For everybody geting bored with my lack of posting I promise I will have lots of posts coming up (although probably not for a couple weeks still)! Between working for Nat Geo, working for Airbnb, shooting some footage for a band, writing, shooting my own photos and seeing friends and family I have had about 23 minutes to myself since I've been here. It has been exhausting but of course a good time. I have also, been eating my face off. Mostly binging on Thai food.
I'm currently at my friends apartment so I have none of my photos to post at the moment. This is officially the lamest post I have ever posted. But it is just to let everybody know that I am still alive and cooking up something good!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Random Photo - Santiago Centro
This is a photo taken from Cerro Santa Lucia looking west towards Santiago Centro.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Heading to NY
This Thursday I'm heading back to NY for a few weeks to work my ass off, see family and friends and indulge in all of the things I can't get down here. Of course I'm talking about eating. Thai, burgers, real Italian, Mexican, pizza, Indian... I am going to eat my face off and it is going to be awesome.
Anyway, leaving Chile and heading back to NY is bringing up some mixed feelings. Of course I'm excited to see my family and friends and I'm excited to get back to NYC for a short while, but just as much I'm upset to be leaving Camila and Chile. It always seems that even when I try to settle down in one place I still manage to bounce around a little.
I'm also, strangely enough, very excited to work. Anybody between jobs or any freelancers know that if you have periods of little to no work, when you finally get some you are stoked to go back. I'm not saying I'm without work here. It's just the pay here is so low that it feels like I'm practically working for free, so making some decent money is oh so appealing. It also doesn't hurt that I'm going to be working on a TV show for National Geographic. Even though it's not my dream job, it is still for my dream company, so it's a step in the right direction. I'll also have some photography assignments on my spare days too. So basically I will be going nonstop for three weeks.
Why exactly am I going to NY? Well the whole idea came from the fact that I really NEED my snowboard and equipment. I didn't bring it to Chile initially because Camila and I weren't positive where we would end up and I didn't want to have the burden of a huge, heavy bag to drag around. Of course, I almost immediately regretted not bringing it. So the idea to go back to NY, work my ass off to pay for my plane ticket and save up some money was born. It appears to be all working out quite well. Hopefully I didn't just jinx it...
Once I'm back in Chile I will be able to get up in the mountains and get you all some awesome new ski and snowboard photos! It has been way too long since I've been able to shoot any mountain sports and I'm craving it like no other. It is my ultimate photography passion, and snowboarding is my ultimate non-photography passion. And anybody who knows me personally knows I've basically had endless summers for the last two years. Heading to South America during our winters, just to head back to North America for more summer. And now I'm doing it again ironically. But it's all for a reason and I'll still have a solid two months of winter when I return.
Since I'm going to NY, here are some photos of NY:
My postings for the next few weeks may be a little less frequent than I would prefer, so I apologize in advance, but I will do my best!
Anyway, leaving Chile and heading back to NY is bringing up some mixed feelings. Of course I'm excited to see my family and friends and I'm excited to get back to NYC for a short while, but just as much I'm upset to be leaving Camila and Chile. It always seems that even when I try to settle down in one place I still manage to bounce around a little.
I'm also, strangely enough, very excited to work. Anybody between jobs or any freelancers know that if you have periods of little to no work, when you finally get some you are stoked to go back. I'm not saying I'm without work here. It's just the pay here is so low that it feels like I'm practically working for free, so making some decent money is oh so appealing. It also doesn't hurt that I'm going to be working on a TV show for National Geographic. Even though it's not my dream job, it is still for my dream company, so it's a step in the right direction. I'll also have some photography assignments on my spare days too. So basically I will be going nonstop for three weeks.
Why exactly am I going to NY? Well the whole idea came from the fact that I really NEED my snowboard and equipment. I didn't bring it to Chile initially because Camila and I weren't positive where we would end up and I didn't want to have the burden of a huge, heavy bag to drag around. Of course, I almost immediately regretted not bringing it. So the idea to go back to NY, work my ass off to pay for my plane ticket and save up some money was born. It appears to be all working out quite well. Hopefully I didn't just jinx it...
Once I'm back in Chile I will be able to get up in the mountains and get you all some awesome new ski and snowboard photos! It has been way too long since I've been able to shoot any mountain sports and I'm craving it like no other. It is my ultimate photography passion, and snowboarding is my ultimate non-photography passion. And anybody who knows me personally knows I've basically had endless summers for the last two years. Heading to South America during our winters, just to head back to North America for more summer. And now I'm doing it again ironically. But it's all for a reason and I'll still have a solid two months of winter when I return.
Since I'm going to NY, here are some photos of NY:
Long Island City, Queens with the Manhattan skyline
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown
The New Museum
Friday, June 29, 2012
Santiago Student Protest Aftermath
Yesterday, mostly due to the fact that the Student Protest was crazier than usual and therefor broken up quickly, I completely missed it. I had a prior obligation but thought I'd get to see the end of it, which is when all the rioting goes down and things really get exciting. But no. The crowds of over 100,000 were broken up fairly quickly apparently.
I did however get to see the aftermath. The broken glass, the torn down street signs, the upset store owners whose businesses were destroyed and looted, and the rocks and debris filling the streets that were used as projectiles. It felt mildly like a warzone, but one where nobody even blinks at it because it is fairly standard. I personally don't understand the need for excessive violence during a protest, but I suppose it is more eventful to photograph than your average daily street life.
I did however get to see the aftermath. The broken glass, the torn down street signs, the upset store owners whose businesses were destroyed and looted, and the rocks and debris filling the streets that were used as projectiles. It felt mildly like a warzone, but one where nobody even blinks at it because it is fairly standard. I personally don't understand the need for excessive violence during a protest, but I suppose it is more eventful to photograph than your average daily street life.
