This is my entry for the #monomad challenge.

  Subjective: From Latin subiectīvus.
  adj. Pertaining to or relating to the subject, as opposed to the external world.
 adj. Pertaining to or relating to the subject’s way of thinking or feeling, rather than to the object itself.
  adj. Cin. Adopting a character’s perspective. Subjective shot, subjective camera.

  Perception: From Latin subiectīvus.
  adj. Pertaining to or relating to the subject, as opposed to the external world.


  This is how the Royal Spanish Academy defines the terms ‘subjective’ and ‘perception’, which are closely intertwined in our interpretation of so-called objective reality. In this context, the observer takes centre stage and the initiative when interpreting the reality in which they find themselves, in order to make sense of its constitution. Reality, that is, is constituted by virtue of the interpretation that each observer makes of it. The observer wanders through a space-time reality and, through sensory experience, apprehends what surrounds them. From there, we give meaning to so-called ‘objective reality’ and, strictly speaking, if we were to take it for granted that reality is limited to our sensory capacity and our subjective elaboration so that, at this point, we ourselves formulate an interpretation of it, I mean, ‘objective reality’ would be entirely unknowable in its entirety, not because objective reality does not exist, but because what does not exist is complete access to it. We would have to consider, then, that there are no facts, but only interpretations, as it is said that he said.

  It is worth noting here that the exercise of subjectivism which we engage in constantly and unconsciously does not deny the existence of reality itself outside of us. On the contrary, such existence is acknowledged, whatever form it may take, but our understanding of it is limited by our own individual constraints: sensory, intellectual and emotional. We can know only as far as our knowledge allows us to go. The first form of knowledge we should all seek is knowledge of ourselves, our self-knowledge, for if knowledge of reality is derived from individual experience, how much more complete will both be if we know ourselves as fully as possible? To this end, we must give ourselves permission to know ourselves with courage and love. As the classic said, ‘man is the measure of all things’ (Protagoras, c. 485–411 BC). This is not to adopt a relativist stance that denies the existence of an objective reality out there, in which everything is valid or invalid at the same time; in which one can categorically assert “therefore, reality does not exist” and, consequently, we are condemned to nihilism. From our vantage point, we adopt a perspective which, whether we like it or not, is embedded within a social, historical, economic and moral context… which are indeed relative, but do not negate the possibility of an objective reality. It is simply that it is not possible to know this reality in its entirety. It is therefore argued not that relativism and subjectivism are mutually exclusive, but that they are complementary—different perspectives on the object of knowledge.

  The photographs presented here are the result of my personal experience during a morning stroll through Madrid, with my camera around my neck as I observed the world around me. How these photographs are interpreted upon viewing will depend on each viewer’s own intimate, subjective experience, and will be a unique and individual experience for everyone.

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  P.S.: If anyone has a suggestion for a title, please leave it in the comments. Many thanks.

  All photos are entirely my property (registered in the RAW metadata). Equipment used: Nikon D810, ultraviolet filter "HOYA", and PHOTOSHOP for the editing of black and white edition. This text has been translated from my native Spanish with the translator DeepL Translate.

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