Foto Bogotá Photography - M1key - Michal Huniewicz

Foto Bogotá by Michal Huniewicz

Much to my surprise and delight, I was invited to speak at the biggest South American photography conference - Fotográfica Bogotá. [1]

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Uploaded on: 2017-10-15.

Bogotá, Colombia

Welcome to Bogotá

Welcome to Bogotá
This is Bogotá savanna and the city of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/1400s.

Meet the Speaker

Meet the Speaker
I was invited to speak at Fotográfica Bogotá about a country no other than North Korea, as well as about my photography experience. Out of the 30 photographers they invited, I think I was the only amateur photographer.
ISO , 0mm, f/0.0, s.

Cloudy Mountains

Cloudy Mountains
It was the rainy season in Colombia. Our organisers were seriously concerned about our safety. While Colombia used to be world's capital of murder, but that's no longer the case. I felt pretty safe, but then you almost always do.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/950s.

Coca

Coca
I arrived at 4 AM, completely knackered. My body was confused as the day was only beginning - the longest day in my life, I think. First thing I bought? Coca!
Quite a few photos in this gallery will be from my phone.
ISO 100, 5mm, f/1.8, 1/206s.

Gothic

Gothic
I went for a walk in the neighbourhood of La Candelaria. This sort of neo-Gothic architecture appeals to me. Later, I was told that this used to be a convent, and then the HQ of the DAS, where people were tortured and killed during the ROjas Pinilla dictatorship. [2]
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/240s.

Stairs

Stairs
Stairs in a park near my hotel.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/105s.

Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá

Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá
This cathedral was once decorated with spikes to prevent pigeons from sitting on it. I was told soon pigeon blood decorated the cathedral, giving it a truly Catholic look. It was too much for most people, and the spikes were removed, and pigeons triymphantly returned en masse.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/1700s.

La Candelaria from Above

La Candelaria from Above
La Candelaria is the heart of Bogotá - and probably the first destination every tourist goes to.
ISO 153, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/100s.

Mummy

Mummy
One of the biggest attraction is the Gold Museum - Museo del Oro.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/7s.

El Dorado

El Dorado
That's right, this is where the El Dorado legend comes from. The myth that drove the gold-hungry Spanish colonialists insane.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/450s.

Horns

Horns
Gold is fairly abundant in this part of tyhe world, and has been an integral part of culture. [3]
ISO 400, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Mary

Mary
Lovely Mary statue in the former church now called Museo Santa Clara.
ISO 2500, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Overhanging

Overhanging
Building in Central Bogotá.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/105s.

Animal Abuse

Animal Abuse
I didn't like this.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/1000s.

Rainy Season

Rainy Season
Carrera 7, where they were offering me weed. It was raining on and off, luckily I had my anti-rain jacket I bought for my trip to Iceland.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/210s.

Jesus in Tears

Jesus in Tears
Back to Museo Santa Clara.
One of the photographers that was also invited said he loved buying kitsch religious statues (and bought a few in Colombia). He said they represented well the sense of taste of the nation that was selling it. However, he found many of the bloodied Colombian statues of Jesus a bit much.
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Into the Crypt!

Into the Crypt!
I love crypts and the like, but this one was closed.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/25s.

Altar

Altar
The altar was obviously built to impress. The skull Saint Francis (right) is holding is meant to be real.
ISO 1600, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Confessional

Confessional
This is where the priest goes.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/75s.

Confess Now...

Confess Now...
And this is what you see when you confess your sins here.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Carmen

Carmen
Calle del Carmen.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/320s.

Church

Church
Let's have a look at this amazing building.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/7.1, 1/1000s.

Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Carmen

Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Carmen
Fairy tale-like church of Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Carmen attracted me because of its ablaq - Byzantine-inspired Syrian architectural element involving stripes that we correctly associate primarily with Islamic architecture.
ISO 1000, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Carmen

Iglesia Nuestra Senora del Carmen
The church isn't old - it was built in 1927. [5]
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

At Work

At Work
Woman at work in the church.
ISO 800, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Prayer

Prayer
Like most churches, this one also stood empty. A man came in to pray and left.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/50s.

Altar

Altar
Altar detail.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Candle

Candle
Alpha/omega candle.
ISO 1250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Woman in the Church

Woman in the Church
Another woman who works in the church. I had a chat with her in my pathetic Spanish.
ISO 2500, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Girl

Girl
This girl allowed me to photoraph her after I showed her my "Artista" pass, ha ha. You have to love the hat.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/850s.

Underneath the Clouds

Underneath the Clouds
The area further south is meant to be unsafe - everyone said don't go, peligroso.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/350s.

