Bogota, Colombia

[andredossantos]

Hey RFFers,

I'm headed to Bogota, Colombia at the end of the week for ten days. My wife has family there and while the trip will feature a lot of family stuff i'll also have time to go shooting. We are also staying a couple nights in the town of Paipa (north of the city).

While originally I planned to bring my Rolleiflex and 5D, I've decided to leave the 5D at home and bring a Leica M instead. I'm thinking the big 5D will be a bit conspicuous down there.

I've heard that Bogota is not photogenic which for one, I find hard to believe and secondly kind of excites me since I love finding beauty in the mundane and in places most would simply walk by.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice at all re: photography in Bogota whether it's tips on interesting things to see, places to avoid, gear suggestions, let me hear em!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Bogotá, and particularly the downtown area called "Candelaria" is a wonderful place to photograph. I went there in early August, 2006, with one M6TTL and a couple of lenses (a 35mm and my 'cron 90mm), with both, fast and slow film (100 and 400 ISO), and I enjoyed the place. Needless to say, since they were under constant terrorist threat, just don't even try to photograph the National Palace or wherever they ask you NOT to photograph. I aimed my camera at the Palacio... only to be confronted by a soldier who also noticed that I didn't take a photograph. Had I done it, he would have confiscated the roll of film (and he meant it).

If cobblestone streets, old 19th-century and colonial architecture and very nice, friendly people are your thing, you will enjoy the place. In fact, I was surprised to see people walking all over the place late at night! It happens that Bogotá has several universities in the downtown area, and students attend classes from something like 5:30 to 9:00 PM.

Some interesting places are the plaza in front of the cathedral and the legislative palace (there's an impressive Bolivar statue there), and the surrounding area to the library (a modern building) in downtown. There are some other spots whose name I cannot recall, but seem to be magnets for young people, where you may get good street shots. Also, if you're there in a weekend, try not to miss the fleamarket in the downtown area (outside of Candelaria, alas), and the weekly closing of the streets to car traffic, so that everybody can bike around for at least all of Sunday morning. There's also Bolívar's home and the church on a hill, that overlooks the city (and I think it's called Montserrat, but don't quote me).

I recall that when we said we were going to Bogotá, friends and acquaintances were almost thinking of us as future crime statistics. As I said, by the time I was there, the city was remarkably safe. However, use always caution and don't let anything distract you from your gear.

Don't miss on some "chocolate santafereño" (hot chocolate on which you sink chunks of cheese, which later you pick with bread sticks). However weird the food may sound, it's very good... just stay away from some dishes, like "plato campesino" and "ajiaco," which are good to share with your wife, not meant to be eaten by one person alone. By all means, try the "hormigas culonas" (these are ants) if you can find them. Just try them... they have a weird taste: like lemony peanuts. 🙂

BTW, the temperature is very moderate and agreeable: cool in the mornings and evenings, nicely warm (like in the high 60s or low 70s Fahrenheit) in the Bogota valley.

We'll return to Colombia in December, when we'll attend a conference in Cartagena de Indias (on the Caribbean coast, very hot and humid). But quite photogenic... even more than Bogota! I'll see to post some of my shots later...

Have a nice trip!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Here, from Bogotá 2006...

Taken with a 90mm lens and my M6TTL. The others, with the same camera and a Hexanon 35mm lens, on my first day in Bogotá.

Here is Bolívar, apparently spearing a dove.

Figure or sculpture on the Casa José Asunción Silva (a celebrated Colombian poet)

 

[andredossantos]

Solares,

Thanks so much for your post and photos. Definitely looks photogenic to me! Im glad to hear the person who told me that it was not was full of it!

 

[Mzungu]

Bogota and Colombia are both amazing, I loved my time there last year, just be careful because crime in Bogota is high.
Enjoy Colombia and dont forget to bring home some Cafe Valdez! 😉

 

[andredossantos]

Thanks for the info, Mzungu...

 

[andredossantos]

So I just got back from visiting Bogota (and the surrounding areas). Here are some photos, shot with a Rolleiflex 2.8D and a Leica M2 w/ 35mm f/2.8 Summaron:


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


lucas the llama by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


la fritanga by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr


Untitled by andre dos santos, on Flickr

More here if you're interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andredossantos/sets/72157625498012584/

 

[paulfish4570]

I like your square shots, especially the one at top and Lucas the llama. so glad you had a good time. My brother-in-law was in Bogota for a conference a couple of weeks ago ...

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I like visiting Colombia. As a country, it's fairly complex, with different cultural and linguistic regions. Bogotá is a nice city, with very modern areas and also with traditional enclaves; people are nice and the food is good.

Nice to see you had good photo opportunities there! I am sure you spent a lot of time in Candelaria! 🙂

 

[ottluuk]

Alec Soth, Dog Days, Bogotá series: http://alecsoth.com/photography/projects/dog-days-bogota/

Not everyone's taste, I'm sure, but definitely worth a look.

 

[andredossantos]

Paul: Thanks 🙂
Solares: Yes, Candelaria is pretty great! Loved that area.
Ottluuk: Thanks for the link

 

[Calzone]

Andre,

I love the second abstract composition. Show us more work.

Cal

 

[Steve Bellayr]

I would be interested in knowing what color film was used in the above photographs. Thank you.

 

[andredossantos]

I would be interested in knowing what color film was used in the above photographs. Thank you.

Hi Steve,

If you click the links below each photo you will be taken to flickr and can then see which film was used by looking at the tags. I brought a bunch of different films: portra, ektar, velvia, provia....

 

[andredossantos]

Andre,

I love the second abstract composition. Show us more work.

Cal

Thanks, Cal....you can follow the link to my flickr if you want to see more