Flag of the Aymara, Dance of the Llama

A performer participates in the 'dance of the llama herders' and waves the Aymara flag during a fiesta in Copacabana, Bolivia. Canon 5D Mark II camera and Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens. Exposure Details: 1/500 second @ f4 ISO 400.

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Amongst the hustle of packed streets and endless processions of dancers I came across this troupe of performers who said they were doing the ‘dance of the llama herders’. Don’t be confused, this flag represents the Aymaran people of western Bolivia, southern Peru and northern Chile. This is not a gay pride flag, though the colours are similar.

Getting this shot was partly persistence but also partly luck. I had been trying to shoot some backlit stuff in this street but was having trouble as the intensity of the sun was very strong and the performers were moving quite quickly. I was trying to set my exposure for the people and catching moments when they blocked the sun so as to avoid over-exposure. Failed attempts were totally blown out while others often turned out too dark as the light reflecting into the space was inconsistent. This shot I accidentally underexposed, but was lucky enough to catch the moment right when the flag was waved in front of the sun. In that split second the sunlight reflected perfectly off the white flag into the face of the dancer, fixing what would have otherwise been an underexposed shot (all the shots before and after of this particular dancer were underexposed for her face). I love the composition of this shot, particularly where the girl’s eyes are just caught inside the flag while the sun projects a partial silhouette of her profile onto the flag. The moment is nice too because she is engaging with me (I was quite close shooting wide at 24mm) and because the flag is perfectly displayed. I could never have planned this composition precisely, was another occasion where just being out there and trying stuff lets luck sail your way.

Saludos.

Cam

Trinity and Poverty

A beggar sits in front of a representation of the holy trinity in church grounds, Copacabana, Bolivia. Canon 5D Mark II camera and Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM lens. Exposure Details: 1/320 second @ f6.3 ISO 1000.

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I arrived in Copacabana to discover yet another multi-day fiesta was about to begin. This time on a scale far larger than anything I’d experienced in the small villages of Sorata and San Pedro. Though here I had a day to explore town and the shores of Lake Titicaca before events kicked off. I took this picture in front of the Basilica in front of the main plaza in town. I felt the scene presented the powerful contrast between the wealth and grandeur of the Catholic Church and the poverty found in so many parts of Latin America. The scene is backlight by a quite strong early afternoon light, but filled in with reflected light from the much larger Basilica that is out of the frame to the left. These conditions gave the scene a kind of lightness (in terms of weight) despite the heavy pillars and crosses towering over the humble beggar asking for loose change.

Looking at this stage like Bolivian Fiesta month might have to run in December, will keep you posted.

Cam.

Night soccer on Copacabana beach

Night soccer on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Canon 5D Mark II camera and Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM lens. Exposure Details: 1/320 seconds @ f2.8 ISO 4000.

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Quite possibly one of my favourite things about Rio de Janeiro is the awesome beach culture. From dawn till dusk the beaches are positively alive with action. Hawkers roam, beach bars abound, volleyball and soccer nuts send sand flying while swimmers, runners, bladers, boarders and surfers all also find their space.

Am I forgetting anything? Oh yes, ridiculously bootylicious babes are absolutely everywhere, and for the ladies a sculpted odonnis struts on every spare patch of beach. The vibe was like Sydney on steroids. But the action doesn’t stop when night falls, they just switch the lights on and a new crowd takes over the beach for nightly organised soccer and volleyball matches. The temperature is balmy and a beautiful sea breeze mingles with the frenetic street band music.

Though it is low light, photo opportunities still abound, just open up the aperture, crank the ISO and smash some action shots that turn nicely into gritty urban night sport scenes, case in point? See above.