Photos of Argentina

Taking photos around Argentina:

4/ La Boca - home to the legendary football team Boca Juniors and potential to photograph the working class of Argentina. If lucky you may be able to take some good shots down the Caminito (pedestrian walk with artists etc). This area can be a little sketchy so make sure you are on your gaurd. Example La Boca photo.

5/ Recoleta - this area is one popular with tourists ... so you may have to be patient when taking a photo. The main highlight is the infamous Cementerio de la Recoleta. This wonderful place has decrepit tombs, decaying marble grave stones and unbelievably huge sarcophagi. You can even get a photograph of Evita's grave.

Cordoba:

Cordoba is a great town to visit both buzzy and laid-back at the same time. Its also a fantastic place to venture if you enjoy religious photography ... there are over 21 churches in the downtown area alone.

Out of all the colonial buildings its recommended checking out both the cabildo and the casa del obispo mercadillo. Example Cordoba photo.

Another city outside of Cordoba that's worth a visit is La Rioja. This small town has picturesque shots of plaza's and is often dubbed the city of oranges.

Patagonia:

Patagonia is VAST ... literally! As such I have split up Patagonia's various photographic hot spots:

Puerto Madryn - this is a funny old town thats far from its South American roots as it was founded by the Welsh. The town itself has a few nice spots but its wildlife sanctuary of Peninsula Valdes that you'll get the best shots. Example Puerto Madryn photo.

Peninsula Valdes - to me this was the ultimate place to go if you want to take photos of basking elephant seals and groups of sea lions. If you are really, really lucky you'll be there for when one of the killer whales goes for some lunch on the beach (February - April). Example Peninsula Valdes photo.

Viedma - I suppose I was lucky with Viedma as I came across some great photo opportunities. We happened to stop off for a coach break. I went for a walk and came across a field full of abandoned boats ... what a find, it's a shame we only had 10 mins. Unfortunately I cannot recall where this field was located. Example Viedma photo.

El Calafate - this was definetly one of the South American highlights. El Calafate is most famous for the stunningly beautiful and powerful glacier ... the Moreno glacier. The Moreno glacier is located in the Parque Nacional los glaciares. You are able to go right up to the glacier to take photos. Huge chunks of ice (the size of small houses) crack and fall dramatically into the freezing waters below. FANTASTIC. I also took a boat ride up to the edge of the glacier for some close up photography. Highly recommended. Example Moreno photo.

A short description whilst travelling the roads of Patagonia on a local coach ...

"The hypnotic stretch of tarmac and broken creatures carries on relentless. Owls turn and swoop into the bush. Deserted pink washed buildings, once entertaining customers, hold their position roofless under the tiring sky. A beige truck, its paint peeling away, is overtaken. Its occupants look unconcerned on their one way journey to the abattoir. Shadows cast by the curtains move methodically across the aisle and laps of passengers. An official green sign depicts how many kilometres are left; a hasty calculation is made.

Every few hours a town breaks the monotony of the landscape. The horizon now consists of groups of concrete shelters, sometimes broken by a dazzling church spire. Sandy, abandoned playgrounds and dusty beech trees line the streets. Lonely carcasses of ancient automobiles, half-eaten by rust, act as temporary housing for stray dogs.
Back on the read the sun skims silently over a washed out blue sky. Its now faint rays reflect off the piercing knifes of a lonely harvester. Bugs open up like dropped eggs onto the windshield. The smell and noise of new passengers fills the rows of carpeted seats. Packs of refreshments are opened, drinks slurped. Tired, numb eyes watch the coach eat up the endless road and stare forlorn as the sun fades from view.

More towns pass by and more hours drag by.

A kid taps his shoe with boredom on the plastic floor. A litter strewn control point consumes endless minutes whilst a last inspection is made. Eventually the final station rolls into view. Its black, bleak scaffolding welcomes tired passengers; they head straight for the taxi rank."

Tierra del fuego:

For some great nature photography head down to the Southern tip of Argentina ... better know as Tierra del fuego. The lighting is fantastic, water clear and wilderness untouched. Its bitterly cold but well worth the trip.

Ushuaia - this was the main town that I stopped at. It is officially the Southermost city in the world with a landscape to die for. Its next to the Beagle channel which teems with wildlife and shipwrecks from the ages. I took a boat ride out to the islands to get some close up photography shots of the wildlife and it was fantastic. Example photo of Ushuaia.

Parque nacional tierra del fuego - I spent a couple of days trekking round this incredible park. A word to the wise ... wrap up warm. The park is an incredible way to get up close and personal with the surrounding nature. Snow capped mountains and crystal clear lakes are there for the taking.