A couple sunset photos from La Serena, Chile.
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beach. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Monday, September 24, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Lows of Finding Photography Work in Chile
Being in a new country with no work connections, I have been forced to get creative and look far and wide for potential opportunities. The results from my online efforts have so far been less than satisfying, but I have learned a few things.
One being that using job posting sites to find photography opportunities in Chile is basically useless. There are few listings and the ones that do come up are basically rapists who have minimal value for the products they are attempting to sell. Nearly all of them specifically look for students and beginning photographers who "have a dSLR, but no experience necessary!" so that they can pay little to nothing because they know that most of these photographers are desperate or don't know any better.
Moments ago I just read one that stood out more than most. The employer was looking for students with professional cameras and professional studio lights to photograph kitchen products with the quality being "identical or better to those on Sur la Table's website." This employer very bluntly states that they expect quality that is equal or better to those who produce some of the highest quality product shots in the industry. But they intend on paying little to nothing for it. Certainly nowhere near the $1,000+ day rates that the photographer who shot the Sur la Table products got. But, the quality should still be better, obviously.
Other ads here follow a similar pattern with the majority of them being extremely vague. "Big company needs photographer for 600+ photos. Email us your rates. Beginning photographers with highest quality equipment encouraged." How are we supposed to send rates if we don't know what we are shooting, where the photos will be used or any other details? I do contact these listings and inquire about the details of the shoot, but I never receive a reply. Most likely because somebody else proposed something so insanely low they couldn't pass it up and apparently if you have a great dSLR that automatically means you can take great photos.
Now, I know the photography industry in Chile just recently beginning to develop and it's not yet widely accepted as something that deserves decent pay rates. I try to understand this as a cultural difference but sometimes it can be a little frustrating. Just like anybody looking for a job anywhere knows. I am also aware this isn't NY and I can't expect similar rates, but when companies set out with the lowest standards possible I don't even stand a chance. Not because I'm that good, just because I have self respect and know the work I produce has value. What all of these ads tell me is that there are a lot of companies out there that either don't understand what good photography is and can do for the product they just put so much capital into, or they just have no value for their product. But then again, the best opportunities aren't found in ads online anyway. All this means is that a whole lot more effort needs to be put in to find clients who do value a photographers abilities.
There aren't too many interesting photos I can post relating to job searching, so as a breath of fresh air I will post a couple beach photos instead.
One being that using job posting sites to find photography opportunities in Chile is basically useless. There are few listings and the ones that do come up are basically rapists who have minimal value for the products they are attempting to sell. Nearly all of them specifically look for students and beginning photographers who "have a dSLR, but no experience necessary!" so that they can pay little to nothing because they know that most of these photographers are desperate or don't know any better.
Moments ago I just read one that stood out more than most. The employer was looking for students with professional cameras and professional studio lights to photograph kitchen products with the quality being "identical or better to those on Sur la Table's website." This employer very bluntly states that they expect quality that is equal or better to those who produce some of the highest quality product shots in the industry. But they intend on paying little to nothing for it. Certainly nowhere near the $1,000+ day rates that the photographer who shot the Sur la Table products got. But, the quality should still be better, obviously.
Other ads here follow a similar pattern with the majority of them being extremely vague. "Big company needs photographer for 600+ photos. Email us your rates. Beginning photographers with highest quality equipment encouraged." How are we supposed to send rates if we don't know what we are shooting, where the photos will be used or any other details? I do contact these listings and inquire about the details of the shoot, but I never receive a reply. Most likely because somebody else proposed something so insanely low they couldn't pass it up and apparently if you have a great dSLR that automatically means you can take great photos.
