My Dad´s Long Walk

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"Mi Viejo" (My Old Man)_ Arazati, Uruguay © Flavio Martín Morante_2007
Nikon D200

Both of my parents have been always an example of the sacrifice you have to do always in life to get something, sometimes not getting what you expected, but still fighting for it, and that is something both of my parents have done their entire life.

Today, May 31st is the day that my Dad starts his retirement. A long walk made to here and knowing him, a long walk ahead as I well know he will be finding something to do by Monday. Hopefully whatever he does, I hope it is around about getting fish out of the water and lighting a nice fire where to cook them. Still, I hope whatever he finds it makes him happy and for that I lift a glass today.

Saludddddddd! (Cheers on spanish)

Caribbean Colors

I finally got my film back from processing and here I share some of my favorite images from our recent trip. I have to say I am not very thrilled about the color, as I remember the hues to be stronger, but different things could be happening: the type of glass on the lens which it makes it great for B&W, maybe is not so great for color, the film was the most economic film to run a test or the processing, which I doubt since who makes my film processing has been doing it for me for already 7 years and I never had a problem. Anyway, here are some from my color film camera testing from Curaçao along with some little tales of each picture.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

While in one of my walks on my own around town very early in the morning the first day there, I was amazed on the variety of colors I found around which it felt like walking in a paint store. Somehow I wanted to capture the playfulness of colors and luckily enough I came across this pedestrian wondering around the streets, at the perfect time where his shirt matched the traffic sign. Priceless.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

I have seen this car parked close to the hotel and did some not so good pictures from the side and also of his driver who was playing maracas inside, with the music coming out of his head. Anyway... as I went for a afternoon walk around town I saw this line of colorful and typical construction of homes and by the time I got up the hill, as I look down I saw the car coming and I shot this only one, which it gives me great pleasure since it looks like a perfect postcard of a place somehow froze in time.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Simply the surprising effect of water. For some reason I do like a lot this picture of the place. Still trying to figure out why.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013
(Signs read_ left: Great Funeral Home/ right: Bakery "The Limping")

Life, death and three baguettes in between. Priceless.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

I have a thing with people looking at the horizon (specially if there are ships on it). No surprise I do like this one. Is he looking at the ship coming into port?, is he thinking of home (something accentuated by the "Venezuela" on his shirt) or is he thinking of going somewhere? Also, it makes me think a lot of KOUDELKA's.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

The beautiful afternoon light at the ferry station that allows you to cross from Otrobanda to Punda, when the swinging bridge is open.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Museum structure of a not so paradise feeling past. The building used to be part of a plantation where slaves were held. The yellow color is very typical of the island, which originally was obtained by mixing aloe juice with white paint.

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"Untitled" (Curaçao) © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

With a high catholic population, a business shows its devotion to the man in a corner of Punda.

All photographs taken using Bessa Voigtlander R3M with Fuji Superia 400ISO.

Just Keep Looking (and Walking)

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

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Roll #9 contact sheet from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

Here we are back on under the darkroom's red light. After few crazy and busy weeks, with a lot of work, a short nice trip (more photos coming) and a lot to do regarding a past festival and a very soon to come show, I was able to process rolls #8 & #9 from my project "Marina". Very happy with some of the results. As far as now, two months after starting this project I am moving at a really slow speed, around one roll per week, but I won't complain, the idea was that, take my time, make worth pictures and enjoy, so nine rolls is a good number to me as long as it keeps growing.

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Roll #8 contact sheet from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

More to come (hopefully).

Photo Photo

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Photo & ad © Flavio Martín Morante_2013

This coming Sunday I will be at the 6th Annual Community Festival for the first time, selling my photographic work. Stop by and browse to over 200 edition and non-edition prints while enjoying some local food, music and hopefully good weather in support of Port local businesses.

Hope to see you there.

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Este Domingo que viene estaré participando del 6to Festival Anual Comunitario por primera vez, donde estaré ofreciendo a la venta algo de mi trabajo fotográfico. Pasa por ahí y ojea mas de 200 impresiones numeradas o no, mientras disfrutes de comida y música local así como de un buen tiempo.

Espero verte por ahí.

Blue Curaçao

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"Blue Curaçao" (View of Punda from Otrobanda, Curaçao)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013
Nikon Coolpix P7000

We just have come back from the short trip we took. It was a really nice time getting to know a little more of this island and spending some time trying new experiences. As photography goes I did most of the pictures on color film, which I hope to be sharing some when the film gets processed as well some short stories of the place itself. As for now I leave these digital ones and I will get myself to get on all the stuff that was awaiting for me. It is going to be a crazy busy week.
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Hemos pegado la vuelta del viaje corto que tomamos este fin de semana pasado. Fue un lindo tiempo conociendo un poco mas de esta isla probando nuevas experiencias. Por el lado fotográfico realice la gran mayoría de las fotos en película color, las cual espero estar poder compartiendo la semana próxima cuando sea procesada así como algunas historias cortas de este lindo lugar. Por ahora dejo estas fotos digitales mientras me pongo las pilas con todas las cosas que me aguardaban al retorno. Será una semana locamente ocupada.

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"La Vela" (View of Punda's floating market, Curaçao)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013
Nikon Coolpix P7000

We will be looking for the...

... Pirates of the Caribbean. Leaving tomorrow for Curaçao, will be back on Tuesday (hopefully with some good pics and one or two tales). Won't check e-mail until return.

Chapter 2_ The Interaction of others, my own interaction

The other perspective I am taking on this project is to show other people and their interaction with the place, the same way I somehow interact with the place, creating a sort of mirror of myself and how I feel about the place itself by looking and photographing others.

Also, I am thinking on a "Chapter 3" which involves the photographing of sky and water , showing the different states of both, but still have not figure out how I want to do that or from where the pictures will be taken. Will see. As now, some more pictures here of "others".

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Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

Chapter 1_ Is all on the details.

Beauty is always find on the smallest details. For that reason as I progress on the "Marina" project, I have divided it in at this moment 2 parts. One is focusing on all those small details I find as I go building the portfolio for this series. Footprints in the concrete, lovers marks on the rocks, ropes, knots, plants, barriers, tide markers, etc, have become a big part in this puzzle. Some of this images I share here today.

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl

(click on the image to enlarge)

Untitled from "Marina" (work in progress)

© Flavio Martín Morante_2013

Port Washington, Wisconsin

Camera_Voigtlander Bessa R3M/Heliar 50mm

Film_ Ilford HP5 Plus 400ISO

Paper_ Ilford Multi Grade RCIV Pearl