entrepreneurs say peru’s future is bright
Four entrepreneurs from a list of Peru’s “Great Places to Work 2011″ see great opportunities in Peru for 2012. (So do I!) Oscar and I photographed them for Somos magazine last month.
Juan Stoessel from Casa Andina | Abraham Zavala from Corporación Radial del Perú
Jaime García from IBM | Javier Calvo Perez Badiola from J&V Resguardo
mafia stiletto – take two
Ale Molina co-directs a group called Mafia Stiletto in Lima. In addition to teaching Sexy Stiletto classes, the group of professional dancers perform around the metro area. After photographing the class I met the group for a photo shoot at one of the gyms they rehearse in. Talk about different lighting than the first shoot! Same topic, a little more make up, mostly the same girls, a different location, one flash and the product is so very different. I thought it would be interesting to share both shoots. There is certainly more than one way to skin a cat!
peru’s danica patrick
She’s young. She’s beautiful. And she most likely drives her car much faster than you. I had the opportunity to photograph Yazmín Dyer in her Chorillos shop in November. She’s one of only five women who have competed in Peru’s Caminos del Inca race – founded by Henry Bradley who I photographed back in June. I enjoyed her energy, willingness to smile and her patience during our shoot and hope to see her do well in future races.
Published December 15 in Ruedas y Tuercas
thankful for little gifts
While I take a lot of portraits, some are definitely more interesting than others. As a photographer I sometimes get little gifts, like beautiful rays of natural light, a really great location or a few extra minutes to spend with a subject. After shooting dozens of executives in their offices, I rejoiced at the chance to photograph Humberto Martinez at a construction site. A few weeks later I was photographing Laura Fantozzi on a rooftop, working with two lights to overpower the harsh sun. When we went inside after the shoot I noticed the late afternoon sun coming in the window. Instead of overpowering it this time, I forgot about my lights and used it. In the United States we celebrate Thanksgiving today. This year I’m thankful for those little gifts.
Laura Fantozzi of Kusimayo shot for HOLA Perú
Humberto Martinez of Marcan shot for G de Gestión
malas intenciones
Last month I had the opportunity to photograph Peruvian film director Rosario García-Montero and Fátima Buntinx, the protagonist of her recent film “Malas Intenciones,” for HOLA Perú. If you get the chance to watch it, I recommend it. While it’s not a “feel good” film, it’s a film that makes you feel. “With plenty of black humor and heart, this offbeat drama tells the story of Cayetana, a solitary Peruvian girl with a vivid imagination, who convinces herself that she will die the day her brother is born,” says the official site. The movie is set in Peru during the time of terrorism, which casts an extra sense of eeriness to movie.
An amusing side story…the week the movie was released in Peru, Fátima went to the theater, but they didn’t let her in because of her age. Rules are rules, but, sheesh!
fina: three generations
Last month I photographed Peruvian fashion designer Delfina Riveros Checa de Leigh, of FINA, along with her daughter and granddaughter. They recently designed a suit for Peru’s first lady, Nadine Heredia, that she sported in a photo on the cover of ¡HOLA! Perú. Delfina and her daughter Beatriz started the company in 1980. Their garments use alpaca, baby alpaca and are inspired by traditional Peruvian styles. Its runway meets Andes.
conde faber-castell
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph royalty for the first time in my career. Anton-Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell was in Lima for the 250th anniversary of the Faber-Castell brand, the world’s oldest and largest manufacturer of colored pencils. I’ved used Faber-Castell colored pencil many times in my life so it was pretty interesting to learn where the name came from and have a royal count on the other side of my lens. Check out the family castle!
Portrait session for this week’s edition of ¡HOLA! Peru.
Anton-Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell
fun executives
Photographers are more happy when their subjects are willing to have fun. Thanks to Flavio, Carlos and Jaime for loosening up on the other side of my lens. I photographed all three for a business magazine in Lima called G de Gestión. While other photos of Carlos and Jaime were selected for publication, the photo of Flavio ran in the July issue of the magazine.
Flavio Pantigoso, Executive Creative Director for Y&R Lima
Carlos Laje, Head of PUMA for Latin America
Jaime Cohen, President of Goodbyear for Latin America
karate kid
A few months ago I headed south to the beach town of Punta Negra to photograph 6-year-old Jhariff in his karate class. The Little Lutheran published the photos this month. After photographing karate class we headed to Jhariff’s favorite place – the beach – for a portrait shoot. At one point, I was focused on picture taking and Jhariff on jumping. The water snuck up on us, caught him and left me scrambling backward to avoid the water. Oh the joys of Mother Nature! At least she gave us a lovely sunset backdrop.
henry bradley, peru’s king of racing
I had never heard of Henry Bradley when I walked through the back door of his Lima shop. The smell of grease and the hum of cars being worked on made it just like any other shop in town, but Bradley’s history sets him apart. He won the most famous Peruvian racing event – Caminos del Inca – seven times, but more than wining it, he helped bring the race to his country. He raced in the United States for years and helped build the first Lexus that won a competition. And his knowledge of cars and racing is infinite. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a “motor head,” but after a few hours with this guy, you can’t help but be interested in the sport.
Published June 23 in Ruedas & Tuercas