Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => The Coffee Corner => Topic started by: robertwatcher on January 22, 2009, 01:44:09 pm

Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on January 22, 2009, 01:44:09 pm
Well - Anne and I are at it again. We're heading back down to Costa Rica - although this time only for a one month period as we have another couple going with us. We are leaving 2 weeks from yesterday (wednesday) on February 4'th 2009.

So it will be high intensity to capture thousands upon thousands of images showing the people and scenery of this beautiful country - just as it is and as they are carrying on their daily lives. Knowing the country this time (because of our extended 2 month excursion last year), makes it far easier to know exactly where we want to go and what we want to do.

As well as shooting in the streets of San Jose and Alajuela, we will be travelling to a few small towns on both the Pacific and Atlantic side of the country. The culture is quite different on each coast from what we have heard.


You will be able to keep up on Anne's Journal and my daily posting of images and video as you did last year at:

AsIfWeKnow.com (http://www.asifweknow.com)


Also as I did last year, I will be posting theme, story and interest images on this forum thread on  a regular basis.
I am even contemplating doing a live online video broadcast from down there where I will answer questions about this style of shooting, by responding to a chat. I have to work out the details of that yet.

Anyway - we are excited to get down there (even with the recent devastating earthquake) - - - and I'm excited to get back on this forum posting my images about the experience for you all to enjoy. Keep following here.

Here is the 2008 thread:

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....p;hl=costa+rica (http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22393&hl=costa+rica)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: francois on January 22, 2009, 02:53:47 pm
Great news Robert. I look forward to seeing your new photos. I enjoyed last years's thread a lot!
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: Snook on January 30, 2009, 11:28:21 am
Do be careful though. I have been surfing in Costa Rica for the past 15 years or so.
About 5 years ago one of my best friends was there shooting for 1 months and when he was leaving through San Jose he stopped at the markets there for 1 second. Left his car for 5 seconds and sure enough someone broke into his car and stole ALL his equipment and worse of all ALL is Film for the whole month.
He was absolutely destroyed as you can imagine.
Make back ups also as you go, but I am sure you know that!
If you have time check out the NEXTO system. Very easy to back up cards, FAST and the battery last for EVER!
Sounds like a great trip and would love to do it myself.
Snook
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 08:26:53 am
Well our Costa Rica exploraton has begun again this year. Anne and I and our friends Bruce and Nadine, arrived in Alajuela Wednesday evening at 10:30PM - - - to very windy conditions. Unfortunately the internet has been down at the place we are staying, and so Anne and I are a little restricted as to how much and when we are able to post my work and Anne's journal. Hopefully everything will be sorted out before long.

We have been very busy over the last couple of days and already several projects have been completed and photographed (both still and video) - and everything just has to be compiled and uploaded to our Travel Virgins website at www.asifweknow.com (http://www.asifweknow.com). Again it appears that I will have success capturing the people of Costa Rica in all their splendor. I have a good start with excellent captures of the locals including the owner of a coffee processing operation where the passion just oozes out of him and his runs his product through his fingers. I will post here, as soon as Anne has written up her journal posts about those experiences.

----------

While last year, we flew from Detroit to Dallas, without the ability to see the ground - - - this year provided spectacular views. IT WAS MY CANVAS IN THE SKY. These were taken from about 36,000 feet in the air

1 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040007.jpg)

2 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040012.jpg)

3 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040020.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 08:27:45 am
4 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040021.jpg)

5 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040028.jpg)

6 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040033.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 08:28:38 am
7 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040038.jpg)

8 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040041.jpg)

9 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040051.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 08:29:19 am
10 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040059.jpg)

11 ) Flying out of Dallas - - - I  loved the wing expanse and its tip, and the magical lights
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040142.jpg)

12 ) Started my "people photography" in the Dallas airport:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090204-P2040094.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 02:50:55 pm
Some Pretty Shots:

13 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052072.jpg)

14 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052114.jpg)

15 ) Up in the Cloud Forest - cold and a steady spray of rain
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052400.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 03:02:18 pm
People pics from Thursday drive through the mountainside - - - I simply pointed my camera toward them and nodded my head, implying that it is OK to take their picture.

