photoblog_de_paz

on the way to lares:ie: finally made it

2009-02-21T13:40:00.008-06:00

there was a 2 1/2 image of the bogs in a previous post. they were quite fun to walk on! how'd we discover lares: well, brian had been there first, mentioned the drive and the hot springs...and how beautiful they were (which they were).

i can't remember if i've said this stuff before...but i (mom and i) ended up doing this trip twice -- once w/ mini-bus, once w/ josh & beth. on one hand, going to the same place twice may have seemed a bit much, but it was almost like i got to scout out the location the first time, then shoot aaaaaaaall (well, not all, but certainly more of) the extra bits i had missed the second.

soooooooo, the first time we saw the bogs (mini-bus trip), we just drove past, no stopping, no playing. but the second, well, there really didn't seem to be much of a choice! we were curious about them, i wanted to photograph them, so we found a safe place to walk down (lots of crushed up rock and stone, ie: good places to fall and hurt yourself).

minus the fact that the second proof is a bit dark, the whole place was just amazing!! the individual tufts seemed like rough spongy moss, one could be a bit more firm,while the next could have easily sunk into the water mix. in ways, i could see myself backpacking, just following various trails (camera in tow), photographing the landscapes. such beauty, and so many wonderful scenes to capture. the phrase, "so much to do, so little time" was unbearably true, and it was also a reminder of how important it is to know another language! (grrrrrr, bad me).

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below, images a stone's throw away from the actual hot springs. for some reason i didn't scan in some of the images associated w/ 'lares', and i think it was b/c i didn't have journals completely written. later while scanning, i realized that was quite a few photos, so i started scanning them all...not sure why i forgot to come back to these ones...not that you even needed to hear that part! sometime (today, maybe), i'll make sure to go back and just get them in so that i can show you!!

above: there's another variation of the river/water floating around...i think it falls in the category of things i didn't journal so didn't scan. will include in later post!

on the way to lares:creatures, creatures, w/ a side 'a bogs

2009-02-18T13:27:00.000-06:00

text to come at a later date...

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on the way to lares:jungle detour

2009-02-17T13:26:00.001-06:00

pictures first...so the words that follow won't sidetrack viewing the images. below, various holga pans taken while on the bus. (this holga link goes to wikipedia...the previous link on the previous blog went to the lomography website > holga section)

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the first trip to lares included a mini-bus ride to an area of jungle, where we would go on a (mostly) downhill 3+/- hr bike ride. my ride only lasted 20 minutes, b/c...well, i lost common sense while taking a turn, and decided to jump off of the bike, instead of applying breaks. oops!

sparing those who have yet to hear the story in it's entirety...lets just say it was a bit painful, i experienced my first whole/partial concussion (thank you helmet for saving my brain), and w/out too many details-- parts of my body that should never ever be black/blue....were.

jumping off a bike while taking a turn, downhill...not recommended!

and in case you didn't already know, once you've had your first concussion, it'll happen easier the next time.

(thank you carrie for that bit 'o info).

on the way to lares:the cloud forest

2009-02-13T10:01:00.010-06:00

clockwise from the front left: javier (pablo from the short), mila/mom, chete (w/ the two hands up. pablo from the movie), claire, merje, dan, me, pj, enier, russ, kelly (taking the picture). below: our very awesome bus driver man.

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...we stopped in a town to stretch our feet & take a pee...it was extremely cloudy (foggy) w/ a bit of a drizzle, and it was surprisingly bright.

mom was hungry, so she at w/ the boys...no, not these guys (below: locals), they were just hanging out in the "restaurant". she had some crazy soup concoction w/ javier, chete, enier, and the driver.

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above: this image could probably be put w/ those that are closer to lares, however, technically we're still in cloud forest, and aside from me telling you this, you may not otherwise know. hehehe.

sidenote: the white/discolored effect on the top/btm are due to the film being overexposed. light leaks are a typical occurrence when using a holga (plastic camera). they're super fun to use and create a "dreamlike" quality. and apparently, they come in fun new colors (black is out, bright orange...in!)

