Michelle Chaplow 30 years documenting Andalucia |
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Contributor Spotlight : 30 Years Behind the Lens
By Alison Cressey
A conversation with Michelle Chaplow
To mark the 30th anniversary of Andalucia.com, we are revisiting the archives and speaking to the individuals who have shaped the website’s core values of authority, independence, and depth. In this edition, we sit down with Michelle Chaplow, its leading visual contributor and a true pioneer in documenting Southern Spain for over three decades.
Michelle has studied photography at Seville University, The Contemporary Art Museum in Malaga and the MoMA in New York.
Her three decades of living in Andalucia and her uncompromising commitment to journalistic depth have made her an expert visual chronicler.
Q: Michelle, for 30 years, your lens has captured the essence of Southern Spain. When you look back at your vast archive, is there one image that you feel perfectly encapsulates the website’s 30-year mission?
"The real soul of Andalucía isn’t found in a pose; it lives in the quiet, in-between moments. This image which I titled "The Flirt of Cazorla" has always been one of my favourite photographs. Taken 30 years ago, it perfectly fulfils our aim: sharing moments of local life in every corner of Andalucia.
 The story is so good even the donkey seems intrigued © Michelle Chaplow |
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It’s a candid street photograph taken in Cazorla, a town in Jaén province. I was walking toward the main square when I noticed a scene unfolding before me: two old friends in conversation, laughing together. The man was standing beside his donkey, and the woman had just stepped into the street, still wearing her apron. There was something playful, almost flirtatious, in their exchange. They were completely absorbed in the moment, oblivious to the camera.
I didn’t intrude; I simply observed and captured them together — natural, warm and spontaneous.
To me, that image represents everything that Andalucia.com stands for: human connection, the quiet joy of discovering rural communities, the authentic, unhurried rhythm of life that defines the less visited parts of Andalucía."
Q: You have witnessed quite a profound transformation of Andalucia since 1996. While some aspects have changed radically - technology has advanced exponentially, and building projects have changed the coast - the region's inland areas have been less impacted. Can you share a specific example of where your photography proves that tradition has stood the test of time?
"Without a doubt, the Sevilla Feria. I first covered this remarkable event in the 1990s - it’s a masterclass in culture that is unfailingly consistent. Looking at these archive photographs, the contrast with today is fascinating: the black and white shot of the woman in the frilly-sleeved dress is a perfect time capsule of 1996.
 Dancing sevillanas in Plaza de España, Seville. 1996 © Michelle Chaplow © Michelle Chaplow |
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If I were to capture that same moment in 2026, the aesthetic, the fashion of the flamenca dress and accessories would have shifted, but the basic premise of the dress – fitted top, tiered skirt - and the sevillana dance would still be the same. Style is seasonal; tradition is timeless.”
 Trends in flamenca dress sleeves, jewellery, and hair accessories from 1996 |
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Q: In an era of AI-generated content, can your in-depth knowledge of the region give your readers the upper hand?
"Photographs have the power to ‘take you there’, and we can guide our readers to the most revealing, engaging photos which will enable them to have an authentic view of Andalucía. My 30-year footprint is an archive, but also a filter. I am not sending you a Top Ten list compiled by an AI algorithm. I am sending you to off-the-beaten-path places like Zuheros, a hill town deep in the Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas of Córdoba, when the almond blossoms are out. I remember taking this photo, directly into the late afternoon sun,contraluzas it is known in Spanish. The soft, golden evening light here in Andalucia is just magical.
When you see our recommendations or photographs, you’re not looking at a passing social media trend or a commercially-driven suggestion. You’re experiencing the distilled library of first-hand knowledge that Andalucia.com has carefully built and refined over three decades."
 Almond blossom on a spring evening in Zuheros (Cordoba). © Michelle Chaplow |
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More imagery and photography anecdotes from Michelle’s 30 years at Andalucia.com to follow in the Summer Newsletter. Subscribe to the Andalucia.com Newsletter.
This page forms part of the Andalucia.com Spring 2026 Newsletter
Spring 2026 Newsletter - From Dial Up to Digital
Spring 2026 Newsletter - 30 Years of Passion - The Universal Seville Feria Survival Guide
Spring 2026 Newsletter - 30 Years of Icons - The spirit of Andalucia - Festivals
Spring 2026 Newsletter - Contributor Spotlight - 30 Years Behind the Lens