16 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052097.jpg)

17 ) I peeked through a window and saw this fellow preparing food - opened the door implied I wanted to take his picture - and when he looked at me, gestured to keep working and not look at me
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052149.jpg)

18 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052172.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 03:10:38 pm
19 ) these security guards have been shot at, have shot intruders and robbers, and have been held hostage - while doing their thankless job in these areas of the world
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052182.jpg)

20 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052216.jpg)

21 )
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052194.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 07, 2009, 03:20:25 pm
22 ) These 2 fellows approached me while I was taking a vista shot of the "Central Valley" from high atop a clearing part way up Poas Mountain. I gestured to them and they obligued. I pointed for them to look out over the valley:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052435.jpg)

23 ) Good looking fellow - had to get a nice portrait of him. Hopefully I bump into them again so I can provide them with a print:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052438.jpg)

24 ) A bartender at an Inn up in the mountainside:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052108.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: Snook on February 08, 2009, 10:32:13 am


Are you going to post everything you shoot...?
Might be better to post when you get back and make a ggod selection..
What camera are you using b/c a lot of images are looking soft,OOF ,camera movement, or the likes!

Snook

Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 08, 2009, 11:09:44 am
While there are several commercial coffee processing operations around the country of Costa Rica that provide tours and have canned presentations and hired spokespeople providing the details of the coffee bean production process . . .

. . . Anne and I were very fortunate to have been taken to a more hands on operation where the owner Hurberth exuded passion as he handled and played with the coffee beans as he explained thoroughly each step in the washing, drying, and packaging process - along with tidbits about the various qualities of beans that he had sitting around in wheel barrows, hoppers and on the floor.

We were greeted at the door with a wonderful smile:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052255.jpg)

Conservation of resources is important as he explains how the waters from this soaking process are recycled and not expelled into the river system as was the process in times past:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052273.jpg)

Beans on the floor ready to be scraped into the large bags for storage:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052280.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 09, 2009, 05:13:48 pm
Of course the thing that intrigued me most was Herburths hands and the beans constantly running through his fingers as he explained as best he could in his broken English, all of the details we needed to understand:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052284.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052363.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052368.jpg)


Something else that entrigued me was that this man is quite well off financially and owns much of the coffee growing hillside for miles, along with many of the businesses in Sabanilla just up the road a bit from this processing plant hidden in the Cloud Forest on the side of Poas Mountain. The work that he does could all be easily hired out. He is also known to many in the area to be a very gracious and humble man who helps people out when trouble strikes them.

Just before leaving, I showed him a few shots on the back of my Olympus E-3 - - - and he replied "That Camera Takes Good Pictures"

----

This is Anne's take on the visit:

www.asifweknow.com/index.php?crnt=1&entry=9 (http://asifweknow.com/index.php?crnt=1&entry=9)

----
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 11, 2009, 10:05:02 am
While we aren't able to access the remote areas affected by the January 2009 earthquake, where roads and mountainsides are missing - - - we were able to witness the remnants while on the mountainside roads above the epicenter of the earthquake, that had a significant impact on the lives of those who lived in this area of Costa Rica hardest hit.

Neither Anne of I have ever witnessed the "dreaded" opening up of the ground that can happen with an earthquake - - - and may never again. I had to stop and take a few shots of this phenomenon. Many large cracks were filled so that card could continue their path. Many like these ones we found high up on the mountainside, were gaping wide open as much as a foot or so wide and several feet deep. Where the crevice ran along the side of the road in the soil, it was evident that only a little more shaking could have sheared the side off of this mountain as it did others. For miles we could see local homes and farmland still in rubble or disrepair.