JOURNAL DATE:nov. 13th, 2008

2009-02-12T09:07:00.016-06:00

RUINS of

Sacsayhuamán

15 min tico [taxi] ride/cusco....or, +/- 20-45 min walk

(depends on how you acclimated to the altitude, it's an upward hike)

sadly so, i'm pretty sure that most of these images were shot rapid-fire! the journal entry above talks about my travels to the site, however, once we went inside and the crew began filming, i was a bit overwhelmed (the history surrounding the incan structure, and the immense size of them all...the precision, etc...gaaaaga!).

i really had no idea where to start, so this image was more/less taken to document the size of it all (and to get that first image out of my system)...that, and to give an idea of how close the city/ruins are to one another. (behind the site, you can faintly see the words "viva el peru" to show proximity).

also, i'm fairly certain that the images below were all shot after lunch, which, left me w/ 3-4 hrs. of shooting after i unloaded/reloaded my film holders...if i could do it again, i would've brought a bunch of power bars/water and trudged through it all, no lunch...just photographing (photography = food, right?).

additionally, w/in that 3-4 hr time frame, i also did 2 setups w/ the main actors to be used for potential poster/promotional purposes....i was scrunched for time! will post those images a little later.

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in respect to journal-ling...this is the part where i need to write stuff down. the journal pages that accompany the following images are pretty sparse, minus the shooting/tech info; which i've included for your entertainment! (once i jot down the thoughts in my head from the trip/photos...i'll scan in the pages & update this section!).

oh, and i'm not sure if i mentioned it before, but whenever multiple images from the journal are posted, they're done so chronologically...that's the least i can do w/ the organization of the whole thing! if only i would have cited times, weather conditions, mental state...lol.

sorry for the inconvenience!! (it'll happen a few more times)

another reminder: images w/ hash marks indicate square images. the lower of the markings is more exact to the actual negative...initial markings were due to my laziness in not marking my camera, and guestimating where "square" would be...oops!

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135mm lens

square vertical

f8, 1/125 f8, 1/125

f11, 1/125 f8 1/2, 1/125

this location is actually near where one would enter the site if they were doing that uphill climb from cusco. the sidewalk is on the opposite side of this pathway, separated by a stream and "ditchlike" incline.

people frequent the paths, having just missed the perfect opportunity -- a woman walking w/ her dog (or possibly goat/llama), on the path. though it would've added a nice element, i'm ok w/ what was left...an uncertainty as to who was last there, and when that might have been. (that's what it is for me, at least).

i'm not quite sure why i kept such a close tension between the edge of the R/frame and the path, possibly b/c there was something further along that i didn't like...who knows at this point. i know i wanted to include some of the rock structures on the left...if i could do it again, i'd see what it'd look like horizontal. perhaps, i wanted just a hint of the city below...eh...

if my rants continue like this, i'll officially be copying this info into my journal...hope that wasn't a joy-kill of a statement!

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210mm lens

f6.8, 1/60

f8, 1/60

there was something about the simplicity of the wooden stakes and tattered rope that intrigued me. though, even as i was shooting, i thought, "this is not coming out the way that i wanted"...seemed like i kept adjusting the camera to get it closer to what i wanted...don't think it worked very well...that's probably why i only shot 2 frames.

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210mm lens

f8, 1/30

f8 1/2, 1/30

f11, 1/30

as i walked up and across, and down and around the ruins, i realized that certain places i wanted to photograph would be a tad difficult (esp the archway in the distance of this image. people constantly flowing in and out, getting in the way!!!) sometimes it seemed like it would take me longer to wait for people to exit the frame, then it would to actually setup & take the image. anyway...

while walking around the site, you realize that there are quite a few areas that tourists aren't allowed to enter. the area in focus (middle/bottom) is one of those such spots. i have no clue if the space was used for protection purposes, or simply as walking paths.

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210mm lens

f6.8, 1/30

f8, 1/30

f8 1/2, 1/30

so, the image above, is sort of the compliment to the first image from this post. i don't know where exactly i was standing for the first one, but i do know it was somewhere here! at the time, i couldn't stand the people in the bottom/left corner, so in the actual image, the frame is moved slight right (where the red hash mark is above the image), and i guess i waited for them to move! i do know that there are a few people tucked away in the photograph, but they're either blurred, or so tiny that they're hardly recognizable.

later, near the end of filming, i finally got a chance to experience more of peru, and man...i tell ya...the mountains and country-landscape just go on, and on, and on. it's absolutely beautiful. cusco is actually near/part of the sacred valley -- know for its fertile lands, numerous villages, and countless archeological remains.

