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[dailyfilmdan]

7 • White Christmas • As Christmas and the New Year approached I reflected on how much Colombia had changed in such a short time. Relative peace with the Guerrilla forces has been established and the government now seem to hold power over the drug lords. The government keen to take advantage over the much more peaceful times are doing their best to attract more tourists to their beautiful country. More importantly the experience I had with with your average man or woman in the street was one of joy to see tourism flourishing as this was a clear sign that things are changing for the better. The welcoming atmosphere and the tropical gems the country had to offer meant that for many backpackers, Colombia seemed to be the firm favourite on their travels. But I suspected that the cheap high quality cocaine that many raved about had something to do with it too. [Colombia 2017 Collection]

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6 • Side streets • While traveling you often find yourself fatigued at some point in the day. Regardless of the activity, even just going out to get a bite to eat. The fatigue I refer to is a mental one that weighs on you when in a unfamiliar place. Once you’ve stepped out of the door and into the street for the day, instantly your senses are over stimulated. The air would be complex and unfamiliar. Then it was the light. On one hand It’s great for shooting film because of the more vibrant colours you get but I found that it was constantly brighter which would strain my eyes, especially as some of the most beautiful places sit at a higher in altitude. After that it’s the sound. Usually rather chaotic when you’re in the centre. I found that a constant mental challenge was hearing everyone speaking another language with your brain passively trying to translate. After its your movement around the space. Your body contouring through the narrow streets and large open plazas always on alert for someone trying to take advantage of you. Soon I would become sluggish and find it hard to think. It is then that I would find an interesting place to sit and take in my surrounding. I would scan the buildings in detail then see how people move and interact with the space and each other. I found myself on a narrow side street sitting on someone’s front door step when I took this picture.

[Colombia 2017 Collection]

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5 • Ease •

The sun leaned on me real heavy and my eyes strained under the bright light. I took refuge in one of the old entrances to the city.

Here you would find others doing the same. Locals and tourists alike hovered in the cool draft that passed through this large opening in the stone. There was familiarity in the act, as though we were waiting for the rain to ease. I bumped into this young man who had been walking around all day trying to sell selfie sticks. His eyes were kind and had a big smile across his face. He would meet other vendors there for a chat before they went back out. They had a fast pace about them, seeking out any prospecting tourist trying to take pictures. Somewhat confused as to why I would want a picture of him instead of me, he happily struck a pose which I would see many other Colombians do on my travels. [Colombia 2017 Collection]

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4 • Festive Blues •

After being on the road for 10 months I contracted a case of the blues. Travelling had began to grind me down and I had a feeling I knew why.

It was December. Now it may not have felt much like it with the soaring tropical heat and the coconut trees swaying by the ocean. But nevertheless I could feel something was amiss. I was due to spend Christmas away from my family.

It wasn’t all bad thought as a dear friend of mine would soon be flying in to Brazil and had invited me to spend some of the festive period with him and his family in Rio.

I walked around Cartagena thinking about what Christmas meant to me and what it was that I missed so dearly.

I thought about the meal. For most people it’s the highlight of the day. To gather as one and break bread rings true to our very core. But over time in the west it has become something rather rare and I had felt a sense of missing out.

After a large meal we would have the ritual walk in the park near our house. And at some point in the day the inevitable feeling of another year passing would sink in.

I feeling that is rather sad, but a sadness mixed in with the joy of being able to experience the moment. Similar to a child setting off on their first day of school or that of saying goodbye to your first car for a newer and better model.

A knowing that nothing stays the same just as a leaf being carried down stream on a river. And despite our differences all things are traveling in the same direction, there’s a kind of beauty in that. [Colombia 2017 Collection]

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3 • The Wall • Around the city of Cartagena spans a 11 kilometre stone wall built by the Spanish in 1594 to fend off European pirates from repeatedly ransacking the city. Nowadays the wall keeps out skyscrapers and carparks, leaving the old Spanish architecture with its narrow side streets stuck in time. I made my way out of the old city in search of some open space. Through the wall I went and was spat out onto the shores of the Caribbean sea. The same shores where gold and silver set sail for Europe while slavery dropped its anchor. Many of our European cities and countries have torn down their walls as they’ve ballooned in size and militarily the walls became redundant. But in North America building walls has had somewhat of a revival in recent times. The wall in Cartagena is rather low and cant say I felt very intimidated by it but that may also be because as I walked around it I noticed people would be sitting atop of it, like this father and his two sons looking out to sea where Jamaica sits directly north. Other people would use the gaps in the wall as an opportunity to grab some shade from the relentless midday sun. [Colombia 2017 Collection]

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2 • Faith & Side Hustle •

Catholicism runs deep in the blood of the Colombian people. A cross swinging from the rear view mirror is a must for a car journey.

But for those that spend every working hour behind the wheel, it makes perfect sense to obstruct your windscreen with a large depiction of Jesus. Showing the belief that its not your eyes that will guide you safe passage but your surrender and love for Christ.

The man hanging from the moving bus is the conductor. You can purchase your bus ticket from him and for a small fee he will also carry a package for you and drop it off anywhere along the route to a friend, client or family member waiting at one of the bus stops. They seem to know everyone and have a few side hustles on the go constantly. There are many vendors along the route that will board the bus to sell their goods and before getting off they’ll always have something for the driver and the conductor as a thank you. [Colombia 2017 Collection]

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1 • Umbrella Weather • ☂️ Fair skin is the beauty ideal and staying covered up and out of the sun is standard practice for most women in Heroica regardless of the tropical heat.

A gentleman from the area explained to me that he could always tell who was a tourist by what they wore. He pointed at my shorts and told me that a local man would only ever wear jeans or trousers.

Thought it was disappointing to see such importance placed on the shade of ones skin tone, it did make me think of the unintentional protection against skin damage that was being done.

It’s such a strange world we live in, where white people travel to these tropical places and try to get as brown as possible while the local people are trying to do the opposite. [Colombia 2017 Collection]

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1. Sunday 15th January 2012

-urban gymnastics