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090210-E3102510.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090210-E3102503.jpg)

This is a short video clip that I quickly grabbed (there are no road shoulders to pull off on and cars were flying by). I was able to stick the camera right down in the wide cracks:

Remants of Earthquake Video (http://asifweknow.com/index.php?pg=3&vid=3&year=2009)

-------

Profile Character Study:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090210-E3102699.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 12, 2009, 06:33:27 am
Construction Worker on 3'rd floor stops working for a photo:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090211-P2112485.jpg)

Market Vendors running their small shop:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090211-P2112498.jpg)

This man was sitting reading his newspaper and having a smoke at a local soda. His demeanor and compelling eyes, caught my attention:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090211-P2112500.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 13, 2009, 08:06:12 am
A few street scenes. A fun set of images generally always comes out of my snaps taken while walking down busy streets with my camera (in this case Olympus E-3 and 12-60 f2.8 lens) at my hip or waist. In most cases I hold the camera as inconspicuously as possible with my hand wrapped around the front of the body and my thumb on the shutter. It seems to work well for me:

Olympus E-3 : 12mm : f6.3@1/200'th : 100ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122842.jpg)

Olympus E-3 : 12mm : f7.1@1/200'th : 100ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122819.jpg)

Olympus E-3 : 12mm : f5.6@1/125'th : 100ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122832.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 13, 2009, 09:13:52 am
I have never seen a Nobel Peace Prize in the flesh before - so that made this interesting. But why I posted it was as much about the value of Live View and the Articulating Screen on my Olympus E-3. It would have been impossible to get this view without it. The document was encased in an acrylic box that was about 5 feet high - requiring that I either settle for the same angle with glare as when viewing it with my eyes, or reaching over the top to shoot straight down on it (which was my preferred method). I articulated the screen to the proper position and held the camera high over my head and over the box foe this shot:  

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122944.jpg)


-----


Anne and I popped into a Soda for a slice of pizza.  By now, I have learned a new Spanish phrase to ask to take a picture - instead of pointing my camera at the subject and nodding me head. I have to see if it worked, and so approached the counter and said "Puedo tomar una foto" - - - and surprisingly this fellow responded favorably. I found the black and white print on the wall interesting and included it in the frame. Because the place where the pizzas being made was packed with people, I could not find out if it was a shot of him or relatives or just a picture he liked - - - but it works well in the frame although it does bear a resemblance and may be him and a son:

Olympus E-3 : 24mm : f3.4 @ 1/40'th : 2000 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122863.jpg)

While sitting at a table eating our Pizza, the waiter served a humungous 24" pizza to these 2 fellows sitting next to us. They started into eating it, laughing uncontrollably - - - we did too. I couldn't resist capturing the moment, although it was a little more staged as a result of them being aware of what I was doing after asking their permission:

Olympus E-3 : 12mm : f2.8 @ 1/30'th : 640 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122856.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 13, 2009, 05:54:11 pm
THE POWER OF A PRINT

Last year, while wondering through the streets of Alajuela, I came across a fellow in a wheelchair, working on motorcycles in a small garage in amongst retail stores and homes on a side street. It was evident that he was dealing with customers at that time and so I kept track of the location and checked back a few times to see if I would be able to get a shot of him working.

It never happened. 2 or 3 times I went there and the place was closed. Then one day near the end of our stay, I passed by and he and a couple of friends were sitting chatting. I just walked by as I did not want to disturb them - - - but then realized that may be my only chance to photograph him, so turned around and approached and asked if I could take a picture of them (again, I implied  - as they did not speak English and I did not speak Spanish).

I only saw them and interacted with them for one brief minute - and then on the day that I left Costa Rica, I went by the shop to drop off the small 4x6 print that I had printed for him to keep. He wasn't there and so I left it with the fellow looking after the shop.