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this was one of those spaces that was hard to photograph, more-so, b/c there was a constant flow of people encroaching the frame! ironically enough, by the time i got here, the crew came round and wanted to film it too!! lighting conditions made it a little stressful, in that i was rushed to finish taking the pic.

while positioning the camera, my main objective was to exclude the small square (bottom left)...it houses a small light used at night, and i just couldn't stand the little thing. now, i wish i had taken a single bracket full frame: 1, b/c, now, i like seeing the whole thing; 2, b/c i like how the (btm right corner) darkens up...next time.

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135mm lens

square

f8, 1/2

f8 1/2, 1/2

um, last image of the night...very much taken at dusk! this set of stairs is the same one seen two images above. not sure how i feel about the image in general, but i do know that if i could change it, id' raise the frame up and over left a smidge, do a bracket w/ the silhouettes at the top, and some how have only the slow moving woman in the frame. as is, the actual negs are void of people (i think...might have silhouettes at the top, not 100% sure...will check contact prints).

must go, but will proof and add more later.

more (mostly) b/w:cusco

2009-02-10T17:37:00.001-06:00

above/below: part of the view from the mudbrick house.

the smallest tree in the distance (about centered, just below the clouds) gave me a burst of energy everytime i saw it. the colors were just so fun...a roofline speckled w/ vividly painted walls. almost seems like it could be animate...at least, in my head!

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above/below: two different views of the plaza de armas. (like i said in a previous blog...protest happy people). but, they're calm experiences, a lot of marching. these particular people weren't too happy w/ the current president.

a postcards rest on the bench (in the main plaza locals are restricted from selling their goods); identical benches line the walkways leading to central element; these metal-railed-green-wood-backed benches, large patches of grass, and well manicured flower beds surround a forest green fountain, white swans spewing water; tourists wandering about; possibly oblivious to the two flags waving every direction -- the cusco flag (rainbow horiz. stripes) and the peruvian flag; w/ one of the main cathedrals posing as the backdrop in the image below.

it's a beautiful view, regardless of what goes on daily...

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above: after school, janet takes turns w/ her three sisters, selling the jewelry & art her parents/uncle have made...making sure to greet every familiar face that passes by.

JOURNAL DATE:nov. 1st, 2008

2009-02-10T11:00:00.003-06:00

one thing you realize about cusco, is that there are sooooooo many hidden places that you walk by w/out even knowing they're there. my curious nature (/boredom during pre-shooting one day) lead to finding this particular space.

typically doors that you see > lead to open spaces that you're unaware even exist.

maybe next time i'll do a sub-project -- a series, documenting "hidden" courtyard spaces in the city.

JOURNAL DATE:oct. 31st, 2008

2009-02-09T11:00:00.006-06:00

one of many

(working title)

fútbol en peru

(working title)

comments about above image begin on facing page (R pg),

then continue behind the image (L pg).

the top two images are ones that i'll probably use for future purposes.

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the bottom two were not documented w/ film (only the polaroid you see here).

read the journal entries to learn more about the images.

above: images

below: corresponding journal entries.

misc fun pics:locations vary

2009-02-08T13:14:00.008-06:00

above: um, not much to say...hehehe...we celebrated halloween early...i dressed up like josh! the funny part, is the fake beard, well, it was pretty hard to find. not too many salon shops w/ wigs...thus, when this one was found (it was a beard, mustache, shoulder length hair set) we took it, even though the hair was red-ish. sidenote: i love my family!

above: my first trip outside of cusco w/ some of the limeños! pancho & sylvia, gargula, lolo, and myself. it was a pretty cramped drive...one in the front, 4 in the back! we stopped here for the view...what we found out, was that though the view was amazing (typically the snow covered mnts in the bkgrnd are covered by clouds), it was also quite windy/chilly.

above: this is near where the journal entry from yesterday took place. that's chaufa (human) and kucho (kick ass dog, english staffordshire). breathtaking, to be so close to the city, but not feel any of its restraints. i loved coming out here.

above: a detail shot of a hot spring in the town, aguas caliente. aguas is the town travelers must stay in to get to machu picchu. the town itself, has a concrete feeling to it, seeing as they're continuously expanding to make space available for the hungry machu seeking tourists! anyway, according to claire and the girls (and what i observed) not the cleanest looking spring. of course, we had been to the springs in lares, and that was unbelievably beautiful.

