KevinVH
Nikonian!
http://facesofecuador.com/essays/2014/01/my-first-year-in-ecuador/
Or the plain text copied here:
First year here! My first year here. Today I'm officially living here for a year. Time has passed fast, and in a way it feels like I've been here forever, but on the other hand I feel like I still have a lot to see, learn and experience. I want to make this a tradition to write a small text about the passed year, so from now on each 11th of January I'll be putting out a blogpost.
Since this is the first time, for me this will be the year I experienced the most change/adaptation.
What I experienced as good things:
• I'm finally together with my girlfriend. The step from a long distance relationship to living together hasn't been easy. We both had to adapt, but in the end I'm glad we did it the way we did.
• I'm living more healthy then in Belgium. I'm eating healthier and going out more on my bike.
• I'm enjoying my photography more, there is more to take pictures of, more nature and more interesting culture.
• making the step from living with my parents to living alone has made me more responsible. • We've had a serious setback in March, we got robbed in the house, and I'm still getting on my feet because of that. It has made me realise that life isn't always sunshine.
Now for the bad things.
• Like I said on the last point of my good things: Our house got broken into. This was a serious beatdown. We lost about 15.000 USD, consisting of my 2 work computers, my work camera and most used lens and some other things that are near impossible to purchase over here. That event made us live a lot more conscious of the dangers, and made us live more economical.
• Going along with the one above here: Technology is hard to come by here, and ridiculously expensive. Expect to pay 3 times the value of an entry level camera, and not even the newest one, 3 generations down the line.
• Public services are slow, inefficient, and expensive. Getting some papers for my visa or just paying the electricity here takes forever!
Now it may look like it hasn't not been all good, but you're wrong. Off course we've had some setbacks, after all, I moved from one of the most prosperous and advanced countries, to what some still consider a third world country. It's been hard, and it will continue to be hard for some time to come, but it was/is well worth it. I've read so many stories about photographers leaving behind their normal life to go and live the adventure, and while what I've done maybe isn't trekking around South America with a backpack, it hasn't been something everyone would do. I really feel this enormous change has made me better as a person and a photographer, and will benefit me for the rest of my life. So in the end there's one question that needs to be answered: if I could go back a year, would I do it again knowing what I know now? DEFINITELY!
I've been happy living together with my second half Adriana, and will continue to do so to live my life to the fullest and make sure to make Ecuador a better place photographically wise..
Or the plain text copied here:
First year here! My first year here. Today I'm officially living here for a year. Time has passed fast, and in a way it feels like I've been here forever, but on the other hand I feel like I still have a lot to see, learn and experience. I want to make this a tradition to write a small text about the passed year, so from now on each 11th of January I'll be putting out a blogpost.
Since this is the first time, for me this will be the year I experienced the most change/adaptation.
What I experienced as good things:
• I'm finally together with my girlfriend. The step from a long distance relationship to living together hasn't been easy. We both had to adapt, but in the end I'm glad we did it the way we did.
• I'm living more healthy then in Belgium. I'm eating healthier and going out more on my bike.
• I'm enjoying my photography more, there is more to take pictures of, more nature and more interesting culture.
• making the step from living with my parents to living alone has made me more responsible. • We've had a serious setback in March, we got robbed in the house, and I'm still getting on my feet because of that. It has made me realise that life isn't always sunshine.
Now for the bad things.
• Like I said on the last point of my good things: Our house got broken into. This was a serious beatdown. We lost about 15.000 USD, consisting of my 2 work computers, my work camera and most used lens and some other things that are near impossible to purchase over here. That event made us live a lot more conscious of the dangers, and made us live more economical.
• Going along with the one above here: Technology is hard to come by here, and ridiculously expensive. Expect to pay 3 times the value of an entry level camera, and not even the newest one, 3 generations down the line.
• Public services are slow, inefficient, and expensive. Getting some papers for my visa or just paying the electricity here takes forever!