. . . . well today was the day that I returned. I didn't know what to expect, but was shocked when they recognized me walking up the street approaching the garage. Friendly smiles and welcome by all - and then when I stated that I took a "foto" of them last year, they said "Yes Yes, it is right there" (pointing to the black and white oil covered print glued to the wall). I was extremely proud and thanked them profusely for valuing the small print of a stanger so much that they would display it in full view even a year later.

The ice was broke and I asked if I could take pictures of him working on a motorcycle. That has been "one of my main goals since last year for when I returned". I said to keep his "ojos" (eyes) on the cycle and not me. He and the others complied. I left so satisfied.

Here are a few of the shots. After I took the pictures of them working, I left - only to return realizing that i had to have a shot of my picture from last year on their wall to complete the story. So here it is:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090213-P2132549.jpg)

and here is the picture as I posted it on our Journal (http://asifweknow.com) last year:

(http://asifweknow.com/Feb-April-2008/slideshow/20080228-DSC_1091.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 13, 2009, 05:54:31 pm
And here are 3 of the several shots that I took today to complete the story of this impared man and his motorcycle repair shop:

Olympus E-510 : 12-60mm @ 12mm : f5.6 @ 1/125'th : 800 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090213-P2132547.jpg)

Olympus E-510 : 12-60mm @ 24mm : f5.6 @ 1/200'th : 800 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090213-P2132536.jpg)

--

His young intern in behind working inside the shop
Olympus E-510 : 12-60mm @ 32mm : f5.6 @ 1/40'th : 800 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090213-P2132543.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 16, 2009, 10:34:50 pm
Anne and I have just returned from 3 days on the Southern Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. It is really amazing - the same cooperative people with beautiful smiling faces and the appearance of sincerity.

While I love scenery and nature, my real love is capturing people - both as story images and also as closer up portraits displaying their beautiful looks and personalities. My standard way of shooting is to take some shots of the people in their environment - and then have them pose for a portrait. I end up with tins of variety this way.

This morning while walking the streets of the costal town of Quepos, this business owner walked out on to the street to impress us with his food. I asked if I could take a picture and after agreeing he motioned to the sign  above the door of his establishment. I showed him the results on the camera screen and then he introduced me to his wife. I think that his pride shows through as he cradles his wife and looks at her admiringly:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163529.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163537.jpg)

---

A stunning view as this man journeyed along the beach on his horse:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163730.jpg)


Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 16, 2009, 11:20:14 pm
I absolutely love photographing children - connect with them very well in a short period of time - and the resulting images are always compelling with their innocence and sincerity.

These 3 children were at the bus station - sitting on the benches with their parents, waiting for their bus to arrive. I was patient befor asking if I could take a foto - - - with the little girl in yellow, I had to wait until her mother was done breast feeding her before asking. While initially I wasn't going to take a picture of the last girl, she was sitting beside me and was persistent in getting my attention so that I would not leave her out.

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090214-E3143097.jpg)

Initially I was going to crop out the little boy on the right side - however I am intrigued by the way he is looking at the girl observing what is going on:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090214-E3143099.jpg)

What a great free spirit - - - I hope she has fond memories of this moment when older:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090214-E3143101.jpg)

---

I just cannot imagine having this kind of success taking pictures of children in public, in my home country. I have been approached and questioned by security staff at fairs and other public venues when photographing my grandchildren from a distance. It is such a shame and at the same time frustrating, as a photographer who loves to take candid images of real people in their every day environment. Hence I will continue to journey to Costa Rica to satisfy my passion for this style of photography and response from the subjects.
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 18, 2009, 06:37:12 pm
THE ONLY THING MISSING IS THAT I WASN'T THE OFFICIAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER


Maybe next year !

While enjoying paradise on the Southern Pacific beaches of COSTA RICA, I came across 2 weddings taking place in the same area as the sun dropped below the horizon. I was eating when I noticed the first wedding and so grabbed my camera to get a couple of long shots. The second bride and groom passed by me in my car as I was getting ready to head home. In the 3 rapid fire shots that I took, she was obviously aware of me and was posing for my camera. Until I saw the final shots back home, I thought that they were the same wedding.