A large group of students forced the front gate open, smashed the windows and looted this pharmacy
A large frame for advertisements lies on the side of the street while clean up crews tend to all the broken glass and debris
Riot police stand on guard in case any protestors return
Waiting for the bus amongst the mess
This bus map has seen better days
Nobody even cares about walking through broken glass
This cell phone store, Claro, was completely destroyed and looted. The inside was almost entirely empty besides some overturned desks and shelves.
Since I got no photos of the action taking place you feel free to check out this site for some photos of the protest and riot. The second gallery has all the rioting photos. Protest photos
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Santiago Student Protests
Chileans know how to protest. The excitement, energy and sheer strength of upwards of 50,000 driven individuals is captivating. The students in Chile, especially in Santiago, seem genuinely passionate about making their voices heard. As an outsider the issues are beyond my realm of true interest. I do hope they make progress in their fight for a new framework for education in Chile, but it obviously isn't something I'm emotionally invested in. For me it is an opportunity to experience and document the raw energy and unity that only a protest can evoke in complete strangers. Americans protest every once in a while, but never with a strength comparable to a classic Santiago student protest. There is another huge protest planned for today so I'm about to head over and check it out. Below are a few images from one last month.
More photos to come from today's protest so check back!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Loving La Vega
There are few things in Latin culture I'm more drawn to than the markets. For many people most, if not all, of their food is purchased in local mercados. I happen to live a short walk from La Vega, which is one of the biggest mercados in Chile. It really is massive, made up of hundreds of vendors selling nearly everything edible you could ever want and expect to find in Chile.
Living in Santiago Centro with Bella Artes, Bellavista and Providencia in walking distance it is easy to forget what the rest of Chile is like. These neighborhoods are full of a smaller population of more modern, cosmopolitan and artsy Chileans. Fortunately all it takes is a 10 minute walk north, past Rio Mapocho to La Vega and the surrounding neighborhood of Patronato to get a glimpse of a more typical Chilean community. It is more gritty, colorful and full of the sketchy character that I am constantly drawn to. It is wildly different from where I grew up in NY to say the least.
Sitting in the middle of it is La Vega which is certainly the center of life in this barrio. The streets are always packed with trucks, push-carts and mobile vendors transporting seemingly endless supplies of fresh produce. Sidewalks are packed with locals selling anything from used clothes to TV antenas and batteries. And of course pedestrians heading to and from the market are littered throughout the streets and sidewalks.
The first few times visiting La Vega was a little intimidating. I ended up walking around looking at everything for nearly an hour before even purchasing anything. After a couple months of weekly trips I am getting pretty efficient. I can be in and out in twenty minutes and know which vendors have the best and cheapest selections. And cheap it is. Every single time I walk away from this place I have a smile ear to ear and feel as if I just happened to hit a 75% off everything sale. But no, this place is cheap all day, everyday.
This is an example of what $11 of groceries looks like from La Vega.
For whatever reason I really enjoy the lack of order and chaotic nature of places like this. It is messy, smelly (sometimes good, sometimes bad), unruly and a little dangerous. It just feels so authentic. It isn't even uncommon to see cars or motorcycles for some reason navigating these tiny aisles. Everybody is yelling, bargaining, throwing things, running around and keeping the energy level abnormally high. The bottom line is, it is a very interesting place to spend an hour or two wandering around and highly recommend it to anybody visiting Santiago. I plan on doing a more formal photo essay in the future about La Vega, so for now I only have a couple photos I shot this morning while shopping.
Check out an older post about the market in Cusco, Peru here!
Living in Santiago Centro with Bella Artes, Bellavista and Providencia in walking distance it is easy to forget what the rest of Chile is like. These neighborhoods are full of a smaller population of more modern, cosmopolitan and artsy Chileans. Fortunately all it takes is a 10 minute walk north, past Rio Mapocho to La Vega and the surrounding neighborhood of Patronato to get a glimpse of a more typical Chilean community. It is more gritty, colorful and full of the sketchy character that I am constantly drawn to. It is wildly different from where I grew up in NY to say the least.
The first few times visiting La Vega was a little intimidating. I ended up walking around looking at everything for nearly an hour before even purchasing anything. After a couple months of weekly trips I am getting pretty efficient. I can be in and out in twenty minutes and know which vendors have the best and cheapest selections. And cheap it is. Every single time I walk away from this place I have a smile ear to ear and feel as if I just happened to hit a 75% off everything sale. But no, this place is cheap all day, everyday.
This is an example of what $11 of groceries looks like from La Vega.
For whatever reason I really enjoy the lack of order and chaotic nature of places like this. It is messy, smelly (sometimes good, sometimes bad), unruly and a little dangerous. It just feels so authentic. It isn't even uncommon to see cars or motorcycles for some reason navigating these tiny aisles. Everybody is yelling, bargaining, throwing things, running around and keeping the energy level abnormally high. The bottom line is, it is a very interesting place to spend an hour or two wandering around and highly recommend it to anybody visiting Santiago. I plan on doing a more formal photo essay in the future about La Vega, so for now I only have a couple photos I shot this morning while shopping.
Check out an older post about the market in Cusco, Peru here!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Random Photo - Hoboken
I shot this photo about four years ago. It was late one night after I had worked a 16 hour day on a commercial shoot down the street. This is the far end of Hoboken that most people don't go to. There are a few blocks of random industrial buildings on the end of Hoboken closest to Weehawken. I have had this sitting on my computer in an obscure folder and just stumbled upon it and figured I'd post it.
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