Sometimes, inexplicably, you aren’t doing what you really like to do. No one knows why, but despite enjoying exercise, or seeing certain friends or taking long walks, you’re sitting still, seeing the wrong people (or no one at all) and not walking anywhere. And things are peculiarly off, like using the wrong white balance, which greens up your greys, making you look distinctly ill.
Sometimes you’re lucky, and you figure it out, and strap on your skates or cook an awesome meal or go drop a smile at Reina, who sells sopaipillas on the corner. Or you make a guy you only kind of know come over and drop off a bag at your house and wander around the neighborhood taking pictures. Upon which he immediately silently clambers up onto the top of a parking sun shield, which makes you wonder if maybe he is secretly part feline.
This is the work of graffiti artist (COAS) whose art I recognize by sight, and whose graffiti I’ve seen before (this one in Laguna Zapallar) here plastered over with some afiches (posters) in Barrio Brasil.
And then, the work of an artist I don’t know, half-hidden behind some trash at the entrance to the Barrio Universitario.
And then, continuing on with the theme that caught my eye there, the glimmering light bulb, I bring you more light.
First, from Concha y Toro (not the winery, though I will talk about them, soon!)
Then on a little pasaje off of Ricardo Cumming which I’ve never been into before, and my friend wanted to jump the gate to get out of, but eventually we got out how you normally do, by waiting for someone to open the gate for you. We had wandered in when the gate opened for someone else.
And then my favorite, on the second (or third?) floor of a building facing the Alameda right outside of the República Metro. Thanks for painting your walls red, dude.
And finally, a last one of the willing victim (and photographer, check his site here) who gamely agreed to wander and click and go on an urban nighttime photo safari. Who’s next? The view from my balcony, as you know, is excellent.
Love it!! And you’re right… gotta find time to do what we REALLY want to do… and as you know, very high up on my list is photography safaris with Eileen! So I’m all for it! And it’s been way too long since we’ve done that!
I agree with you, Eileen. I love the one with the silhouetted man against the red with the chandelier overhead.
you do what you like to do so well.
I can relate to this post. When I travel I’m obsessed with taking photos and I can barely put my camera down 🙂
Nice photos! I just moved to Santiago, and am itching to get out and take some pictures, do you feel safe walking around alone with your camera here?
There are a lot of factors that would change my answer. It really depends on you, your camera and where, more than any overarching pronouncement about whether or not it is safe. I should say that I feel very safe, and i mostly am downtown. I always carry my camera in a cross-body bag, am often on a bike, spend very little time in touristy areas, and never take the camera off my body. I think the most likely scenario involves someone snatching the cam, not confronting you. Caution is wise, but hysteria unnecessary. Maybe go out with fellow photogs the first couple of times?
I spent the past 2.5 years in Buenos Aires, so I’m used to caution and often hysterical comments from friends. I have a big SLR and yeah I always carry it in my pac safe messenger bag I also got a pac safe strap for it, so they would have to confront me to get it! I’ve only gone out with friends in BA but I just moved here so haven’t met any fellow photographers yet! Looks like the BF will have to suffer through some more safaris! Thanks!!!
There’s a Nikonista meetup group on Flickr, and a Juntas group as well, but I think they’re in Valpo. Don’t know what you shoot with, but you might find some fellow camera geeks on that front. I’m occasionally up for a safari as well (and call it that, esp when with Margaret of Cachando Chile), so that’s a possibility. But in the meantime, you can make your BF go get you a coffee. 🙂