Olympus E-3 : 554 mm focal length : f5.6 @ 1/80'th : 1000 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090214-E3143482.jpg)

Olympus E-3 : 140 mm focal length : f4 @ 1/160'th : 1000 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090214-E3143483.jpg)

Olympus E-3 : 148 mm focal length : f4 @ 1/160'th : 1000 ISO
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090214-E3143487.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 19, 2009, 07:46:25 am
THE EYES HAVE IT

Parrot Eye
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090205-E3052124.jpg)

Moth Wing
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090212-E3122997.jpg)

Painted Wall
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163572.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 19, 2009, 09:36:22 am
A shot that I just love to the look of . . .

. . . my wife Anne (multitasking as usual with bags of groceries and binoculars in hand), and the 2 friends that came down with us this year - - - - standing on the busy streets around the Central Park in Alajuela looking at a huge flock of Parrots up in the park trees.

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090208-P2082458.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 20, 2009, 07:40:35 pm
OLD TIME OX CART MANUFACTURER

One project that Anne and I hoped that we would get around to this year, was to head up into the mountain town of Sarchi and hopefully find out where the manufacture took place of Costa Rica's claim to fame - - - it's Ox Cart.

Anne's internet research last night, turned up to main manufacturers:

1 ) Joaquin Chaverri Cart Factory - which is much older but caters to  more modern manufacturing technique - - - it is in South Sarchi

2 ) Taller Eloy Alfaro workshop in North Sarchi. This one while slightly newer, was of much more appeal to me because it uses old school techniques including water wheel driven saws, planes, routers, etc.

-----

We have just returned from the 3 hour hair pin trip up in to the mountains and 2 1/2 hour trip home by Bus. We were told that it would be hard to find the place - and so hoped that locals would help us out. A man on the streets in Sarchi, directed us to exact location letting us know that it is a "old house"

It was a great experience as we were free to walk around the workers capturing images of all of the old equipment and methods. I shot some 135 images of all details. Here are just a few:

Here is the workshop ("old home")
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203842.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203846.jpg)

Cardboard patterns and brushes with heavy use
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203878.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 20, 2009, 07:41:34 pm
Cutting through these trees, put quite a load on the water wheel driven belts - and the saw blade would regularly come to a halt
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203867.jpg)

A little water on the leather belts for some grip, would seem to help out
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203865.jpg)

The second floor where assembly of the carts takes place - - - was a scary experience with it's thin floor boards with large gaps allowing us to see the goings on below. Here is a work bench on that floor
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203879.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 20, 2009, 07:42:26 pm
A water wheel driven planer
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203906.jpg)

Complete with Wooden Drive Wheels
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203923.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203889.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 20, 2009, 07:43:10 pm
The Painting process

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203825.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203819.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203831.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 20, 2009, 10:17:24 pm
AH - a tourist shot of me - - - the guy who hardly ever gets his picture taken.

Anne insisted that we take a "Tourist" shot of each other in front of Costa Rica's most prominent tourist attraction - - - the giant ox cart in the central park of Sarchi Norte.

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3204012.jpg)

And the reciprocal one that I took of Anne
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3204014.jpg)

Hey - we have to act like tourists at least once during our excursion!
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 22, 2009, 04:18:25 pm
I HAVE NO IDEA WHY . . .

but people of Costa Rica, in general - - - are aware of cameras (and caucasian I'm sure) and find ways of providing me with great pictures and opportunities.

Of course that has been evident to me along - but these recent experiences made me much more aware of it.

While shooting out over the harbour at this small fishing town, I saw a small boat passing by me. I was quite a distance away and not terribly visible being behind trees shooting from this vantage point:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163539.jpg)

I took my shot of them sorting out their fish - and a few subsequent ones as they passed by:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163544.jpg)

Then I saw the man at the back bend down as they moved away from me:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163545.jpg)

Only to return upright - turn towards me with an example of his successful catch that day:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090216-E3163547.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 22, 2009, 05:31:31 pm
And then another somewhat similar situation yesterday while Anne and I were wondering through some of the "back streets" of the capital city San Jose . . .

