Friday, March 27, 2009, 08:42 - Travel, Shooting
Esztergom, HungaryRecently I traveled across the river to Esztergom to photograph at the Suzuki Factory. Founded in 1991 Magyar Suzuki Corporation was one of the first examples of foreign direct investment after the end of the cold war. Today the plant turns out over 700 cars a day for the European market, and nice cars they are! Suzuki is the largest employer in Esztergom and an important part of the regional economy. Special thanks to Ruska Viktória for arranging the visit!
Stamping towards the future. © Damaso Reyes
Still essential. © Damaso Reyes
Step by step. © Damaso Reyes
Hidden in the background. © Damaso Reyes
Internal structure. © Damaso Reyes
Bright lights, big factory. © Damaso Reyes
At the end of the day. © Damaso Reyes
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Monday, March 16, 2009, 10:34 - Travel, Shooting
Muzla, SlovakiaOn Saturday I was lucky enough to be invited to a wine competition which featured some traditional folk dancing. Drinking wine and taking pictures is not a bad way to spend a Saturday night. Here are a few images, enjoy!
Movement. © Damaso Reyes
Heritage. © Damaso Reyes
Waiting. © Damaso Reyes
Pride. © Damaso Reyes
Listening. © Damaso Reyes
The Dance. © Damaso Reyes
The Truth. © Damaso Reyes
Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 10:42 - Travel, Shooting, Events
Sturovo. SlovakiaOver the weekend I went to an interesting festival (Maskarázás) in Chlaba, nearby town. As it was explained to me the purpose was to banish Winter (which we all hate don’t we?) so that our friend Spring can come along and make us happy. It seemed like a good reason to dress up in strange costumes, play with fire and drink on a Saturday morning. If you don’t believe me check it out for yourselves!
I shall scare you with my… what is that? © Damaso Reyes
Now we must jump over burning bails of hay. © Damaso Reyes
They are very hot! © Damaso Reyes
But they do not frighten me! © Damaso Reyes
Spectacle. © Damaso Reyes
And now we dance! © Damaso Reyes
Tuesday, February 24, 2009, 08:28 - Travel, Shooting, Personal
Esztergom, HungaryWinter has been visiting us quite a bit here in Eastern Europe. Now those who know me well understand I am not really in favor of this whole business of cold and snow but sadly until I get that villa in southern Spain I will no doubt be seeing a lot more snow. In the best spirit of adventure I recently crossed the Danube and took a little walk around. Come along for the ride!
One moment. © Damaso Reyes
Footsteps. © Damaso Reyes
The dividing line. © Damaso Reyes
The shore. © Damaso Reyes
Trapped. © Damaso Reyes
A new path. © Damaso Reyes
Reflections. © Damaso Reyes
Sunset. © Damaso Reyes
Wasn’t that a lovely walk?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 12:49 - Travel, Shooting
Štúrovo, SlovakiaSo last weekend was not just about dancing, let me tell you! I also got to do some relaxing, which in this part of the world invariably involves drinking, and lots of it. Well, when in Hungary, do as the Hungarians do, I always say!
Opening the taps! © Damaso Reyes
My friend Almos invited me to his hometown where his father makes his own wine, as well as Palinka, a local liquor which is very smooth even if it has an alcohol content “above 50%” as I was informed.
This ain’t just water! © Damaso Reyes
It seems like having a wine cellar is as much of a Hungarian tradition as having a backyard is in America. From what I was told making alcohol is the local pastime, one I can enthusiastically support.
Almos pours out a taste. © Damaso Reyes
I have to say that the wine was excellent, as it should be since it has won several local awards. And the Palinka was even better. Of course I can only sip a little at a time, after all, I would like to keep my insides intact, but it was exceedingly smooth and had a lovely subtle fruit flavor.
All in good fun. © Damaso Reyes
What I like about drinking in Europe, and in Hungary in particular, is that it is a family affair. That is to say that it isn’t stigmatized the way it is in America and children grow up understanding it is a part of life, rather than having adults try to hide it from them. This is a much healthier attitude.
Mmmmmm? © Damaso Reyes
Of course when you drink you must eat, another good thing about the European perspective. Of course when you are a stranger in a strange land you will sometimes encounter new things, as I did…
Mmmmmm! © Damaso Reyes
But fun was certainly had by all!
Monday, February 9, 2009, 12:40 - Travel, Shooting
BudapestI don’t know about you but I had a pretty busy weekend! There’s so many photos to share that I will have to break it up into two posts. On Friday I went with some friends to Budapest to take in some traditional Hungarian folk dancing.
One moment. © Damaso Reyes
The music may have been traditional, but the crowd was mostly young people in jeans and dresses.
All together now. © Damaso Reyes
From what I was told traditional music and dancing was discouraged under Communism. Today there has been something of a renaissance of all things Hungarian.
Trio. © Damaso Reyes
I can’t tell you how nice it is to hear. Whenever I go into a supermarket, or any public space that has music, I am assaulted by American pop music. If I wanted to listen to Britney Spears I would have stayed in the United States. But here it was nothing but the sweet melodies of the violin that filled the room.
Slowly. © Damaso Reyes
For sure American and Western European influences abound, especially among the youth. But there is an intense pride in the Hungarian identity that is not chauvinistic but proud.
Watching and waiting. © Damaso Reyes
I recorded some music and will hopefully put together some kind of slideshow later in the week. It’s hard to get across the feeling without hearing the music which inspires the dancing.