Now it may look like it hasn't not been all good, but you're wrong. Off course we've had some setbacks, after all, I moved from one of the most prosperous and advanced countries, to what some still consider a third world country. It's been hard, and it will continue to be hard for some time to come, but it was/is well worth it. I've read so many stories about photographers leaving behind their normal life to go and live the adventure, and while what I've done maybe isn't trekking around South America with a backpack, it hasn't been something everyone would do. I really feel this enormous change has made me better as a person and a photographer, and will benefit me for the rest of my life. So in the end there's one question that needs to be answered: if I could go back a year, would I do it again knowing what I know now? DEFINITELY!
I've been happy living together with my second half Adriana, and will continue to do so to live my life to the fullest and make sure to make Ecuador a better place photographically wise..
KevinVH
Nikonian!
Really no one?
lueej
fiat slug
didn't see this a few days back, but bookmarked!
very interesting insight in your move. such a stark contrast to your previous environment. I'm also in a long distance relationship, and reading this gave me a small smile hearing you got to be together.
very extensive portfolio, sorry to hear about the robbery...good luck in Ecuador! this makes me want to study abroad/travel after my studies.
very interesting insight in your move. such a stark contrast to your previous environment. I'm also in a long distance relationship, and reading this gave me a small smile hearing you got to be together.
very extensive portfolio, sorry to hear about the robbery...good luck in Ecuador! this makes me want to study abroad/travel after my studies.
dfatty
Well-known
i like the photos, especially the landscapes. i think maybe no one has responded because the link you posted takes you to an essay page with no images. if you do click on the albums link, the page it takes you to looks more like a portfolio than a photo essay that one would expect with the title "year of living abroad." i know it threw me off, it wasn't clear to me that the photos were all related to your time in ecuador so i didn't look at them much at first. just my take, others may differ.
anyway, nice photos, it must be really interesting and exciting being immersed in another culture for a time. enjoy.
anyway, nice photos, it must be really interesting and exciting being immersed in another culture for a time. enjoy.
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
There is a very good variety of shooting in your album of 'female models' - enjoyed reading your blog and looking at the albums.
jesse
jesse
mfogiel
Veteran
Dear Kevin,
I am happy, that you are happy.
Adriana seems to be the central point of the whole story - keep the relationship going, but try to be alert to what can go wrong.
Living abroad is always an interesting experience, try to learn all you can, the language to begin with, because relationships and addresses change, but what you learn remains with you for life.
Lower your expectations relative to: what the state does for you, what you can expect from your neighbor, what you can expect from law, what you can expect to earn.
Try to take lots of photographs - if they steal your Leica, buy any camera you can find on the cheap and keep on shooting. Develop the films, and put the negs in a safe place. When you will get back home, it will be an interesting document to look at.
Best of luck.
I am happy, that you are happy.
Adriana seems to be the central point of the whole story - keep the relationship going, but try to be alert to what can go wrong.
Living abroad is always an interesting experience, try to learn all you can, the language to begin with, because relationships and addresses change, but what you learn remains with you for life.
Lower your expectations relative to: what the state does for you, what you can expect from your neighbor, what you can expect from law, what you can expect to earn.
Try to take lots of photographs - if they steal your Leica, buy any camera you can find on the cheap and keep on shooting. Develop the films, and put the negs in a safe place. When you will get back home, it will be an interesting document to look at.
Best of luck.
KevinVH
Nikonian!
Thanks everyone for the comments!
the only 'mistake' you made here is that this is my home! I'm not planning on going back to Belgium to live.
Btw, if anyone wants to buy a print from me, we can arrange something? It would be a great help financially! Just let me know!
jwaddison
Newbie
Kevin, I replied to one of your threads started before you left for Ecuador, to enquire how you made out with the purchase of film and chemicals. I'm glad to hear you're still there and enjoying it in spite of some setbacks. If all goes as planned my wife and I will be there within the next year or so.
