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BUENOS AIRES 2008

Some Photos from the Streets of Buenos Aires:

I am feeling very philosophical and reflective about my photography today. I am really hoping to make a career of travel photography and writing, but still formulating how to make this dream a reality. I love exploring new places and capturing little moments. I feel words can capture moments unable to be captured by camera, and the camera is a great way of supplementing or even speaking louder than the words.

It is hard for me to sum up such an amazing 3 month trip in just a few words or photos, especially when looking back on it now. I feel even more nostalgic for this vibrant place. I don't really have trouble editing other people's work, but I have a strong emotional connection to all the places I visited and moments I captured. I have found the nature of photography (or any art) is intensely personal for the photographer but to be successful you must be able to represent something of the shared human experience to your audience. So I am doing my best to edit down my experiences into something that can be part of the shared experience.

Below is a small collage of people in love. In Buenos Aires everywhere you turn there are passionate expressions love, so much more prominently than you see in the states. I have heard many theories as to why this is, but for me it was just a beautiful site to see. I was not with my loved one most of the time, so seeing this affection sometimes made my heart ache with longing and loneliness for him. It also brought me comfort to know that I had a love waiting for me. When he did finally arrive we spent a whole day making porteño style! The photo in the middle, a friend took of me because we just had to capture this couple! She suggested I make a book of all the couples. This is just the test run.

AND SOME VIDEOS de BUENOS AIRES

Most of the stuff I shot in Buenos Aires was with my little digital point and shoot. Here are a few videos I took with it.

1. Every Sunday (and most Saturdays) there is a feria de las artesanales (crafts fair) in San Telmo almost to Plaza de Mayo. This is probably the most amazing street fair I have been to thus far. I went for the first time the second month I was there, and ended up going 3 more times in less than a month. They have crafts, music, delicious Argetine food, tango dancing, and different bands. It was a delight for the senses.

Below is a short video of a Brazilian drum beat style music and dancers. You can also pay to see a band called La Bomba de Tiempo, Mondays at El Cuidad Cultural Konex. This is a great 3 hour performance with lots of dedicated fans, but I prefer the free performance, walking the streets of San Telmo. The music was infectious, and it was fun to watch while making your way down the street!

2. This is just some ambient sound of the street fair. There is no video, but you can hear birds singing, the happy chatter of people, and if you listen closely, you can even hear the drum beats off in the distance. I miss it!!

3. This is a snip-it of a Tango Show I saw at Cafe Tortoni, the oldest cafe in the city. It recently celebarted it's 150th birthday last year. I don't even know if places have existed that long here in the US. The brooklyn bridge is the only place that comes to mind. Tortoni could be equated to Sardi's in New York. Many famous writers and Tango dancers used to frequent here, the waiters wear black tie, and there are original tiffany lamps and other artifacts on display. It is a must see if you visit the city.

The tango show takes place in the basement underneath the cafe, which gives it a very nostalgic feel. The show itself is not as good as El Viejo Almacen. Tortoni's show is bit campy at points (probably to accommodate tourists), but still nice. The desserts on the other hand are to die for. I highly recommend the fresas con crema (strawberries with fresh cream), or a submarino (chocolate bar melted in steamed milk); and of course the staple Argentine dessert alfajores do not disappoint.

4. One night all the museums in the city were free, Noche de Los Museos, and let me tell you there are A LOT! I went with a few friends to the ones near where I was staying. Most of the lines were insanely long, and most museums with the lines are cheap for US currency or free anyways. We decided to go to one that was usually more expensive, and some smaller more esoteric places. One place was more like a cultural center and I think it was called the Museum of Rock, but I can't find the paper on it. When we went in, it was very small and had about 50 chairs set up for a band. They looked like they were in High School and most of the audience looked like teenage friends or families. They were pretty good though, and it was fun!

5. This video is more abstract. It's a close-up of a fountain in a park I frequented. I definitely miss the parks in Recoleta! You can hear a car horn towards the end. Only in New York can I stand the sound of horns, but this one sounds kinda nice in the distance. I really think drivers of Buenos Aires use their horns more than they use their turn signals, and definitely more than they use lanes! Some how they make it work though.

El Fin.

WALL ART IN BUENOS AIRES

So I don't know if my obsession with photographing wall art began in Buenos Aires, or I just happened to realize my love for it! I wonder what city has the most wall art/graffiti per square mile, or wall rather. I am pretty sure that Buenos Aires beats out Los Angeles in coverage. Although, I probably noticed more from walking the streets everyday, able to really SEE. In LA I am usually whizzing past walls at an alarming rate, and feel I have to make more of an effort to observe my surroundings. I wish I had made a note of where all these places are. The ones I remember, I have made note.

This one I actually saw while in the process of being painted, at the Buenos Aires Design Center in Recoleta. Now they have images on the website front page. They should have asked me for mine!

This one was in San Telmo:

These were near Palermo Hollywood:

Some I liked mostly because of the lighting or color, after all I am a photographer. Most graffiti, I was told, had some kind of anti-political message. There is a lot of political disharmony in Argentina so that is not suprising.

This one was is actually on a wall near Cementerio de la Chacarita where Carlos Gardel is burried. I couldn't find his grave. This cemetery was far less touristy than Recoleta, and I was warned not to have my camera out as most tourists are targets for theft.

This is a view of the park near el Bilblioteca Nacional in Recoleta:

This one was actually on the side of a magazine stand. Based on the Spanish I know it appears to be the blog of an artist, Un Mundo de Peces.