anyway, i thought this little bird thing was kind of amusing, so i took a picture of him.

sidenote: i tried finding a good picture of the place, but they all seem to be on random flickr sites (and not very good). i should stop giving you info on the place, seeing as i'll be posting image of the place a little bit later. :)

above: on wayna picchu (the big mnt. in the typical postcard bkgrnd of machu picchu), it takes about 1-1 1/2 hrs to hike up there, and it's not for just young people! there was an extreme variety of people (shapes/sizes/ages) inching their way to the top.

helpful hint 1: if you go to machu picchu...make sure to take the earliest bus, b/c that's when you get the coolest view of the place. (the clouds rise in the morning, and it looks like super fast moving fog!).

helpful hint 2: also, go up wayna picchu as soon as you can, b/c 1: they only allow 400 people up the mnt (conservation purposes); and 2: if you go later in the day, it can be hotter, and then it's just a bit unpleasant.

JOURNAL DATE:oct. 25th, 2008

2009-02-06T01:06:00.002-06:00

one thing worth noting...while viewing the large format work (work posted in "journal form"). if the image has "hash" marks on the left&right side (where the paper lining is), the it means it'll be a square. on the pg w/ the text, it'll also give you a designation, if you look on the upper right side/pg. (ie: shapes resembling a square, are a square image...vertical/horizontal squares are labeled also)

both entries done the same day. feel free to click on the written page to read more about the image and/or location.

a splash of color from cusco

2009-02-05T22:19:00.005-06:00

above: lots of stray dogs in cusco. don't be surprised when you see more dogs (or animals, in general) in my photos!!! hehehe.

above: so, it may seem like nothing, but let me do an image/geographical breakdown for ya...we are a fair distance, above the main plaza (and the majority of the city). the altitude in cusco, is roughly 11,203 ft...that may mean nothing, but let's do some comparisons...

cusco is about double the altitude of denver...

better idea of how altitude effects people...here, in southern illinois (my place of longtime living), it's REALLY easy to walk up 2 flights of stairs...in cusco, it's f'in hard to walk up 1!

yeah, yeah, yeah, that's nothing, w/ the exception that these guys, above, are friggin' playing a soccer game. let me tell you, if walking up a flight of steps is hard, i can't even imagine how quickly my wee heart would explode if i had actually played w/ those guys while i was there!

above: a common sight, this little girl is one of many who wanders the streets, looking for someone to take un foto. usually, these kids dress in native attire, and are accompanied by baby goats or llamas (they're easier to carry); as well as friends who are similarly dressed.

after taking their photograph, it's typical to pay un sol por un foto, for their service, unless there are multiple people in the image, then it's un sol/person. (1 sol = 33 cents).

today, there had been a protest (something that occurs often in the city)...unfortunately it began to rain during the best part of the march -- the people were burning a full size dummy that resembled the peruvian president (they were comparing him to former-president bush). though that last bit has little to do w/ rain, it's a fun sidenote!

oh yeah, this is the plaza de armas (the main plaza), and this is what it looks like wet! (them stones is slippery, don't lett'em fool ya! ie: crocs are bad shoes to have when this happens!).

francisco, a remarkably kind hearted man, who not only sells beautiful textiles around town, also spends time as a shaman.

(insert me knowing more about shaman's and shaman rituals here)

actually, i lied, the one we had done, a despacho -- it's an offering, used as a way to cleanse the space in which you live, and to ask for good blessings for future goals/projects/life plans/etc).

some b/w holga:cusco

2009-02-02T01:26:00.001-06:00

preface. these image were scanned on a contact sheet, cropped down to individual image size, mildly contrasted, etc. they're rough, and just to give you an idea of some of the things i shot w/ the non pocket view cameras. i think all of the ones below are holga happiness photos!! (hehehehe) - enjoy

above: william (or well...i don't know how to spell his "nickname", but it wasn't very nice...i think the other boys were just jealous b/c he was in school, working hard, smart, and still had a bit of an innocence to him). we were in the plaza san blas, 2nd to last day in peru...sitting in the shade of a tree, watching two kids play.

