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Grand tour of Iguazu Falls

December 16, 2009 Leave a comment

I am far too exhausted to give a proper account of today’s excitement in Iguazu Falls, but I can say I have not seen a more impressive natural wonder in a long old time. Just waterfall after stunning waterfall, stretching off into forever. Not only did we walk all over the national park, not only did we see (and photograph) the multitude of different waterfalls and rapids, but we took the seemingly obligatory boat ride which culminated in us getting drenched at the base of the falls, a true thrill. More to come…

Categories: Photography, South America, Travel Photography Tags: , ,

In the lap of (jungle) luxury

December 14, 2009 Leave a comment

After a surprisingly-comfortable and well-rested 15-hour overnight bus journey from Buenos Aires, we arrived in Puerto Iguazu, a rough and ready little town where locals and tourists seem to intermingle freely. 

We are staying in a very swish joint called the Iguazu Jungle Lounge just on the edge of town. Our jaws all dropped when we saw the huge and irresistible swimming pool, but our eyes all popped out of our heads when we saw our "cabana", a 2-floor epic of a house with views out into the jungle and the Rio Iguazu beyond. We wasted no time hitting the pool and no sooner had we arrived than the sun came out to greet us, along with a 2-foot tiger-striped lizard who loped across the far side of the pool as if to remind us that, gin and tonics or not, we were in the jungle. 

So a rest day today, going to take it easy before the adventure of Iguazu Falls tomorrow…

Categories: Photography, South America, Travel Photography Tags: , ,

All good in Argentina

December 13, 2009 Leave a comment

Just a quick one to say that the temporary trauma of the flight is over (short version: never ever ever fly Iberia long haul) we were welcomed to Quilmes, a suburb of Buenos Aires, by Pierce, the groom-to-be. Driven in past slums and stray dogs to a posh barrio to a house next to a thumping nightclub. Fortunately a few beers in Quilmes at some surprisingly lively and cosmopolitan bars meant that when we got back home we fell asleep instantaneously and I literally slept through the apocalypse. Woke this morning to the clip clop of horse and cart ambling past the house. Chilling day today, maybe go into BA centre later on before catching our 16 hour bus up north to Iguazu. Hopefully post a photo or two when i next have internet access.

Categories: South America Tags: ,

On the road again

December 12, 2009 Leave a comment

The picture above is of the roof of Madrid Airport, where I am currently trying to sweat out the effects of a minor earthquake of a hangover due to the office Chirstmas do last night. Oof.

However, all is well as I am about to board the flight bound for Buenos Aires. With luck the hangover will fade away somewhere over the Atlantic and be replaced by a suffuse glow of anticipation…

Luke Robinson
luke@mortalcoil.com / londonluke@gmail.com
http://www.mortalcoil.com/

Categories: South America

Preparing for South America

December 6, 2009 Leave a comment

So what do you take for a 7 week trip to 3 or 4 different countries with climate varying from summer sunshine to Andean thin air and chill, from a semi-formal wedding in Buenos Aires to trekking in Peru, from urban exploration to rural endurance?

More to the point, how does a tech-addict and camera geek such as myself adequately strike the balance between taking too much gear and not taking something that would really enable me to capture and share snippets of my experiences in a satisfactory manner?

I think I am gradually coming back to the less is more theory on the clothes. I am not going to be a walking North Face ad; I am going to take comfortable clothes and if I have to pick something up there, so be it. Though I am taking my Scarpa boots – they are just awesome. But the full waterproof shells can stay in the closet here.

Still struggling with the tech/photo gear though. My daypack (an excellent combo photo/daypack from Crumpler) is already fairly heavy loaded for bear with: 
  • Canon EOS 40D body
  • Canon 17-40mm F4L 
  • Canon 28-135mm F3.5-5.6
  • Canon 70-300mm (the cheap one)
  • Canon S90 pro compact (just getting to grips with this, but excellent so far)
  • Olympus water / shockproof compact (crap pictures, but could come in handy)
  • Asus EEE PC netbook (for posting, surfing, photo editing and boredom relief on 16 hour bus journeys)
  • Guidebook
Never mind all the chargers, adaptors, batteries, cleaning supplies etc it takes to keep all of the above running. 

But I would be kicking myself if I didn't have the right tools to get into the photo-groove when I get there. The netbook is the only real indulgence, but I won't be taking it out with me during the day (that's what hotel safes are for) and it doesn't weigh much anyway. And I am typing this post on it, so I already know it will come in handy. 

I am still struggling on whether to leave behind the 70-300mm cheapie lens and swap in my 70-200mm F2.8L which is a muuuuuch nicer lens but is A) expensive and B) big and heavy. I think I am gonna have to get by without it. Not like I'd be pulling it out in a crowded market in Peru anyway….

Since this is my first proper post using Posterous I really should include a photo, so here's one I shot yesterday while out testing the new S90 compact: 

Categories: Photography, South America, Travel Photography Tags: , ,