I enjoyed the pictures you posted, especially the landscapes and portraits, but as someone mentioned the tag that gets you to the pictures could be a made a little more obvious. I didn't notice it the first time around.
Let me know re the film, chemicals etc. I only do black and white, in 35mm, mf and 4x5. I may not bring all of them.
I enjoyed the pictures you posted, especially the landscapes and portraits, but as someone mentioned the tag that gets you to the pictures could be a made a little more obvious. I didn't notice it the first time around.
Let me know re the film, chemicals etc. I only do black and white, in 35mm, mf and 4x5. I may not bring all of them.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Kevin,
Being 23 helps. My daughter is the same age as you and a few months ago moved into a house with her boyfriend. A few months before that she'd got her first job after leaving university. I smile to think about how wonderful everything is for her (and for you) because everything is so new and so fresh for both of you, even though (I remember from being 23) things aren't always easy.
I'm 40 years older than you and have lived in several countries. Inevitably, as you get older, there's more "Been there, done that," whether it's a new relationship, a new house, a new country. As my wife said to me this morning, "You never think, when you're young or even middle-aged, that suddenly you'll look back and realize that you've been with the same person for over 30 years." And you know what? In many ways, that's as good as being 23 too. I some ways it's even better, though of course, there are others in which it isn't as good: 23 is a good age to be, physically.
So: best of luck, and remember that everything in your life is infinitely more contingent than you might think. When I moved to Bristol at about your age I thought I'd stay there. Then I thought the same when I moved to California when I was 36, having met and married a Californian. And when we moved back to the UK when I was 42. And when we moved to France when I was 52...
Cheers,
R.
Being 23 helps. My daughter is the same age as you and a few months ago moved into a house with her boyfriend. A few months before that she'd got her first job after leaving university. I smile to think about how wonderful everything is for her (and for you) because everything is so new and so fresh for both of you, even though (I remember from being 23) things aren't always easy.
I'm 40 years older than you and have lived in several countries. Inevitably, as you get older, there's more "Been there, done that," whether it's a new relationship, a new house, a new country. As my wife said to me this morning, "You never think, when you're young or even middle-aged, that suddenly you'll look back and realize that you've been with the same person for over 30 years." And you know what? In many ways, that's as good as being 23 too. I some ways it's even better, though of course, there are others in which it isn't as good: 23 is a good age to be, physically.
So: best of luck, and remember that everything in your life is infinitely more contingent than you might think. When I moved to Bristol at about your age I thought I'd stay there. Then I thought the same when I moved to California when I was 36, having met and married a Californian. And when we moved back to the UK when I was 42. And when we moved to France when I was 52...
Cheers,
R.
Gregoyle
Well-known
Kevin,
Love your photos, and it's great to hear your story and your views. I, too, am interested to hear how you made out with film/chemicals, or if you decided to just go digital to avoid the hassle.
I look forward to your updates.
-Greg
Love your photos, and it's great to hear your story and your views. I, too, am interested to hear how you made out with film/chemicals, or if you decided to just go digital to avoid the hassle.
I look forward to your updates.
-Greg
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
@Kevin,
You have some truly beautiful landscape images, as well as model images - well done! It really sucks that you were broken in to and burglarized - this makes me want to ask what you are photographing with now in terms of gear?
Again, beautiful images - congratulations!
You have some truly beautiful landscape images, as well as model images - well done! It really sucks that you were broken in to and burglarized - this makes me want to ask what you are photographing with now in terms of gear?
Again, beautiful images - congratulations!
KevinVH
Nikonian!
Well to answer all of you.
I'll check on the website, although I like the simplicity of it, most of the people are just interested in the pictures, especially my clients here, and those are on the landing page. I am thinking about putting up a separate website for just my stories.
Being young definitly helps. You learn the language a lot faster etc.