Now, I know the photography industry in Chile just recently beginning to develop and it's not yet widely accepted as something that deserves decent pay rates. I try to understand this as a cultural difference but sometimes it can be a little frustrating. Just like anybody looking for a job anywhere knows. I am also aware this isn't NY and I can't expect similar rates, but when companies set out with the lowest standards possible I don't even stand a chance. Not because I'm that good, just because I have self respect and know the work I produce has value. What all of these ads tell me is that there are a lot of companies out there that either don't understand what good photography is and can do for the product they just put so much capital into, or they just have no value for their product. But then again, the best opportunities aren't found in ads online anyway. All this means is that a whole lot more effort needs to be put in to find clients who do value a photographers abilities.
There aren't too many interesting photos I can post relating to job searching, so as a breath of fresh air I will post a couple beach photos instead.
Iquique
Juan Lopez
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Street Dogs of South America Project
The long forgotten members of Chile, as well as many other South American countries, are the countless stray dogs wandering the streets. As a foreigner their presence is striking. They can be seen sleeping in the middle of sidewalks, begging for food outside of grocery stores and wandering in packs through side streets.
I find these untouchable, lower class citizens fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. Although I seem to be the only one. Almost everybody else ignores them and in some cases even abuses them. A small group of people treat the dogs with love and affection and take care of tiny neighborhood groups, but this is rare. Apparently it is common for dogs to be kicked to the street once they grow up and are no longer adorable and pint-size. This obviously only perpetuates the stray dog problem in Chile, along with a number of other factors.
My very first day in Chile three years ago I noticed the number of stray dogs in the streets and since then I have been photographing them whenever I can. I have photographed well over a hundred dogs in Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina in the last three years and continue to document them as an ongoing project.
I have found that street dogs are the most well behaved dogs I have ever come across. Life on the street has taught them they need to keep in line and need to get along with everyone around them if they want to eat and get by without problems. They are free to wander around and run and jump and play with others when every they want. The dogs with owners in Chile are locked up all day and seem to go a little crazy having little to no space to exercise and no contact with any other people or dogs. They also seem to be horribly misbehaved with little to no training. They bark all day and night and jump on anything and everyone that they encounter. This isn't to say life is easy for a street dog, but they do have a level of freedom and manners that most other dogs don't have.
In upcoming posts I will recount some of the more interesting experiences I have had with these dogs. For now, here are some outtakes from photographing them:
I find these untouchable, lower class citizens fascinating and thoroughly entertaining. Although I seem to be the only one. Almost everybody else ignores them and in some cases even abuses them. A small group of people treat the dogs with love and affection and take care of tiny neighborhood groups, but this is rare. Apparently it is common for dogs to be kicked to the street once they grow up and are no longer adorable and pint-size. This obviously only perpetuates the stray dog problem in Chile, along with a number of other factors.
My very first day in Chile three years ago I noticed the number of stray dogs in the streets and since then I have been photographing them whenever I can. I have photographed well over a hundred dogs in Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina in the last three years and continue to document them as an ongoing project.
I have found that street dogs are the most well behaved dogs I have ever come across. Life on the street has taught them they need to keep in line and need to get along with everyone around them if they want to eat and get by without problems. They are free to wander around and run and jump and play with others when every they want. The dogs with owners in Chile are locked up all day and seem to go a little crazy having little to no space to exercise and no contact with any other people or dogs. They also seem to be horribly misbehaved with little to no training. They bark all day and night and jump on anything and everyone that they encounter. This isn't to say life is easy for a street dog, but they do have a level of freedom and manners that most other dogs don't have.
In upcoming posts I will recount some of the more interesting experiences I have had with these dogs. For now, here are some outtakes from photographing them:
Antofagasta, Chile
Antofagasta
Antofagasta
Guanaqueros, Chile
Guanaqueros
Poor little guy is missing an eye. Probably from a fight.
Guanaqueros
Guanaqueros
To see photos from my actual photo series check out my website here: Street Dogs of South America
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Random Photos
San Pedro de Atacama backroad
Rain drops on the sunroof
Tocopilla homes
Stray dogs in Antofagasta
The Atacama
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Iquique
Tomorrow Camila and I head to San Pedro de Atacama for a few weeks. There I'll be working on a project documenting the hotels and restaurants in the area. The architecture and design is the exact opposite of anything in New York and I find it very beautiful and inspiring. The town and surrounding area are breathtaking and have a very relaxing, get back to nature sort of vibe. It is also the best place in the world to view the stars. Needless to say I'm very excited to go there.
