New Year's Day

Thinking about photography with a group....as we travel together, we spend time as a group and gradually dissolve daily into smaller groups wandering around Buenos Aires.  Today was beautiful again, sunny warm and we wandered along the waterfront through parks beginning to fill with families on their day off.

Issues can arise, issues of safety, issues of personal space, interactions with the residents who call themselves "porteños". So when we photograph people, I think it is almost always better to interact with them first. Zak taught me that. Even if you don't know Spanish, just a gesture with the camera along with an "OK?" will do.  If someone says No that respect their wishes.  Today I talked to a man who said "no" after several shots were taken of him in a park. I talked to him for awhile and a simple "Feliz Año" and a short explanation of our group suddenly made us best friends, with a little help from his wife pulling on his shirt and asking him to calm down. There was liquor involved; almost everyone today was hung over ("crudo") in Spanish. He had me photograph his tattoo, then his V sign. I gave him a few pesos ( 1 peso is about a quarter). We saw him later; he wanted to be photographed again. He called us friends. It all works out.

Later, we found a footrace going on, especially designed for hung-over runners, complete with awards. I admired this man's car, he had just run the race and was then polishing his car. He loves his car, and he is 70 years old and in great shape. Agustin.

Then we walked into the city center, hungry, and everything is closed today! No markets, no restaurants. So, back to the park where the waterfront was lined with street vendors with grills ( parillas).

Dinner and Tango show tonight! Tomorrow, a parade and street fair in our neighborhood. Then our first critique in the evening. We each print 3 or 4 images, and we talk about them.