Smile. © Damaso Reyes
Embrace. © Damaso Reyes
Circle. © Damaso Reyes
Pair. © Damaso Reyes
Monday, January 19, 2009, 00:48 - Travel, Project News
Štúrovo, SlovakiaGreetings from Slovakia! It took a while to get here but I had a smooth flight from New York. I spent the afternoon in Budapest getting a brief tour (thanks Imre!) before taking the train here.
Home… © Damaso Reyes
First impressions are always just that: an imperfect view of something you don’t know very well. That said, I think I am going to like it here a lot. The people open, warm and friendly. The town is quite small, only about 11,000 people live here. Being a big city boy it is certainly a change of pace. As I was telling one of the locals yesterday, spending time in a small town like this is important to my project. After all, not everyone lives in Berlin and Paris. Getting a different perspective is the only way I can hope to capture the richness of life in Europe.
Four Views. © Damaso Reyes
So here I am. The next two and a half months will certainly be interesting, hopefully they will be productive as well!
Lovely Sturovo! © Damaso Reyes
Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 14:20 - Travel, Project News, Photo of the Day
Flying away on a jet plane…
So I’m heading for Slovakia on Thursday and there are still a million and one things for me to do so I won’t be blogging much this week. Of course on Monday I will fill you in on some first impressions. Until then, stay well!
Damaso
Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 12:52 - Travel, Commentary
BrooklynIt feels good to be home again. I spent a good part of yesterday walking around, meeting friends and running errands and it was just another reminder of the powerful link I have to this great city. It will always be my home, of that there can be no question.
Leaving… © Damaso Reyes
But I also had an opportunity to reflect I bit on the past month. While I don’t feel like I captured any great narrative stories I do feel like I got many individual images that will serve as a window to that place and time that I inhabited. The more time I spend in France the more and more I like it. The French have a relaxed but passionate sensibility that I can very much relate to. I look forward to exploring the country more in the coming years.
But for now I am back but don’t think that I am not planning my return!
Saturday, September 27, 2008, 14:15 - Travel, Commentary
ParisI am here in Paris getting ready to head out on a flight towards New York. It has been a great month here and I hope you have enjoyed the images. See you on the other side!
Cheers! © Damaso Reyes
In photography, visual organization can stem only from a developed instinct. - Henri Cartier-Bresson
Thursday, September 25, 2008, 12:07 - Travel, Shooting
Rochefort-en-TerreYesterday I traveled to the Cote Sauvage or Savage Coast here in Brittany. The place lived up to its name with dramatic vistas of wave battered coastline. It really was amazing to stand at the very end of France and look over the distant horizon towards America, where I will be heading back on Saturday. It was a great trip to end my travels here in France and here are a few images!
You are here! © Damaso Reyes
Crash, bang! © Damaso Reyes
The Channel. © Damaso Reyes
Rocks and waves. © Damaso Reyes
Turbulence. © Damaso Reyes
Thinking. © Damaso Reyes
The castle in the distance. © Damaso Reyes
The lonely fisherman. © Damaso Reyes
Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 11:40 - Travel, Shooting
Rochefort-en-TerreOn Saturday there was a traditional Fest-Noz in Elven, just a few kilometers away. An evening of music and dance the Fest-Noz provides an opportunity to both preserve and celebrate local culture. If you just wandered in one might have thought that one was in Scotland or Ireland what with the sounds of the pipes and drums ringing in the night air. But we were safely in Brittany enjoying another great evening.
And the band played on. © Damaso Reyes
We were dancing through the night. © Damaso Reyes
Playing in the shadows… © Damaso Reyes
Just you and I… © Damaso Reyes
Free Brittany! © Damaso Reyes
The pipes, the pipes are calling… © Damaso Reyes
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 11:35 - Travel, Shooting
Rochefort-en-TerreIt was a busy weekend. Once again the sun was shining and on Sunday several of us took the opportunity of visit an arts festival at Gorvello. There was some traditional dancing and music and well as lots of food and drink. I was pretty wiped out from the night before but I managed to get a few good pictures…
Let’s start from the beginning… © Damaso Reyes
Jesus says hello. © Damaso Reyes
Generations of tradition. © Damaso Reyes
Random moth. © Damaso Reyes
Shoes. © Damaso Reyes
The passion of the flower. © Damaso Reyes
Monday, September 22, 2008, 11:25 - Travel, Shooting
Rochefort-en-TerreOne of the things I like most about spending time in small towns are the festivals and circuses one can find. Last week there was a small family circus in Pluherlin, a village within walking distance. So I packed my camera bag and went for a stroll down the road. It was a small tent but I got to spend a little time with the Bertrand family before the show. Here are a few images…
Big show, this way! © Damaso Reyes
Laetita, Christhophe, Leslie, Dannob and BoBoye. © Damaso Reyes
Send in the clowns. © Damaso Reyes
My kingdom for a llama. © Damaso Reyes
Brother and sister. © Damaso Reyes
Time for a show. © Damaso Reyes
Friday, September 12, 2008, 10:23 - Travel, Shooting
Rochefort-en-TerreEarlier this week several of the artists here took a trip to the nearby island of Gavrinis which contains a megathic tomb which dates back to 3,500 B.C.E. Just a short ferry ride through the Gulf of Morbihan, Gavrinis is an interesting example of Europe’s wonderfully preserved history. Thousands of years ago humans were building complex societies complete with the kind of memorials that we are familiar with. Here are a few images!
Can you smell the salt air? © Damaso Reyes
You are here! © Damaso Reyes
Monument. © Damaso Reyes
Entrance. © Damaso Reyes
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