbon?
Lisbon is a city bursting with inspiration for photographers, especially those of us into street photography. Its mixture of old-world charm, colorful architecture, and lively urban scenes made it a dream location. I had my sights set on photographing Lisbon after being inspired by some incredible street photography coming out of the city. So, when the opportunity came to finally visit, I didn’t hesitate.
For Faizal and Matej, international travel was nothing new. But for me, this was my first time leaving the U.S. The thrill of stepping into a new country was exhilarating, and I didn't want to put any pressure on myself to capture "perfect" shots. Instead, I let the city guide me and soaked in every moment—camera in hand, of course.
The Gear: Fujifilm X-T5
On this trip, I was excited to try out the Fujifilm X-T5, a camera I’ve recently added to my bag after using the X-T3 for years. The X-T5 brings a 40MP sensor, in-body stabilization, and a lightweight design that was perfect for long days of street photography. I captured over a terabyte of content during our 11 days in Portugal, with more than half of that coming from Lisbon alone. Despite my initial hesitation about the X-T5's lighter build, it handled the rough conditions of street photography without any hiccups. From dawn to dusk, this camera performed like a champ.
Day 1: The Streets of Lisbon
Our trip kicked off with a red-eye flight into Portugal. After meeting Faizal at the airport and grabbing coffee, we headed straight to our Airbnb, where we barely dropped our bags before hitting the streets. I didn’t have any concrete photography goals that first day—I just wanted to feel out the city and take in the new surroundings. We wandered through the city's neighborhoods, stopping for a quick snack of pastel de nata, Portugal’s famous custard tarts.
I had done some research before the trip and saved a few key locations to check out, thanks to tips from friends like Michael Boegle (shoutout to him!). That mix of planned stops and spontaneous wandering helped me find unique shots in the city's vibrant streets. For travel photographers, I recommend combining research with on-the-fly exploration. Some of my best shots came from simply roaming and letting the city surprise me.
Exploring Lisbon's Light on Day 2
One of my non-negotiables on any photography trip is shooting in various lighting conditions. While my friends slept in, I woke up early on day two to catch the soft morning light in the neighborhood near our Airbnb. The X-T5 really shines in low-light conditions, and I was able to capture some gorgeous, atmospheric shots before meeting up with Faizal and Matej.
Later that day, we explored Príncipe Real, a neighborhood Faizal recommended. It was a photographer's dream, with colorful buildings and great textures for street shots. One of our highlights was visiting Castelo de São Jorge—a spot on my list that definitely lived up to the hype.
Breaking Out of My Comfort Zone on Day 3
By the third day, I started to feel more at home shooting street photography in Lisbon. That said, Lisbon's streets pushed me to step outside my usual New York City style. The city’s architecture, old-school trams, and vibrant culture were vastly different from what I was used to, which forced me to take a more abstract, architectural approach to my shots. The X-T5 handled everything I threw at it, from fast-paced street moments to detailed compositions of the city’s stunning structures.
Taking a Breather on Day 4: Alfama’s Charm
After several days of nonstop shooting, I finally hit a wall on day four and took a much-needed rest. We had originally planned to visit Cascais that day but postponed it due to windy weather. Instead, we opted for a slower-paced day in Lisbon and spent time wandering through the Alfama district.
Alfama was one of my favorite neighborhoods in Lisbon. It felt raw and authentic, unlike other more tourist-heavy areas. The maze-like streets and steep staircases reminded me a bit of neighborhoods back home in Boston, like the North End. As tired as I was, I still managed to capture some of my favorite shots in this part of town.
Day 5: Cascais Day Trip & A Tease for What’s Next
Day five brought better weather, and we finally made our way to Cascais, a coastal town about 20 minutes from Lisbon. I’ll be covering that day in a separate blog post & additional Youtube video, as it was hands-down my favorite part of the trip from a photography perspective (want to give it some breathing room, and do it justice). Keep an eye out for that soon!
Day 6 – Last Full Day in Lisbon
Our final full day in Lisbon before heading to Porto had a relaxed, reflective vibe. By then, we felt like we had balanced both our researched spots and spontaneous exploration. To wrap up our time, we decided to cross the Tagus River by ferry to Almada. Since we often spend time on the water back in NYC, it felt like a fitting way to close out Lisbon. We wandered along the waterfront, soaking in the final moments of Lisbon’s evening light, a perfect end to our adventure.
Takeaways From My Trip
This journey was my first time putting the Fujifilm X-T5 through its paces for both photo and video, and I’m genuinely impressed with the results. For a deeper dive into my thoughts on the X-T5, check out the full video on my channel.
As for the trip itself, traveling through Europe was easier than expected. The challenges I anticipated—language barriers, payment issues—were minimal. However, street photography outside the U.S. felt more nerve-wracking than I imagined. But stepping out of my comfort zone was well worth it!
WHATS NEXT?
Follow me on Instagram @AVDIDIT to see more of the photos as I post them in the coming months.
I have a couple other videos about this trip coming to my Youtube Channel.
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