. . . I noticed this packed and cramped meat market and decided to take a shot from outdoors of the Kaos. I no sooner got in to position and a few of the fellows behind the counter started yelling at me and hollering "foto foto". I grabbed the shot as they were doing so and then entered squeezing in front of the patrons to get the shots they wanted of them handling their goods.

Unfortunately I was not as prepared as I normally would have been - as I had my aperture set to f6.3 for more DOF for the from the hip street shooting I was set up for and doing. I took the shots in the moment and then when I left, realized that shutter speeds were very low and may have been too slow to get the shots successfully. Most however turned out fine - benefiting from the IS (image stabilization)  feature of my E-510 and E-3:

All shots taken with Olympus E-510 : 12-60mm f2.8/4 : f6.3 @ 1/15'th to 1/40'th : 800 ISO

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212624.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212625.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212632.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212635.jpg)

Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 22, 2009, 05:39:14 pm
And then there was this fellow who I noticed while walking in the Central Market. I took this shot and then he came up and grabbed Anne - implying that I take a picture - - - after showing him the shot on the back of the camera, I started to walk away when he came after me insisting that I take his business card. I soon noticed that he was pointing at his email address on it and was wanting me to send him a copy of the foto (which I have done):

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212672.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212673.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 23, 2009, 05:36:07 pm
One Year Later

About a week ago Anne and I received an email through our Travel Virgins Contact Page with a message entirely written in Spanish. While our Spanish isn't massively improved over last year, we were able to roughly decipher the message. In Spanish it was:

Quote
soy el de anteojos que sale en la foto de pizza hut alajuela, la que esta al lado de blusa
blanca es ahora mi esposa. Vi todas sus fotos, que bueno que disfruten de los paisajes de
nuestro pais.me alegro. sigan viniendo.pura vida.

We figured out that it was one of the fellows in a Photo that we took on our last day saying Good Bye to the city of Alajuela when we left last year. We popped into a Pizza Hut downtown that we had not tried and got a great photo story of the mechanics and delivery fellows working on their motor cycles outside the front door. I also took a couple of shots of the staff inside and then left never to go back.

We also gathered from  the email message that it was the man with the glasses and that he and the lady in the white top were either now married or would be getting married. I sent a reply email with "Gracious" as I knew no Spanish sentences to reply...

. . . Here is the picture from last year that he had come across on the web (I may have written down the url for him on a piece of paper last year - I'm not sure):

(http://asifweknow.com/Feb-April-2008/slideshow/20080331-DSC_3510.jpg)

------

Well - Anne and I had to return to the Pizza Hut this afternoon for a Deep Dish Personal Pizza - - - hoping that we might recognize the people in the photo from last year and see if they remembered us. Of course I had my Olympus E-510 around my neck to jog their memory.

While we did not see the man in glasses (that emailed me), the female Manager with white blouse was there. We smiled at each other and then with the help of a waiter that knew a little English - he explained to her that we were the ones who took their picture last year. She (and a few others who were there at that time) remembered well and were excited to see us.

We just had to do an updated portrait for 2009. Next thing I see is the Manager (in white blouse) on the phone. I picked up that she was phoning the man in glasses (her fiance it turns out) and next thing I know he shows up in a van and reaches out to shake my hand and tell me that he had emailed me (at least I think that is what he was saying). Here is the updated 2009 portrait with some of the same faces:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090223-P2232679.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 23, 2009, 05:37:16 pm
I had to get them in the mood and so started having fun with this man slicking back his hair so he'd look good:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090223-P2232677.jpg)

That led to some fun shots of the bunch:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090223-P2232682.jpg)

including this final one where I rubbed my hair slicking it back - so that he would do the same:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090223-P2232685.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 27, 2009, 06:42:34 am
Walking the streets in a small town : The Human Element