How I did it with the chemicals is fairly easy. I don't shoot a lot of film, lets say maybe 75 rolls a year, so when I came here I brought enough D76 and fixer to last me a while, as a stop I use limes, which are dirt cheap here. Aside from that my parents come over once a year, and they always bring some, so I can keep my stock at a nice level. Rolls of film I order through Amazon or eBay, but haven't had to do that a lot.
as far as gear goes. Not all of my cameras got stolen. My D700 with 80-400 got stolen, along with all my memorycards and a Nikon F2 with the 50 1.2 lens. I still had a backup D200 which I used, and temporarily got into some debt to get the D800 4 months after the D700 got stolen. I haven't replaced my 80-400 yet, but I do have a new F2.
Thanks for the interest here. I can't talk to anyone about it over here, since that would scare of clients..
I'll check on the website, although I like the simplicity of it, most of the people are just interested in the pictures, especially my clients here, and those are on the landing page. I am thinking about putting up a separate website for just my stories.
Being young definitly helps. You learn the language a lot faster etc.
How I did it with the chemicals is fairly easy. I don't shoot a lot of film, lets say maybe 75 rolls a year, so when I came here I brought enough D76 and fixer to last me a while, as a stop I use limes, which are dirt cheap here. Aside from that my parents come over once a year, and they always bring some, so I can keep my stock at a nice level. Rolls of film I order through Amazon or eBay, but haven't had to do that a lot.
as far as gear goes. Not all of my cameras got stolen. My D700 with 80-400 got stolen, along with all my memorycards and a Nikon F2 with the 50 1.2 lens. I still had a backup D200 which I used, and temporarily got into some debt to get the D800 4 months after the D700 got stolen. I haven't replaced my 80-400 yet, but I do have a new F2.
Thanks for the interest here. I can't talk to anyone about it over here, since that would scare of clients..
Spicy
Well-known
website isn't working for me -- keep getting endless 404s regardless of what page...
Gregoyle
Well-known
That may be the first time that I've heard of someone using limes for a stop bath! Do they not have vinegar?
Again, sorry to hear about your theft troubles, but it looks like you are bouncing back. I look forward to hearing more from you.
-Greg
Again, sorry to hear about your theft troubles, but it looks like you are bouncing back. I look forward to hearing more from you.
-Greg
KevinVH
Nikonian!
@Spicy , Ok I had a problem with an update of the website, I'm fixing it now, thanks for pointing it out to me..
@Gregoyle
Someone on this forum told me about using limes or lemons as a stop, since it's acid it should stop the developing process I guess. It's worked fine for me the past year and a half so I'm not complaining.
@Gregoyle
Someone on this forum told me about using limes or lemons as a stop, since it's acid it should stop the developing process I guess. It's worked fine for me the past year and a half so I'm not complaining.
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
Really enjoyed your site and congrats on the great life adventure you're on. Take it all in, have fun.
I subscribed to your newsletter as well.
Kent
I subscribed to your newsletter as well.
Kent
mfogiel
Veteran
No need to waste the limes - no need to use stop bath at all - if you use fresh fixer, just develop and fix, I've been doing that for years without problems. If you are really worried, use a plain water rinse instead of a stop bath.
KevinVH
Nikonian!
Thanks, but to be honest, you're the first one, so I the first newsletter wont come out untill I have a little more following.
kdemas
Enjoy Life.
You have to start somewhere! Hopefully many more to come.
You might put a more visible link to the sign up form on your home page or in the header. I'm in the online marketing business BTW so I know a bit about this stuff
KevinVH
Nikonian!
Thanks, I'll do that. I have a button on my facebookpage too!
I just got back from 2 days in 2 very special places.. Writing a blogpost today and tomorrow morning. Will get it posted in this topic by tomorrowmorning..
I just got back from 2 days in 2 very special places.. Writing a blogpost today and tomorrow morning. Will get it posted in this topic by tomorrowmorning..