About me
I am Cosme Lapena, a street and urban photographer based in Barcelona. I have been shooting since my teens, but for the past 25 years I have pursued photography with a deeper intensity — working the streets, the architecture, and the hidden corners of the city, always trying to refine my eye and my craft.
bCLPhoto is my online portfolio and photography blog. It is where I document what I find behind the lens: street photography from Barcelona and beyond, travel photography from cities across Europe and the world, urban architecture, reflections, and the occasional moment of unexpected beauty that stops you in your tracks.
I shoot with a Leica Q3 and a Sony a7R IV. Both go almost everywhere with me.
My passion is street photography — finding beauty in reflections, architecture, and the everyday moments that most people walk past without noticing. The street is unpredictable. That is exactly what makes it interesting.
While I am drawn to the streets of Barcelona, I also love nature photography in Catalonia, portraits, and travel photography across Europe. Cities like New York, London, Istanbul and Berlin have shaped the way I see light and people in equal measure. I rarely leave home without a camera.
What does it mean to be an "amateur" photographer?
I define myself as an amateur photographer — and I mean that in the best possible sense of the word.
For me, photography is a way to see the world through different eyes. It exercises the ability to observe and helps me notice details that previously went unseen. When I carry a camera through the streets of Barcelona, I see people, textures, and situations that would otherwise be invisible on a normal walk. It makes me feel more awake.
Beyond the art, photography improves creativity and mental well-being. To me, being an amateur means freedom — the freedom to experiment with styles, techniques, and compositions purely for the sake of curiosity and personal development, without commercial pressure.
I started this journey at 15 with a borrowed Voigtländer, wandering the streets of Barcelona. Decades later, I am still capturing those fleeting moments — the ones that, once photographed, belong to me forever. I hope to keep doing it for the rest of my life.
On this site you will find:
A portfolio organised by theme — street photography, urban architecture, reflections, photomontage, candid portraits and more.
A photography blog where I write about specific shots, locations and the stories behind the images — from the streets of Barcelona to the coastline of Ireland, from New York to the floral festival of Girona.
A monthly newsletter for anyone who shares this obsession — practical photography tips, new posts, and the occasional behind-the-scenes.
If any of this resonates with you, stay a while.
bCLPhoto is the personal photography project of Cosme Lapena, street photographer based in Barcelona, Catalonia.
Curious about my current gear or my photographic journey? Check out
and