The week before was spent in Iquique; a small desert city about 5 hours from Peru. Life here is centered around the beach and they have plenty of beautiful views of it from around the city. Iquique is backed by impressive, arid mountains and a massive sand dune creating a unique atmosphere.
View from Above
Playa Cavancha
Playa Cavancha
There are many, very large jelly fish
Apartments
Sunset from the Apartment
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Chile 2012
A new year, a new country. I've started 2012 in Chile and I will be here for an undetermined amount of time. The past three weeks have been nonstop moving and on paper it doesn't sound too bad, being that other than Santiago it was all beach towns. First was Guanaqueros, then Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, Antofagasta and tonight, Iquique. Yet, it has been more than a little tiring.
Trying to learn the butchered, Chilean version of Spanish is enough to make your head spin as well. It seems they speak little of the Spanish I learned in school. They use tons of slang, mumble, and talk mind-numbingly fast. Beyond that they also drop the s off of most words ending in s (mas o menos becomes ma or meno), which makes words I once knew just fast mumbled jargon. Some of Camila's family members speak fast enough that I assume they are making a joke at my expense, but to my surprise they all respond with no problems. I'll get it sooner or later, I hope..
Below are a few photos from my first couple weeks:
Valparaiso
Valparaiso - Reminds me of a Chilean San Francisco with even more color and character
Playa Totoralillo, 20 min north of Guanaqueros
Playa Totoralillo
Renaca - Vina del Mar
* I would have proper accents in words such as Viña del Mar and Valparaíso, but no matter what I do I can't seem to prevent the blog from awkwardly highlighting them like this...
Monday, May 2, 2011
Random Photos
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Valparaíso and Viña del Mar
After about five days in Santiago some friends suggested a day trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. I'd been told by many other travelers and friends that they were both cities that warrented a visit; especially being only an hour and a half from Santiago. Valparaíso is an eclectic port city spreading into the hills that overlook the ocean. There are many colorful, rundown buildings, many covered in graffiti on winding cobblestone streets. It is an interesting place because locals look at graffiti as a form of art and officials don't stop graffiti artists from doing there thing. Ideally I would have liked to have spent at least a few weeks exploring the area, but that wasn't an option for right now.
Valparaíso - the bay
Typical rundown streets - Cerro Concepción
Impressive street art
Cerro Concepción neighborhood
Coffe, Camila, Felipe
More street art
There were many random dogs throughout the city
Felipe, random dog, Brit
Myself looking somewhat awkward in the alley to a small restaurant famous for its chorrillana, which is a plate of french fries covered in scrambled eggs, onions and steak. Amazingly tasty and equally greasy.
Chorrillana and Escudo
Valpo and Avenida España
Valparaíso - the bay
Typical rundown streets - Cerro Concepción
Impressive street art
Cerro Concepción neighborhood
Coffe, Camila, Felipe
More street art
There were many random dogs throughout the city
Felipe, random dog, Brit
Myself looking somewhat awkward in the alley to a small restaurant famous for its chorrillana, which is a plate of french fries covered in scrambled eggs, onions and steak. Amazingly tasty and equally greasy.
Chorrillana and Escudo
Valpo and Avenida EspañaJust north of Valparaíso is Viña del Mar which is a more upscale, resort town with many high rise condos, bars, restaurants and beaches.
The coast and Valparaíso
Condos
Reñaca Beach - And so begins the Coffe Show
It seemed like a good idea at the time...
At least he tried
The coast and Valparaíso
Condos
Reñaca Beach - And so begins the Coffe Show
It seemed like a good idea at the time...
At least he tried
Reñaca Beach condos
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