Looking towards and looking from - a photo exercise

The other day, Joel and I went with our good friend Pam to the top of a building right in the middle of Avenida Balboa (a boulevard in town right by the sea). We went there at the end of the afternoon, trying to get good shoots of the sun set. Unfortunately the sun set per say, did not happen, but we were able to take some photos.

Then, last night, inspired by a photo taken by my good friend Anselmo, I set the tripod in our bedroom window, which faces a bit of a neighborhood called "Punta Paitilla",  another bit of "Punta Pacifica" and the area of Avenida Balboa.

So last night, I had some free time on my hands and decided to go on a photo exercise, shooting from my window towards Avenida Balboa and place that photo next to the one I shot looking from Avenida Balboa with Pam.

Enjoy the result.

Looking from the window

 Looking towards the window

Facets of the same flower and their friends in Cerro Azul

The other day, a group of us, photo lovers, went up the hills to Cerro Azul. I shared the car ride with two sweet and funny young ladies, one from Panama and the other from Venezuela. We laughed a lot, almost got lost and came back down still in time for lunch. From the point of view of photography, it was not a great trip at all, a bit frustrating actually. The photos I liked best are here below, a bit repetitive, I know, but.... there you go....

A photo outing with dad

While in Rio last month, dad and I decided to go for a photo outing. In actual fact, I had left Panama with some intention of doing something on those lines. Once I got to Rio I proposed him we went on some sort of photo shooting and he immediately agreed to it.

Choosing a place to go in a city that, excuse me for not being humble at all, is absolutely gorgeous and extreme charming was some how a bit difficult but we quickly agreed on going to the extreme point of Copacabana beach where one finds fishing boats, nets, kids playing around and Copacabana Fort. So what else could a Historian, who is now photographing whose inspiration started with her father's teaching, desire? Nothing else!

We met at 5 PM, which was still a 4 PM sun, as Rio had day light saving time. Dad was Big Ben punctual and I arrived some 5 or 10 minutes late. As soon as we got our equipment out and started setting apertures and what have you, two young brothers decided to be our models for the day... so cute... they were on a role and so were we.

After shooting the boys and the beach, we walked to the Fort and... yet again, another warm moment reminding me the extraordinary person dad is... to enter the Fort, one has to pay a fee. So, I approached the cashier but before payment, I had a thought. As we were in a military premise, I decided to ask if a navy officer had to pay to get in. The man replied that if he had his ID on him, he wouldn't have to. So I turned to dad and asked for his ID... dad, making a bit of a concerned face, gave it to me. At the time I didn't quite understand why the concerned face... maybe I have been away from Brazil and family far too long... I showed the ID and in the following second heard whistles, trumpets and the whole shabeng. The officers who were on duty under the entry arch formed a line. Surprised with the coincidence of us entering the Fort as a major officer were to leave the Fort I told dad, "oh look, I guess the big general is leaving the place now"... he than gave me a half smile and as a gentleman leads me through the corridor formed by the saluting officers.... oh boy... silly me... how did I not realize that the whole thing was for my own dad!! Oh my Lord help me here!

Anyway, have fun!

Darling Dad 1

 Darling Dad 2

 Father daughter bonding

Rio in an oldie format or...

... in a full colored format?

Banda de Ipanema

Joel and I are still here in Rio and having loads of fun! We have had memorable family moments where conversations varied from the best date to go on a catamaran cruise along the Caribbean coast of Panama to saving the world... of course that, in between the conversations, we always included some serious laughter about whatever... really cool and I'm loving it. Any of the homes are good enough for all of our encounters... but mostly we end up meeting at street cafes or restaurants to watch the carnaval stroll right before our eyes. It's really funny seeing a roman centurion walk by talking to Jack Sparrow or a nurse carefully listening to Cleopatra's story, not to mention a Jamaican reggae player having a laugh with two fellow prisoners... what a scene... so funny!

Today I bring you shots from two Blocos de Rua (explanation on my previous post called "Some pre carnaval fun"). The first one was "Azeitona sem Caroco" (seedless olive) and the second one "Banda de Ipanema" (Ipanema's band). Azeitona sem Caroco was also very family oriented, like the Bloco de Rua from last week, but... (we always have "buts" in our lives...) must tell you that I didn't find it that much fun... I thought it was just ok, but not that great.

However, after Azeitona sem Caroco, we went to be part and to photograph "Banda de Ipanema" and oh man... that was so much cool. Banda de Ipanema has become vintage in Rio's carnaval. They have been around since 1965 and today they are for sure more than a tradition in our street carnaval. I loved being there to register Banda de Ipanema pass by the streets of Ipanema and must confess that had a blast shooting the Pierrots and the geisha. Welcome to Ipanema and hope you enjoy the photos.

AZEITONA SEM CAROÇO

BANDA DE IPANEMA

Foreigners enjoying Banda de Ipanema

This "folião" had certainly 

had enough of this carnaval thing.

Oops, a blued eye blond Indian? Ok ok, 

guess that during carnaval this is accepted, LOL!

Tomorrow's "foliã"?

In need of a wig?

These were the best "Kodak moments" I thought