In Front of a Museum

In Front of a Museum
Area in front of a museum where some of the photographers had their exhibitions.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/11.0, 1/250s.

Landmark

Landmark
Landmark visible on a hill.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/5.0, 1/950s.

Iglesia de San Francisco

Iglesia de San Francisco
Built between 1557 and 1621, this is the oldest surviving church in town. [6]
ISO 400, 23mm, f/4.0, 1/60s.

From a Cable Car

From a Cable Car
This is the evening view from a cable car.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/45s.

Daniela

Daniela
I went there with Daniela, who interviewed me for the Vice magazine.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/30s.

Zipaquirá

Zipaquirá
On my last day before the flight, I left Bogotá. This is town of Zipaquirá from above.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/800s.

Church of Zipaquirá

Church of Zipaquirá
Church in Zipaquirá.
ISO 1000, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Crying Mary

Crying Mary
Crying statue of Mary.
ISO 320, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Into the Salt Mine

Into the Salt Mine
This is the main attraction though. The salt mine in Zipaquirá.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/45s.

Salt Cathedral

Salt Cathedral
The mine houses a cathedral. There are three salt cathedrals in the world, two of them in Poland, this is the third one.
ISO 2500, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Angel

Angel
The place is enormous. They keep telling you how many jumbo jets would fit inside.
ISO 2500, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Angel #2

Angel #2
One cool thing they offer is the so called mine experience, where you wear a hard hat, you have to squeeze through narrow, pitch-black tunnels with zero light, and then mine with a pick axe. Minecraft in real life. It was massively tiring, and everyone on my tour was crap at it.
ISO 2000, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Any in the Mine

Any in the Mine
My friend Any in the mine. She was kind enough to take me there in her mum's car.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/15s.

Saltfall

Saltfall
Saltfall? Tourists above.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/30s.

Oro

Oro
Oro
This is gold in its pure form. They didn't let us mine it.
ISO 320, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Chapel

Chapel
Chapel underground.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/10s.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal in Colombia. See the real thing.
ISO 161, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/100s.

That's Not an Airport!

That's Not an Airport!
We did this trick where Any was driving the car while my drone was flying above it for kilometres (four, to be precise). Then I saw this and freaked out thinking it was an airport. Luckily, it's just a plane museum.
ISO 189, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/50s.

Monserrate

Monserrate
Here, on the other hand, I flew with a professional drone pilot here, two drones in the air, felt so futuristic.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/340s.

Central Bogotá

Central Bogotá
This is the central part of Bogotá, and my hotel was nearby. Further North, the Portuguese embassy where I was invited for a delicious dinner.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/250s.

Favela

Favela
We called these favelas, but apparently favelas is a Portuguese word, and used normally in the context of Brazilian slums. [4]
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/560s.

Any

Any
Any
Any, a we were on our way to the restaurant of Andrés Carne de Res.
ISO 200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/200s.

On a Bus

On a Bus
Took us absolute ages to get to a supposedly famous restaurant/bar. Every means of transport played Despacito...
ISO 250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Andrés Carne de Res

Andrés Carne de Res
The rain was horrendous, but we made it.
ISO 250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Smudged Makeup

Smudged Makeup
We were greeted by these statues.
ISO 250, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/60s.

Devil Horns

Devil Horns
Any expressing happinness.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/13s.

Me

Me
Me
That's me in the restaurant. The food was all right. Overall, the place seemed nice, but I wasn't sure what the hype was all about.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/15s.

Restaurant Itself

Restaurant Itself
This is what it looked like inside.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/15s.

Dance Floor

Dance Floor
We ended up on the dance floor. I danced like a stereotypical white man.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/40s.

Pole Dancing (Pun Intended)

Pole Dancing (Pun Intended)
Here's another Pole, doing pole dancing! I tried as well, and several people were required to help me reach the top.
ISO 3200, 23mm, f/2.0, 1/25s.

Sunset

Sunset
It was a long break, ten days. I participated in several events: talked to students about my photography, did a review with photography students, opened my exhibition. People talked to me about going to North Korea, and in communism in general, which looks different to South Americans than it does to Eastern Europeans like me.
The day before the flight I gave a 45-minute long lecture on my trip to North Korea to hundreds of people, which was terrifying right up to the moment I got onto the stage and immediately chilled out.
ISO 100, 4mm, f/2.8, 1/1150s.

Thank you, Bogotá!

Thank you, Bogotá!
It was amazing to be there. Here's a little collage of photos I created from my talk, the skyscraper that displayed my photo on its surface, me getting hopelessly drunk, a leaflet with my name, the embassy, a drawing of me someone made, selfies, and more.
Thank you, Bogotá!
ISO , 0mm, f/0.0, s.