Palermo

Yes, we get tired, we walk a lot. We walk into neighborhoods without any idea of what we are going to see. Plaermo is full of young people, college  students, dogs, drunks, elderly women with red or silver hair. It feels very European. It is full of trees. It is part funky shops and part high-end botiques. We just wandered around, heading for a plaza or a park.


We talk to strangers, we make friends and meet entire families.we engage residents in political discussions, we admire their dogs and their children and we tell them about California. We ask what life is like in Buenos Aires.  We explore and discover; it is truly an adventure. We poke our cameras into doors and windows. We look just like tourists with our packs and our bags and our maps. We can't help it.

Critique

We had our first critique on Sunday evening. A required part of this traveling class, we each had printed 3 to 5 images and put up our favorite 3.  We all talk about the images and take turns discussing each person's work. It is amazing how  a group like this can all go to the same place and see such different things, and that one of the main benefits of having a critique, along with feedback on technical issues that appear.

For example, we are dealing with some harsh, high contrast lighting situations due to the bright sun on most days. Getting a good exposure with bright highlights and dark shadows requires some rapid decision making and knowledge of camera controls.

We also discover great images and new ideas from our fellow travelers, get feedback about our own vision and the direction we are going photographically, with help from Zak along the way.

San Telmo Street Fair

We stayed in our own neighborhood for the Sunday antique fair. One of the main streets in the district was close along with some side streets. The little plaza filled with antique vendors and the streets with arts and crafts and some junk. Lots of people. Street Artists.  Camera in hand, I couldn't pass up a classic.

Tango Shoes

Last night was the best dance party ever! Zak went way out of his way to find us a real Tango scene, and it was the best! We left in a bus and traveled across town to the district of Palermo, to the north. We stopped in front of this darkened office building, went in and down to the basement into what was a neighborhood dance hall. We were, of course, early, nothing really gets going until 10 or 11 or later, but the place soon filled with people, young and old, and ready to dance! The music was 50's American R&R, and these dancers were experts, straight off of Dancing with the Stars, or at least the best of American Bandstand. Then the lessons began. The floor was divided into 3 sections, with the beginners at one end and the experts at the other.  Lessons were had. I was a drop-out as soon as it got complicated, but it was great to watch and capture the experts on film.

Dinner was served. Wine was served. Mojitos were served! Great Mojitos!

 At 11 PM, The tango instructors were introduced with a sort of progressive dance that was incredible. What an art form! Beautiful men and women, really dressed up; dramatic, haunting music. A real local scene, not a tourist tango show, except for us tourists shooting 100's of pictures.

We sang Auld Lang Syne on the way home because we had failed to do so at 5 AM when it was New Year's in California.

Next up, a San Telmo street fair and our first critique. Then a train ride to Tigre in the delta of the Río de la Plata. A little nature.

Summer!

Cherries, Peaches, Fresh Tomatoes, Watermelon, etc.! Yum!

I Almost Forgot!

We found a beautiful old coffin-cart in the cemetery. I needed a rest!

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.