Let there be light

Last week I started a night photography course at a school in Melipal (Comunidad Cíclope). The first lesson on the field was in the beach of Lago Moreno, at sunset. Between the ash in the air, the lights of the city and some light painting, these pictures came out...

"And God said, -Let there be light-, and there was light."

The Bible, Genesis 1:3

From the same course:

1 - Let there be light

2 - Light stripes and religious illumination

3 - The night at the Casa de Piedra

4 - Serenity

(esta entrada en español)

Back to life...

Well, that took longer than expected.

In any case, after long months of self-censorship on anything not related to writing/related work, I've sent yesterday my PhD thesis to the jury. It's been a very rewarding and unequalled experience, but one that I hope I'll never have to repeat... ;-)

Regarding this blog, I'm going to use the next months to do some aesthetic redesign. Obviously, I'll start to upload pictures on a regular basis again, although it'll be a bit slow at the beginning. I have an 11-months digital backlog to share (and several years on the analogue one...)

Watch this space...

(esta entrada en español)

A heart

When somebody tells you about an island that looks like a heart, you can believe it and imagine a piece of land with a vaguely familiar figure. In the middle of the Mascardi Lake, close to Bariloche, that island really exists: green, alive, surrounded by the turquoises waters of the lake, it exceeds any attempt to imagine it.

These pictures are from a couple of hours hiking to the viewpoint over the island, in March 2009. That day the yellowjackets were a little bit irritable; four stings are really painful...

"Ah, well, if the little lady were only here with me in the boat, I should not care for any darkness."

The Brave Tin Soldier, Hans Christian Andersen

(esta entrada en español)

Sunshine

A sunny afternoon in the backyard, flowers and something more...

The last picture is my first try (rather poor) at HDR photography.

"You'll remember me when the west wind moves Upon the fields of barley You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we walk in fields of gold "

Fields of Gold, Sting

(esta entrada en español)

Humans in nature

I've already posted some pictures here of a very nice place in the mountains near Bariloche called Laguna Negra. A couple of months later, at the beginning of 2009, I went again with some friends and we continued up to the 2000 meters summit of a near peak. The Cerro Negro, just to the south of the small lake, offers an unrivalled view of the National Park. This time, however, I won't focus on the nature around but in the harmonious presence of the people on it.

Do you wonder were is the relation to human beings in the last picture? I didn't say it was obvious....

"There wouldn't be an observation tower – or something? I mean, in the open air."

Foundation, Isaac Asimov

(esta entrada en español)

Dreaming awake

"-Last night I dreamed-, said LVX-1, calmly. Susan Calvin said nothing"

Robot Dreams, Isaac Asimov

(esta entrada en español)

López's panoramas

The López mountain is a typical excursion of Bariloche. The access is easy (urban bus line), it's short (2:30hs to the shelter) and it offers incomparable views. But if you really want to be in the top of the world you must continue to the mountain's ridge, until the so-called tourist peak. From there the free view in all directions is spectacular.

"Que den las campanadas a deshora, que salga del armario la cultura, que el Corán no se enfade con la Torah, que apeste menos la telebasura."

Wishes for the New Year (This Mouth is Mine), Joaquín Sabina

(esta entrada en español)

Dakar 2009

The sound of the engine comes from far away, behind a gentle hill in the road. Grave and deep, it announces its arrival much before you see it. Slowly, from the roof to the huge wheels, it appears from behind the hill. Motorbikes and cars have passed by all the morning, but this is different. Your blood freezes and you feel small when the 8 tons, 3 meters high thing passes you at full speed, just meters away. A bit later the engine drops down the revolutions and the big mass waves a little under the powerful braking, but not for long: a quick turn to right and it accelerates again to disappear in the distance. Welcome to the awesome spectacle of the Dakar's trucks...

