Moments from Argentina
Besides the mind-blowing landscape of center- northern Argentinian region called Salinas Grandes, with its world-famous landmark of the largest salt flat in the country. I have chosen the photo below as a symbolic way to showcase one of the first pictures that captured and made me realize & wonder how vast the 8th biggest country in the world could be. After capturing this fascinating endless salt river, I eventually proclaim and put an end to my procrastination on my long hours working on color grading and post writing about my journey(s) in Argentina. For the next couple of weeks, As I always did and enjoy doing, I will take you on a journey throughout my photographs around the immense country of Argentina. With more than 40 days of images from north to south, east to west of the Tango & Messi land, hopefully, then, I shall relatively help in solving the messy puzzle in your imagination picturing such a diverse and beautiful nation of Argentina!
The almighty long Trajectory that’s been drawn by my trips around the tango country, despite lots of unexpected changing and last-minute plans. A 7ooo km Journey that leaves you feeling that you have barely just scratched the surface of the 8th biggest country in the world, Argentina. No surprise to feel so, even after crossing the country from its beating heart & soul Buenos Aires, through vast Patagonia, to the farthest inhabitant point in the southern hemisphere of planet earth, Ushuaia. Though having been traveling in all these places, you will still think that multiple years probably wouldn’t be enough to cover all the beauty, colors, and shades of this country, hence, lots of places will remain unknown for the next traveler to discover!
Staring at Buenos Aires streets at night from the tiny scratched windows of the bus I took from the airport to my friend’s house, the scenery reminded me a lot of the streets of Europe and sometimes even the ones I passed thru daily in Casablanca. That first and brief impression was enough to raise the excitement despite the fatigue of the flight from the Middle East that took 19 hours. I couldn’t wait for the sun to shine again over this beautiful yet unknown city to me. I began this journey I’ve been waiting for a long time.
The photos below are the first ones I captured the next morning of my arrival, wandering throughout the streets of this massive city.
Exciting scene I came upon while hanging around one of the BA’s parks, a group of photographers having a workshop.
Choosing my destination has always been based on People, and One of the reasons I've decided to travel to Argentina is Gonzalos, a friend who I met in Nepal. Thanks to him for a great time and the perfect start of my trip during my stay in BA with two other close friends Jose and Marcos, who happened that they are in Argentina in the same period when I was visiting it.
The peaceful atmosphere within the city hoods didn't last for long before I sensed & found myself in the middle of a critical manifestation taking place against the government's decision to reform retirement pensions and further reduce income for older people in Argentina. Thus, I instantly decided to join the demonstration, along with my friends Marcos, Jose, and Bruno. Eventually, It was indeed an ideal opportunity to photograph intense moments of the peaceful uprising, turned riots after the local security forces intervention. I found myself lucky to capture these moments & the voice of the people against unjust capitalist reforms, especially in Latin America, where the continent has a long history of resistance against several pro-west corporation's dictatorships, which took place over the years.
Argentina that gave birth to 20th-century revolutionary icon Che Guevara; it comes with no surprise to witness the massive number of Comrade Che compatriots jamming the streets from different points of the city on their way to gather & protest in front of the Parliament.
The crowds of protesters that day was definitely beyond my expectations, with such intensity & vibes, I was curious to check the mainstream online media and TV to see whether they are covering the event or collaborating with the government! Surprisingly, none of the official press around the world turned their lenses towered that part of the world; neither they cared that much about this event in particular. We all acknowledge that mainstream media is nothing but trustworthy, but such negligence drops a big question mark on what's worth covering and what's not? And I think the answer depends upon what are the interests of some countries/media oligarchs/interest groups/lobbies of corporations vis-à-vis events to cover in a specific region. All-in-all, better your government be corrupt, so nobody will see nor care about the shit they are making to their population.
Remarkable tense & emotional Monday In Bueno Aires, I could feel the rage mixed with the pain felt by thousands of young & old ordinary Argentinians. You can easily witness that all of them, without exception, are speaking-out for one cause. Yet, it is worthy to say that despite their differences in age, class, intellectual background(s), they all seem to agree and feel a collective combined conscious mind. Also thought that these folks are not just protesting against pension reduction rates for pensioners. This foolish government action ( aka reform) was more like the Straw that broke the camel's back: with years of past accumulations of government abuse of power and pleasing corporation by privatizing every single primary source of income of ordinary middle-class Argentinians.
