I was born, lived, and photographed Buenos Aires for 36 years of my life, and I never once came across a lacrosse team. Quite a discovery. I also remember, since I was a kid, the curiosity I felt about Antonio’s stand and his colleagues. It’s wonderful to come across this story.
After being a photographer forore that 25 years now, I realized that I never took street portraits here iny tiny town in Tuscany, and so I decided to start! At the beginning it was so scary, for some reason it's so much easier to take pictures of strangers when I am traveling...bit after some days of trying, here I am getting to know people iny town that otherwise I would ever meet! And learning to tell stories about my very own town!
All of the portraits are poignant in their differences, each tailored to the subject in a complementary way, just gorgeous work. Being able to find old treasures with special meaning is really priceless. Touching story.
The story of a portrait finding its way back to Enrique's family three years after his passing stops you completely. That you didn't share a language with him but still arrived at an understanding before he agreed to let you photograph him is the part of street portraiture that's hardest to teach and hardest to forget. The fact that a single frame from a Buenos Aires bookshop could carry that much of a person, years later, is a good reason to keep making pictures.
To your question, I feel that a lot of photographs mean more to me years later. As life moves on, it is fun to see how things used to be (old locations that have changed, people who have sadly died). Photographs have a great way of bringing back memories and it makes me want to remember to take more photographs today, which I need to get better at. I need to appreciate the present more and not take it for granted that it will always be the way it is now.
That is nice that one photo you took from 2018 could bring back memories of a trip filled with different people and being able to capture a moment of each of their lives. For me, that picture is one of my own showing my son (about 6 at the time) and I while we visited The Garden of 1000 Buhdas in (Of all places) Arlee, Montana. I was loaded down with a Canon FT and a Canonette QL17. We were making our through the garden while capturing mauy shots of colorful prayer flags, statues, ponds and structures but the one for that stands out is one I snapped using my phone while walking. It's just of my arm stretched out with my hand holding his little hand. It's impact for me is that now he's 15 and while we do still walk together, we both hold cameras in our hands. But I do miss holding his little hand and will forever. It's a picture I have on my Foto app feed.
Fantastic portrait of Enrique, Wesley—and what a lovely DM to receive. Makes you feel connected to your work, I assume. I love the portrait of Cata as well, but really, they are all lovely.
This might sound like a cop-out but photos I talk almost always mean less to me after I’ve shot it. A) This is a psychological thing where once a photo is taken it becomes less meaningful so I have to KEEP CHASING. B) I take photos because I have such strong feelings for people and things, at the moment of pressing the shutter my feelings are at their limit. It’s like a pressure valve. I don’t think any additional context or experience would ever match the initial feeling I have.
I was born, lived, and photographed Buenos Aires for 36 years of my life, and I never once came across a lacrosse team. Quite a discovery. I also remember, since I was a kid, the curiosity I felt about Antonio’s stand and his colleagues. It’s wonderful to come across this story.
Thank you Eugenio!! So glad you enjoyed it, especially as a Buenos Aires person yourself!
I love how you find that special somthing in the eyes of each of your portraits!
thank you kim!!
After being a photographer forore that 25 years now, I realized that I never took street portraits here iny tiny town in Tuscany, and so I decided to start! At the beginning it was so scary, for some reason it's so much easier to take pictures of strangers when I am traveling...bit after some days of trying, here I am getting to know people iny town that otherwise I would ever meet! And learning to tell stories about my very own town!
This is the best!!
All of the portraits are poignant in their differences, each tailored to the subject in a complementary way, just gorgeous work. Being able to find old treasures with special meaning is really priceless. Touching story.
thank you paul!!
The story of a portrait finding its way back to Enrique's family three years after his passing stops you completely. That you didn't share a language with him but still arrived at an understanding before he agreed to let you photograph him is the part of street portraiture that's hardest to teach and hardest to forget. The fact that a single frame from a Buenos Aires bookshop could carry that much of a person, years later, is a good reason to keep making pictures.
<3 thank you!
To your question, I feel that a lot of photographs mean more to me years later. As life moves on, it is fun to see how things used to be (old locations that have changed, people who have sadly died). Photographs have a great way of bringing back memories and it makes me want to remember to take more photographs today, which I need to get better at. I need to appreciate the present more and not take it for granted that it will always be the way it is now.
Ben! Excellent news, you were picked randomly as this week's winner! Please email me for the Moment code.
Exciting! Thank you, Wesley! I just sent you an email.
@Wesley Verhoeve did you receive my emails?
I have, sorry for the delay, its been a crazy period, but I will get back to you this weekend
No worries at all and no rush! I just wanted to make sure my email arrived. Sorry it’s been a crazy period. I hope that gets better soon.
Beautifully put Ben!
That is nice that one photo you took from 2018 could bring back memories of a trip filled with different people and being able to capture a moment of each of their lives. For me, that picture is one of my own showing my son (about 6 at the time) and I while we visited The Garden of 1000 Buhdas in (Of all places) Arlee, Montana. I was loaded down with a Canon FT and a Canonette QL17. We were making our through the garden while capturing mauy shots of colorful prayer flags, statues, ponds and structures but the one for that stands out is one I snapped using my phone while walking. It's just of my arm stretched out with my hand holding his little hand. It's impact for me is that now he's 15 and while we do still walk together, we both hold cameras in our hands. But I do miss holding his little hand and will forever. It's a picture I have on my Foto app feed.
Thanks for the kind words Brian, and thanks for sharing too!
Great portraits, all!
Thank you kevin!!
Fantastic portrait of Enrique, Wesley—and what a lovely DM to receive. Makes you feel connected to your work, I assume. I love the portrait of Cata as well, but really, they are all lovely.
Thanks so much Juliette!
It really is such a small world — filled with goodness and wonderful people.
:)
This might sound like a cop-out but photos I talk almost always mean less to me after I’ve shot it. A) This is a psychological thing where once a photo is taken it becomes less meaningful so I have to KEEP CHASING. B) I take photos because I have such strong feelings for people and things, at the moment of pressing the shutter my feelings are at their limit. It’s like a pressure valve. I don’t think any additional context or experience would ever match the initial feeling I have.
Not a cop out! Thanks for sharing, Andrew!
What a wonderful back story and I loved your other portraits as well
Thank you for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing the image and the story behind it. It is a wonderful portrait and I can see why the family would treasure it.
Thank you :)
Nice. What lens did you photograph him with
105mm f2.4 lens :) I always not the gear info down in the gear section below the story :)