THIS RANT is in reference to the image above

i was given a hard time for the 4x5 image i was trying to take...apparently, foreigners aren't supposed to know that "real" homeless/drunk people fall asleep on benches in the plaza de armas...yeah, that happens to be the main square in cusco...

setting up my camera made me a target for the municipal. big and bulky, easier to spot then a quick fire camera (analog/digital, didn't matter)..i was almost instantly approached, asking if i was taking pictures of the man or the church...having been in the area for almost 2 months, i was fed up w/ certain things, and replied as best i could (w/ broke spanish) that if it were a digital camera he wouldn't even notice....i was pissed...it was fun though, b/c a gentleman who spoke english tried to tell the guy what i was saying, but i'm not sure if it helped.

once i walked away from taking the man's photo (got a proof in though), the authorities questioned him. an undercover cop and one dressed in standard attire. he (the undercover cop) ended up returning to me (at this point, i had transitioned to a new location, but still w/in sight, maybe 50 feet away)...the man comes over and asks in choppy english, "will you be having an exhibition of your work? ... can i see what you have taken pictures of?"

now, realize, that i could have easily said, fuck of, i'm a tourist asshole, NO! ...but i didn't, instead, i showed him 3 proofs, opting not to show him the one i had just captured (it was dark anyway). after double checking to make sure i hadn't take anymore, he "didn't like", left me be...i might print the image out of spite, but i'm undecided right now.

i was really pissed though, especially after having learned the loop holes people have to go through just to become municipals! here, you can be fat, skinny, black, white, whatever and become a cop...in cusco, there are steps you have to take... #1 pay lots of money (not sure amount....possibly 500 soles [divide by 3 to get american equivalent]) to take a test; #2 if you pass, make sure you don't have any visible scars (or you're out), #3 make sure you have good teeth (or you're out)...oh, and having lighter skin might have been a preference too. a very shitty thing.

above and below: images taken the day of a protest...protest = very common in cusco. if people are unhappy about something, they share it w/ the town and the tourists!!! the woman above, in her bag/satch, you should be able to see it, but she's carrying a baby goat/llama...perfect photo op! many women and children will dress up, typically w/ llamas or baby goats, and if a tourist wants/takes their picture, they'll ask for money...sorry, i hope you're not offended if i stole me this one!

things to change...

2009-02-01T02:09:00.002-06:00

ok, so yes, this is my first blog, so humor me.

1. i need to re-arrange it so that the two pages are facing one another (right next to one another).

2. also, must work on text layout & the second image may not link to a larger version...gonna figure out why.

thanks everyone!

JOURNAL DATE:oct. 12st, 2008

2009-02-01T01:53:00.016-06:00

alright, so here goes! this was my first 4x5 image made in peru. it was a pre-production day at the mudbrick house (we added an addition to the existing space to make it look a smidge bigger). i had been there before, but this was my first time bringing the pocketview out of it's previous shelter...my luggage bags.

so yeah, i had the mini-4x5, called a pocketview, www.petergowland.com/camera, and took a very simple image of cusco w/ the "viva cusco" etched into the mnts.

feel free to select the text pg. for more details!!

to update:i was in peru for 2 months

2009-01-31T12:50:00.000-06:00

ok, so my brother josh was finally able to create/film his first feature length film....in peru! he was kind enough to ask me if i'd like to come along for the trip/journey, and my response was "f yeah!"

to find out more about the film "postales" follow the link below:

www.chicleypostales.blogspot.com

to learn about other projects josh has worked on:

www.lofuproductions.com

once i returned, i had a difficult time communicating my travels w/ people. the trip, truly was, a life experience, and in being true to myself, i could only include honesty feedback: my exchanges w/ locals, desires to have done better in spanish class, a rejuvenation of self, a disgust w/ how we, in developing worlds live, the lack of connection we have w/ our environment - desensitized, detached, etc.

as many of you know (who've i've talked w/), i was finally able to gain the life experience that agreed w/ my life perspective...and even though it doesn't paint the most pleasant generalization of our country/western world, it was refreshing to have experienced it. more importantly, in talking w/ people, it was invigorating to see that there ARE others out there who agree/understand where i'm coming from, and that, i find encouraging.

though i've begun chatting w/ people about the emotional experience, it's hard to show the photographic one...so, though it's been almost 2 months since i got back, i'd like to share my photography adventures/journal w/ you.

enjoy.

first blog...

2008-12-22T14:20:00.000-06:00

...promise to add more...

it's a start...once the blog has been established...the website will get going too!