Some of you probably watched or heard about the events that took place during the great depression in Argentina in 2001. It was, indeed, a terrifying period when the government had to reduce the number of cash people/depositors are allowed to withdraw from their bank saving accounts. It even reached a level that there's no cash left in ATM's. That crisis led to enormous anger & frustration, forcing folks to go out and manifest for weeks and months. Unfortunately, these events did not end up peacefully, resulting in loss of lives and casualties due to the notorious iron hand & violent intervention of the police.
Looking back at these events, I could understand when I saw people that day seem very familiar with such manifestation.
we were glad that we could get out safe of the manifestation, after the police decided to push back hard the crowd, by throwing the gas from top high directly into the crowd. Which was a hazardous act, someone could easily get killed by one of those gas canes if it drops on one's head. These actions from the police led to a scary wave of panic, leading the crowd to run back and pushing whoever to get out of that mess where you can start to feel the lack of oxygen, plus the gas which was filling the air. Looking back to all that atmosphere, I couldn't complain that I ripped my jeans while trying the escape the police. How could I be and my hands still holding my camera, which just started its journey in the country?
Before taking this photo, I was wondering how Painful these bullets are on this man back, but I was sure about one thing, that they weren't painful enough to stop his fight.
After that intense day, nothing could appease the atmosphere then having a warm drink in one of the cafes in the San Telmo neighborhood while enjoying an elegant Tango show is a must. This dance performance is one of Argentina's pride, every major district of Buenos Aires are animated by couples performing Tango, which I was surprised to learned that it started between men in its beginnings.
One of the things I had in mind before traveling Argentina is to photograph dancers in the streets of BA. I was lucky meeting two students of the contemporary dance in one of the universities in the city. I managed to have sometime photo shooting in Bueno Aires streets, thanks to them being kind enough to accept the idea to photograph them practicing their beloved passion.
Visiting Argentina has to include the great experience of spending a weekend with an Argentinian family, which I heard about a lot before experience it myself.
It takes serious planning every-time beforehand even if they all used to organize it, but it's the same ritual every time. Talking about meat, what drinks, in what place, etc... And it's out of the question that another person will replace the father in that beautiful gathering to take in charge of making the delicious barbecue. Thanks to Marcos, who allowed me to live such beautiful moments with his lovely family.
After all the great memories, Leaving Buenos Aires wasn't a smooth line to check on my To-do list. It was evident when I released that I extended my stay more than what I planned. But I had to move on to discover other parts of the country. The desire to capture as much as I can of the beauty of Argentina was stronger.
Thanks to all the beautiful souls I've met in BA, who engrave vivid images in my memory. It Couldn't be an any better way to say goodbye then spending my last night, the Argentinian way at one of my friend's apartment: A fresh Fernet in hand, conversing, listening to the string's sound of the guitars, accompanied with dances.
Puerto Iguazu came as my second region on my list to visit in Argentina, How that could be skipped by anyone who visits either Argentina or brazil. Where in their boards lays the biggest waterfall in the world in terms of quantity of water. It's hard to imagine how large and mind-blowing that waterfall system is until you're there surrounded by the epic sound of the water falling from more than 80 meters, which is twice as high as Niagara Falls. All I can say is truly another beast of mother nature. With all the mist created by the movement of water, It just tuned that moment very refreshing, which allowed me to focus on the second reason why I visited that region.
The people of Guarani, these indigenous who mainly live in Paraguay nowadays, but small groups are remaining in north Argentina.
I tried to find out how I can get genuine contact with this community. Unfortunately was a hard task and a sad process, as these indigenous families are used today by whoever responsible as another touristic attraction which you have to pay for.
Taking advantage of their miserable situation, which initially created by the large hotels, occupying the lands to build dreamy luxury resorts in the middle of the forest.
I did what I could though, to not fall in the tourist zone, and be like any other human who wants to get in touch with such beautiful people.
Hopefully, by freezing the time around their glowing faces, I could tell their stories, struggles, or show their existence for whom who never heard about them.
Thanks to one of the youngsters from the community, despite the lack of communication between us, could understand my purpose after a couple of funny moments, he was kind enough to show me his family and friends in a very casual manner. Photos below are from that lovely moment where no place for words but a pure curiosity and a lot of eye contact exchanged, which ended with smiles and sometimes big laughs.
Cordoba, this city that has three other sisters scattered between Mexico, Spain, and Colombia, indeed, I wanted to complete my list of visiting the four towns. But I had a stronger reason to fly to Cordoba from Iguazu, is to visit two of my friends, one in Cordoba city and another in Nono, a lovely place out of the noisy atmosphere of the town.
I took this photo from the rooftop of my friend in Cordoba while having a sit, and celebrating our meeting after a quite long time, along with two other friends of his.