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203957.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203952.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203991.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 27, 2009, 06:43:44 am
----

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203993.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3204039.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3204032.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 27, 2009, 06:44:27 am
Close Encounters

A Woman resting on her door enjoying the activity on her street
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3204035.jpg)

This very small Street Vending Tent framed the man interestingly in  the lower corner amongst his many hats
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3203987.jpg)

Always a Sleeping Dog - and often at bus stops where you want to sit. You just have to work around it
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090220-E3204046.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 27, 2009, 07:43:28 am
Wandering the Jungles : The Animal Kingdom

All taken with Olympus E-3 and 70-300mm Zuiko lens

A Little Gecko sitting beside us watching the waves crash in on the Carribean Coastline
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254275.jpg)

Sloth perched high high up in the tree tops
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254332.jpg)

Very small Deadly Viper wrapped around a branch just feet away from where we walked
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254315.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 27, 2009, 07:44:50 am
Capuchin Monkey sitting just over my head, appearing to be saying "No Photos"
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254361.jpg)

Howler Monkey having a snack
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254431.jpg)

Impressive Colours of a Toucan
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254354.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 27, 2009, 07:45:32 am
Crabs popping in and out of their holes as we approached
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254397.jpg)

Heron snatching up food
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090226-E3264809.jpg)

Beautiful Carribean scenery entering Cahuita National Park
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090226-E3264817.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on February 28, 2009, 07:17:29 am
DOWN TO OUR LAST FEW DAYS IN COSTA RICA - only a few more posts to endure

Men playing dominoes by the sea side
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090224-E3244083.jpg)

A local sitting at the base of a tree, with his bicycle resting on a fence in behind
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090224-E3244086.jpg)

I asked this man about his guitar - if he could play it for me - but I guess he couldn't
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090221-P2212657.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on March 01, 2009, 10:37:09 am
A few sights as we walked through a jungle area yesterday

Kind of wild being just meters away from wild crocodiles cruising around the river edges alongside the path we walked on:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090228-E3285111.jpg)

These brave birds shared the same water space and would move back a few inches as crocs swam past (Roseate Spoonbill are the pink ones - and the Black Bellied Wistling Duck):
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090228-E3285140.jpg)

A Pygmy King Fisher watches on from the sidelines:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090228-E3285117.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on March 01, 2009, 10:38:15 am
An oddity was the Boat-Billed Heron:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090228-E3285125.jpg)

Male and female Red-Legged Honeycreeper  feeding on Mango Fruit (male is blue and female is green):
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090228-E3284938.jpg)

We came on this indescript and ratty looking Hummingbird nest hanging from a small palm tree above our heads:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090228-E3284984.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on March 02, 2009, 09:32:49 am
Passing by this little woodworking shop on the main street of a coastal town - it made me think that this would be the way the I and many others probably fantasize about running their little business or practicing their trade. Wide open doors, easy pace, minimal cloths, using materials and resources that are local convenient and free, etc, etc.

I just about missed that anything was going on at this place, with the dark interior:

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254493.jpg)


I went up to the door and asked if I could take a few photos of the 2 men working as they layed each piece of wood limb up against the other taking measurements manually for a perfect fit:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254483.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254482.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on March 02, 2009, 09:33:50 am
The small dark shop walls and floors were lined and filled with logs, sticks, twigs, and projects in various stages of completion:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254477.jpg)

and huge thick slices of tree trunk with incredible ring patterns, for the tops:
(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254487.jpg)

(http://asifweknow.com/slideshow2009/20090225-E3254490.jpg)
Title: 2009 Lots Of Photography From Costa Rica
Post by: robertwatcher on March 03, 2009, 12:50:47 pm
ALL DONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR

Thanks all for checking in over the last month - - - and for your feedback.

It's Homeward Bound for Anne and I now, and back to the less desirable reality of life and making a living.

ciao