Buenos Aires 2001

Motivation: I think this photo shows very well the moment at that time in Argentina (mid 2001). The official crisis was yet to come in December, but at that time you were already breathing it. People on the streets collecting everything they could sell, all around. I was shooting in the neighbor (typical one in buenos aires) and the moment I saw the group portrayed I knew I had to get it. I did not even had time to ask for permission (something I like to do, since I like street portraits more than street-candid) so this one was a candid.

Where & When: San Telmo, Buenos Aires. (Argentina). August 2001.


*Tech Stuff*

Film: Tri-X PAN (kodak tx 5063) @ 800 ASA
Camera: Olympus OM-1
Lens: Zuiko MC 50mm f/1.8
Exposure: 125-f/11

Why the exposure & equipment: I was shooting on the street, and inside bars and restaurants, so I needed a fast lens, and relative high ISO. Thats why the f/1.8 and the 800 ASA on the Tri-x. Outside was an outcast day, very gray, and the measurement was around that pair. 125th for street action, and the f/11 just for the correct exposure.

Scaner: HP PhotoSmart S20 @ 2400 dpi

Photoshop: (Actually, paint shop pro -> cheaper )
- Hand-made dust removal (No fancy scanner)
- histogram adjustment-> Settings: Low 16, High 255 (thats it, extending tonal range). Midtone compress: 10

NOTE: THE BLACK BORDER IS LEFT ONLY AS A REFERENCE TO THE FULL-FRAME RULE. NO INTENTION TO BE PART OF THE PHOTOGRAPH. (you can count the film holes if you want)

NOTE 2: sorry for my english
NOTE 3: I just resize it (I thought that a full res was needed for the contest) Let me know if it is too small