Palio di Asti, Asti, Lombardy Province, Italy It begins at night; as darkness falls around the old streets of Asti crowds gather in San Secondo square, children jostle for the best position, families pick up slices of pizza, judges take … Continue reading
Last month I travelled to Italy to work on a personal project covering the Palio di Asti (will be a future blog post), I flew in via Milan, and took the opportunity to spend a couple of days exploring the northern Italian city. Scaffolding was erected on the two major architectural sights: The Cathedral and Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, which limited the angles I could shoot of them. Anyway, here are my favourite images from the short stay..
Waiting for my train to Asti….
Last month I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. A part of the world new to me, but a landscape very reminiscent of the Dorset, Devon and Cornwall coastline I spent a lot of … Continue reading
Before heading away on an advertising shoot to Kazakhstan I wanted to do a ‘warm up’ studio shoot. I booked Jordann for it – she has a unique and beautiful look and it was a pleasure to work with her. … Continue reading
I missed a flight back to the UK for this final day in Rio de Janeiro – that morning I found these fishermen hauling their boats out for the days work, as the sun rose over the south Atlantic ocean.
While I was in Rio de Janeiro last month I met up and collaborated with stunning Monique. She had the idea of a fashion shoot, using the colours of a local favela as a backdrop. Inspiration came from a recent Vogue shoot featuring Cara Delevingne, in the same place – Santa Marta favela. We hired two local Rio guides to help out and look out for us.
Santa Marta favela was pacified recently as part of the clean up operation as the city prepares to host the World Cup and Olympics, a few years ago it probably wouldn’t have been possible to shoot here. I’m really glad I had the chance to visit it and work there, albeit briefly, and not as part of some tour group.
(All images shot with a Nikon D800E and Nikon f/2 135mm lens.)
More info and contact details for Monique here.
Monique in Santa Marta Favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana at dawn, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach at dawn, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach at dawn, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I remember reading about this venue, The Maracanã Stadium in ‘World Soccer’ magazine when I was younger. It is one of the most iconic sports venues in the world, up alongside Madison Square Garden, Wembley and the Nou Camp. Upgrades were recently completed in time for this years World Cup and the Olympics in 2 years, it now holds 78,000 spectators. In 1950 it had the 199,854 fans watched the World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay (which the latter won 2-1).
Getting there was easy – one change on the metro from Copacabana, and getting a ticket (90 Reals – £25) was simple with English speaking assistants at the ticket booths. After shooting Stadium exteriors in the late afternoon light I went for a couple of beers amongst the Botafogo fans, as the evening kick-off time approached.
As the teams entered the arena the atmosphere was electric, unlike anything I’ve heard at English grounds, so much noise. The away, Chilean side (Unión Española of Santiago) scored the only goal of the game, meaning they finished top of their group, and Botafogo 2nd. Both sides would go through to the next round of the Libertadores Cup (South American version of the Champions League).
Statue outside the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans buying tickets outside the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans buying tickets outside the Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans enjoying game between Botafogo (of Rio) and Unión Española (of Santiago, Chile), Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans enjoying game between Botafogo (of Rio) and Unión Española (of Santiago, Chile), Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans enjoying game between Botafogo (of Rio) and Unión Española (of Santiago, Chile), Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Action from cup match between Botafogo (of Rio, Brazil) and Unión Española (of Santiago, Chile), Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fans enjoying game between Botafogo (of Rio) and Unión Española (of Santiago, Chile), Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“I am not sure that I exist, actually. I am all the writers that I have read, all the people that I have met, all the women that I have loved; all the cities I have visited.”
Jose Luis Borges
Garganta do Diablo, Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil
Garganta do Diablo, Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil
Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil
Tourists enjoying the view from ‘Trilha das Cataratas’, Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil
View from ‘Trilha das Cataratas’, Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil
View from ‘Trilha das Cataratas’, Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Brazil
Next stop, (and last stop): Rio de Janeiro
“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
Jose Luis Borges
BEN PIPE PHOTOGRAPHY 