After calling off the 2008 edition of the traditional raid París-Dakar due to terrorist threats in the African part of the route, the organizers (ASO) took a risky decision: to move the 2009 edition to South America. Organized together by Argentina and Chile, the Dakar 2009 went through the wonderful landscapes of both countries in a route that took it from Buenos Aires to the Patagonia, through the Andes and to the driest dessert in the world, and back to the departure point two weeks later. Two weeks that will stay in the history of the competition because the risk taken by ASO was rewarded with a resounding success, specially between the public: in a country where motorsport runs trough the veins of the majority, millions rushed to the roads to see the passing of motorbikes, cars and trucks. I was among them and this is a little sample from the last stage for you to enjoy.

You are warned, however: you can see, listen and read everything at your disposal, but nothing and nobody can transmit you nor prepare you for the power of a massive truck in full competition...

"A challenge for those who go. A dream for those who stay behind."

Thierry Sabine

(esta entrada en español)

Afternoon in the garden

How many times have we heard that the best moment to take pictures is the sunset? Well, it's true: the soft shades of the Sun in the hours that precede the night give a unique aura to everything they touch. And it's not necessary to go too far away to take advantage of it, it's enough to go out to your house's garden...

But the hummingbird isn't an animal of sunsets. To "hunt" this flying marvel you have to arm yourself with patience much earlier, in the heat of the midday hours. Fortunately it's a bird of habits: it comes every day at the same hour.

"The sound came vague and dull, like the fall of a chair on the carpet or a stifled whisper of conversation. I also heard it, at the same time or a second later, at the end of the corridor that takes from those rooms to the door. I throw myself against the door before it was too late, I closed it quickly leaning my body; luckily the key was on our side and I also closed the big bolt for more safety."

Taken House (Bestiario), Julio Cortázar

(esta entrada en español)

Spider

It's not common to find a big spider in your home's floor, ready to pose for the camera in all detail. Those who can, enjoy it... :P

Photographic tip: spiders don't react to the flash nor to a finger resting 10cm from them (at least this one didn't, I'm not responsible if somebody repeats the test...)

"The girl distractedly dropped a hand and fitted an inexpressive golden mask to her face. Then she took a gold spider from her pocket and let it fall while the captain was still talking. The spider climbed docilely to the girl's knee, who was looking unexpressively at it trough the holes in the mask."

The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury

(esta entrada en español)

Laguna Negra

Deep and dark, locked between mountains, Laguna Negra it's a place of peace and tranquillity. When the last patches of snow stand out over the black rock and are reflected in the cold waters at the end of the winter, nothing can be wrong with the world.

And in such calmness there are animals that aren't afraid of the camera, as long as they can get some bread's crumbs...

"The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter."

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, J. R. R. Tolkien

To the memory of Santiago Delgrosso, my grandfather.

(esta entrada en español)

Snow at Frey

Winter retreats, spring is among us. But high in the mountains the snow still covers the slopes. It's a good moment to start the summer season. In this case, the 2008 at Frey-Catedral.

Photography in this case is a little bit tricky but gives good opportunities, with big contrasts between the snow, the sky and the ground. I still expect the opportunity in which a condor will get much closer than that (and gets me prepared...), but seeing them fly always marvels...

Well, flowers don't move...

"You must have moderation in your habits. The poet already said: - Last night I saw a feathered dragon clearly drawn on the moon. I should drink less. -"

Initiation to the Martial Arts, Les Luthiers

(esta entrada en español)

Misery Quartet

Half-way through the year a group of friends took part of a swimming competition at a local club. It was an hour with relays every one hundred meters; and under the name of 'Misery Quartet' they managed to arrive in a very respectable third place in their category, less than 100 meters from the second. This is my tribute to such a venture:

Incidentally, this was also my first incursion at indoor sports photography without flash, armed of only high-speed film (1600ASA). The result isn't stunning (too much grain), but it's acceptable as a last resort.

"Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim."

Dory, Finding Nemo (PIXAR)

(esta entrada en español)

Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

The Paris Motorshow takes place every two years in the exhibitions hall at the Porte de Versailles; and there I went for the second time after my first experience in 2006. It's not a motor show in which you would expect impressive novelties from the motor world, but rather more one to find nice cars and some historic jewels. Here are the pictures for you to enjoy, road and race cars, from now and yesterday (I want that Maserati! :-) )

It's sad to see that several of the official teams represented by those cars would finally retire from competition shortly after. Subaru and Suzuki never started the 2009 WRC season; Honda retired from F1 at the end of 2008; Mitsubishi announced they won't take part of the 2010 Dakar. Crisis times...

