Barreal / Pacaya : Five Years, Two Shadows
In 2007, Sandra and I were in Argentina and made our way to a remote town called Barreal in San Juan province. At the foot of the Cordillera de Ansilta range, with some of the highest peaks in the Andes, we found ourselves in the Precordillera looking across to Cerro Mercedario, with Aconcagua – the highest mountain in the Americas – in the distance. Mighty mountains indeed. As the sun set in the riotous red landscape and we hiked deeper into the hills, our shadows caught the edge of a nearby ridge. A quick shot and one that has become a favourite in remembering that South American adventure.
Almost five years later, as we found ourselves climbing Volcan Pacaya near Antigua, Guatemala the forest began to give way to a barren, ash-strewn landscape. The sun was making it’s descent as we were heading up. Once again, looking to our left at the last of the trees, our shadows found their way following us up a steep pitch. Cresting on a plateau, the scene struck us as a replica of five years earlier. Another quick shot and up we went, continuing up the volcano into the surreal, steam-filled terrain. A record of our time on these mountains…a fleeting petroglyph created exclusively by the sun.
Barreal, San Juan, Argentina, 2007 (above)
Volcan Pacaya, Guatemala, 2011 (below)
New York City Bikes
Of course I was bike-spotting the whole time I was in New York City. Wasn’t tough, really…there are bikes everywhere. I loved seeing all the banana seats and little cruisers – not as many of those rolling around Vancouver. Some of the front baskets were bigger than any I’d seen, and I have a Wald 157 Giant on one of my own bikes! A couple sad bikes here and there, some intense chain-link locks keeping others intact and I even spotted a tall bike riding across the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn. Here’s a look at some of the bikes I saw walking the streets of NYC.
New York City, NY, 2011.
Top Half, Bottom Half
Cayo Jutias, Cuba, 2011.
I am very pleased to introduce a documentary photography project I’ve been working on with my good friend Jennifer Okrusko: Disappearing Main Street. Please follow the blog as we post images from Main Street in Vancouver, BC – one block a day from 2nd to 33rd Avenue.
Disappearing Main Street is a documentary photography project looking at Vancouver’s Main Street, from 2nd to 33rd Avenue and back down again. Over a six-month period last year, through three seasons and every weather condition, we took 62 blocks of continuous photos of Main Street. For the next five weeks, we’ll post one block of these photos each day—the east side of the street in the morning and the west side in the evening.
We fear for Mount Pleasant. Our favourite street is going through an accelerated pace of change. Many long time iconic businesses have disappeared, only to be replaced by “for lease” signs. In fact, several of the blocks have already seen significant changes since we began taking photos. Most recently, we mourn the loss of Irene’s Hair Salon, Bert’s, Pinky Laundry, Windjammer, Life of Riley, Cipriano’s, Outdoor Innovations…and even Blockbuster.
Check back daily as we explore 31 blocks of Main Street…
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Up The Creek on the Sunshine Coast
Martin Prestage runs Up The Creek Backpacker’s B&B in Roberts Creek on BC’s beautiful Sunshine Coast. Sandra and I spent a weekend up there last month, when the weather was just starting to warm up and the flowers began their stretch to the sun. We cozied up in the Cherry Cabin, enjoyed a book by the fireplace and wandered down the road a few times to the beach and, of course, the Gumboot Garden Cafe.
Martin is a gracious host, opening the place up to strangers and welcoming them in as long-lost friends. The place is filled with information about activities up and down the Coast and has a very green edge to it. He also runs a great program called LifeCycle – it’s all about teaching kids in schools about bicycling, why it’s great to ride to school, how to do it safely and have some fun getting there. On his property on the Coast, there are hints of his cycling enthusiasm everywhere.
It’s easy to jump on a ferry from Horseshoe Bay over to Langdale, then hop a bus and within 20 minutes find yourself at Up The Creek. If you didn’t bring your own, there are a pile of bikes available to roll around the bucolic back lanes of the community. Martin is a long-time adventurer and touring cyclist and can regale you with some great stories about his travels overseas. Up The Creek, therefore, is a very bicycle-friendly place and a great stop on a tour of the Coast or for a quick weekend getaway. I was personally very happy to see Martin is a big supporter of Momentum Magazine, too :)
Below are a few shots from around Up The Creek from February of this year.
Roberts Creek, 2012.
Ceiba, the Tree of Life
The first in a series of Limited Edition black & white fine art prints from the jungles of Guatemala and Honduras. This is a Ceiba tree, a tree of many names among many cultures around the world. It’s often known as the Tree of Life or the World Tree and is still an important part of Mayan life. If you are interested in one of these archival, digital prints please drop me a line. More from this series will be released in the weeks to come.
Quiriguá, Guatemala, 2011.
Brothers
Mayan boys in San Juan la Laguna, on the shores of Lago de Atitlán. I love the personality juxtaposition of these two: serious, sneaky.
Guatemala, 2011.
Black Coral Fishing
Keeping with the fish theme from yesterday’s post, here’s a shot from the black coral beaches near Trinidad, Cuba. I happened upon a collection of these fish seemingly stranded atop the reef after the tide went out. My friends came upon these sad looking fish a little later, floating half dead in the depleting pool and decided to rescue a couple. They got a few back into the Caribbean before realizing a local fella was pulling them out of the sea and keeping them alive in these tiny pools. Ooops! He either didn’t notice, or didn’t care, and probably had a small chuckle to himself. After all, there were plenty of fish in that sea, with the rich coral reef and protected shores of the Cuban coastline. The underwater world here was spectacular.
Boca, Caribbean Coast, Cuba, 2011.
A Man & His Fish
Just one of the random scenes you often come across in Cuba. This is close to the edge of Habana Vieja, walking towards the Centro area. Havana is, of course, a coastal city but once inside the narrow streets the ocean can feel miles away. Until you cross paths with a man carrying a freshly caught fish from the sea. Then it hits you again; the city sprawls right to the edge of the rich waters of the Caribbean, teeming with marine life. I really like the shadow play in this shot, and the sense of mid-day heat. I bet it was a great feast for a good many that night.
La Habana, Cuba, 2011.
Cabbin’ Centro Havana
Taking a cab through the streets of Centro Havana. Every cab driver will tell you – ‘suave, suave!’ – if you try to open or close the doors too hard. Some of these classic cabs are seemingly just holding on to every last mile.
Cuba, 2011.
Meeting Fires Creative 