La fotografía en España

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About this article

Level A2 Reading focus

What you'll learn

photography, art, technology, photography history

Article about photography development in Spain from 19th century to present. For A2 level learners. Teaches vocabulary about photography, art and technology.

After reading

Article learning block

Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.

16 items

Phrases for training

Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.

La fotografía es un arte relativamente nuevo en España

new

Photography is a relatively new art in Spain

Explanation: ser + art classifies things. Relativamente nuevo is a comparative expression.

Useful for describing art and its cultural significance.

han capturado la vida y la cultura del país

new

have captured the life and culture of the country

Verb han capturado is Present Perfect. Used for actions started in the past and relevant now.

Useful for describing photographers contributions.

Los primeros fotógrafos españoles comenzaron su trabajo en la década de 1840

new

The first Spanish photographers began their work in the 1840s

Verb comenzaron is Pretérito Indefinido, regular -ar verb in preterite.

Useful for describing historical events.

viajaron por el país capturando la vida rural

new

traveled around the country capturing rural life

Verb viajaron is Pretérito Indefinido. Gerund capturando forms a present participle phrase.

Useful for describing travel and documentary work.

Sus fotografías son hoy un documento histórico muy valioso

new

are today a very valuable historical document

Expression son hoy emphasizes the current relevance and value of their work.

Useful for evaluating cultural figures contributions.

mostrar su trabajo y encontrar clientes

new

to show their work and find clients

Infinitive phrase after para shows purpose. Utilizan is present tense for habits.

Useful for talking about social media and career.

Key words

Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.

daguerreotypes

daguerrotipos

daguerreotypes

Daguerreotype — an early photography method (19th c.), named after Daguerre. Spanish plural: daguerrotipos.

Essential term for understanding photography history.

portraits

retratos

portraits

Retrato = image of a person. Retratos de familias = family portraits. From verb retratar (to portray).

Basic vocabulary for describing photography and art.

documentary photography

fotografía documental

documentary photography

Documentary photography = style that records real events and phenomena.

Important term for understanding photography genres.

urban counterculture

contracultura urbana

urban counterculture

Counterculture = movement opposing dominant culture. Urbana = urban/city-based. Compound expression.

Expands vocabulary for discussing contemporary art.

social networks

redes sociales

social networks

Social networks = platforms for communication and content sharing. Always plural in Spanish.

Modern vocabulary for career and digital culture.

editing

edición

editing

Photo editing = image processing. From editar. Also editado as past participle.

Important for understanding a photographers workflow.

Grammar in context

Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.

Present Perfect: han + participle

han capturado

Verb capturar in Present Perfect: han capturado. Formula: haber (conjugated) + past participle. Used for past actions with present result.

Learn present perfect to describe photographers contributions.

Pretérito Indefinido: Comenzaron

comenzaron

Verb comenzar in Pretérito Indefinido for 3rd person plural: comenzaron. Regular -ar verb, same form for all singular and 3rd plural persons.

Learn preterite for dates and historical events.

Pretérito Indefinido: Viajaron

viajaron

viajar

Verb viajar in Pretérito Indefinido: viajaron. Regular -ar verb, typical paradigm.

Learn preterite for describing travels and expeditions.

Connector: aunque (although)

aunque no eran españoles

Aunque is a subordinate conjunction for contrast. Used with indicative for real facts.