"I owe motor racing all I have, which is a lot. My friends came to me thanks to the motor racing, because this is how the shed was born first; and how I passed to the garage later. Friends that many times were much more than that, which is already a lot."

Juan Manuel Fangio

While I'm writing this comes the news of the dead of Henry Surtees, 18-year-old son of 1964 F1 champion John Surtees, in a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch. Sad day, R.I.P. Henry...

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)

Going German

After touring around the Italian speaking part, I crossed to the North of Switzerland and went to the German border. A day of visit at Konstanz and Zürich left few pictures owing to the rainy weather, mainly from the botanic garden at Mainau (Konstanz) and the surroundings of the Rathaus (Zürich).

"-Are you afraid of darkness? -I am the darkness"

Let's All Kill Constance, Ray Bradbury

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)

Going South (part 2)

Second part of the pictures from Switzerland's South (see here the first part). In this case, images from Mendrisio (the town where I was sleeping), Lugano, and above all, Bellinzona (with three spectacular castles).

"Then you would have us retreat to Minas Tirith, or Dol Amroth, or to Dunharrow, and there sit like children on sand-castles when the tide is flowing?"

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, J. R. R. Tolkien

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)

Going South (part 1)

The South of Switzerland, full of valleys and lakes between the mountains, offer tens of small towns to visit. Going down from Bern and going past Lucerne; I installed myself for three days at Mendrisio and devoted some time to travel around.

In this first part, photographs from Lucerne (just passing by), Milan (the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco), Como (idyllic lake when it's clear), Locarno (the Madonna del Sasso), and Ascona (the Swiss Monaco).

Update: Going South (part 2)

"After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified: -I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me-."

The Bible, John 13:21

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)

The garden of the roses

Across the Aare river, with a panoramic view of the old Bern, it is located the Rose Garden (Rosengarten). With tens of varieties, it must be a place worth seeing in spring...

"-But, if you domesticate me, we will need each other. You will be unique in the world for me. I will be unique in the world for you... -I start to understand, the little prince said. There is a flower... I think that she has domesticated me... -It is possible, the fox said. One see all kinds of things on Earth..."

The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)

The old Bern

History tells that an unknown assistant at the patent office of Bern shook the physic's world in 1905. His inspiration might well have come from walking the streets of the beautiful old quarter of this city. The cobbled paving, the arcs, the fountains, the views from the gullies and the bridges, invite us to visit her peacefully (including, at one tip, the roses' garden).

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed. It was the experience of mystery -- even if mixed with fear -- that engendered religion. A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, our perceptions of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty, which only in their most primitive forms are accessible to our minds: it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitute true religiosity. In this sense, and only this sense, I am a deeply religious man."

The World As I See It, Albert Einstein

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)

Sunday's Genève

First city that I visited in a one week trip through Switzerland, Geneva didn't turn out to be one of the prettiest cities of the tour. However, some places of the city are worthwhile and are portrayed on these pictures: tortuous passages from the old city, the lake Léman and the parks at its shores, and, of course, the famous water jet...

"There is a concept which corrupts and upsets all others. I refer not to Evil, whose limited realm is that of ethics; I refer to the infinite."

The Avatars of the Tortoise, Jorge Luis Borges

From the same trip:

1 - Retouches of Puerto Madero

2 - Walking the Seine

3 - Mediterranean sunset

4 - In the mountains

5 - French Moon

6 - Scandola Natural Reserve

7 - Montsouris macro

8 - Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace

9 - Visiting the kings

10 - Chantilly, but not the crème...

11 - Sunday's Genève

12 - The old Bern

13 - The garden of the roses

14 - Going South (part 1)

15 - Going South (part 2)

16 - Going German

17 - Mondial de l'Automobile Paris 2008

(esta entrada en español)