jueves, 31 de diciembre de 2009
2009, la última foto/ 2009, the last photo
This is the last photo of the year, a panoramic view of the street where my workshop is located. I guess this is it, another year has gone. I already know what I'm going to do tomorrow: Go out to a photo trip, 2010 must be the phot year so this is the best way to start it. Not a bad year is ending and a year full of projects begins. Don`t forget to click on the photo to see it full size.
Más renos/ More reindeers
Last year I photographed some reindeers at the front yard of a kindergarden, this year they added more reindeer. To continue the saga of these reindeers here are the new vigilantes.
martes, 29 de diciembre de 2009
Reciclando/ Recycling
Today someone sent me an article written by the Uruguayan Eduardo Galeano that talks about this new world where everything is disposable, from the highest tech gadget to the simplest package, and how he still lives in the ancient world where everything were kept, reused or sent for repair.
Y hoy justo estaba haciendo un cajón para recolectar los vegetales y hojas para preparar humus de lombríz reciclando madera. No solo reciclé la madera también usé los mismos clavos que fuí retirando de las tablas a la usanza de los carpinteros antiguos. Yo también me eduqué en el mundo donde las cosas se conservaban, se apreciaban y se cuidaban. Y como Galeano creo que esta costumbre no es solo referente a lo material sino que incluye todo un sentido de vida mucho más amplio. Es curioso como nuevamente se me produjo la coincidencia del mismo tema por dos lados distintos.
Today I was just making a bin to collect vegetables from the kitchen to prepare vermicompost using recycled timber. I not only recycled the wood, I also use the same nails that I was withdrawing from the tables in the style of the old carpenters. I also was educated in the world where things were preserved, appreciated and cared. As Galeano thinks this matter is not only referred to material things but includes a whole meaning of life. It's funny how I came again to the coincidence of the same subject from two diferent places.
jueves, 24 de diciembre de 2009
Navidad '09/ Christmas '09
Seguro que me habrían gustado juguetes más sofisticados y me acuerdo de algunos que quería pero hoy se que casi todo lo que se, casi todo lo que soy proviene de esos días y del cariño y la educación que mis papás me dieron.
Sure I would have liked more sophisticated toys and I still remember some I wanted but now I'm sure that almost everything that I know, almost everything that I am comes from those days and from the love and education my parents gave to me.
Hoy esté juguete ocupa un lugar importante en mi vitrina de recuerdos y es por su significado. Hace unos 42 o más años ese juguete pasó por las manos de un niño, hoy por las de un adulto que todavía tiene ese corazón de niño.Today this toy is located in an important place in my memories showcase bacause its meaning. About 42 or more years ago this toy reached the hands of a child, today the hands of an adult who still has that child's heart.
martes, 22 de diciembre de 2009
Actualización de cerámica/ Pottery update
Today I went to get the last pieces of the year, nothing spectacular, some things to give and now I'm going to rest from pottery for a few weeks.
Fuentes pequeñas en celeste con borde negro, 18 cm. de diámetro, 4 cm. de alto.
Small bowls in light blue with black border, 18 cm wide, 4 cm. tall.
These are two of the vases which led to the pit fire and now I glazed them. One of them cracked giving an effect of raku.
viernes, 11 de diciembre de 2009
Tiempo de verano, tiempo de incendios/ Summer time, fire time
But this very hot weather brings fire, in this case dry grass and shrubs, they fight the fire with anything at hand.
Tampoco se han salvado los cerros más urbanizados y con mayor vegetación. Mala combinación: mucho calor y viento.
Nor the hills have kept safe. Bad combination: very hot and windy.
domingo, 6 de diciembre de 2009
Caminando el Sábado/ Walking on Saturday
In contrast to last week these are urban photos, some architectural photography to make a change.
En estas primeras dos usé un angulo que incluyera arboles lo que les da cierta calidez a la imagen.
In these first two I used an angle to include trees which gives some warmness to the image.
domingo, 29 de noviembre de 2009
Fotos de Domingo/ Sunday photos
Today I went to a trade fair organized every year where farmers show their new products and developments. Here a few photos of the day.
Siempre hay una pequeña muestra de animales seleccionados que atraen mayormente a los niños.
There is always a small sample of animals selected that appeal mostly to children.
Una pequeña ternera duerme a pesar del ajetreo de la feria.
A small calf sleep despite the bustle of the fair.
Otra de las cosas típicas de estas ferias para entretener a los niños son los juegos. Esta imagen es el ejemplo en que una foto no siempre debe estar en foco. Le velocidad lenta de obturación ayuda a mostrar la acción.
Another thing common to these fairs to entertain the kids are amusement games. This image is the example where a picture should not always be in focus. We slow shutter speed helps to show the action.
sábado, 28 de noviembre de 2009
Patología cerámica/ Pathology pottery
Unfortunately the big plates which I threw last week broke while they dried. There are several reasons for this, for example excess water during throwing or lack of pressure at the bottom. From my point of view was rather due to the clay that I used more than those other reasons. In any case at least served to see that I am becoming quite good at the potter's wheel looking the thickness of the pieces that is quite even.
miércoles, 25 de noviembre de 2009
Primeros jarros/ Mug shot
Color de primavera/ Spring color
sábado, 21 de noviembre de 2009
Años dorados/ Golden years
After the parade they served a brunch for the elderly which included an act where some of them participated, so I took advantage of photographing some interesting faces.
Caravana de autos antiguos/ Vintage car parade
Today I went to a vintage car parade organized by the Foundation Amanoz dedicated to improving the quality of life of the elderly.The activity was a caravan of cars that led the seniors to a ride through the city of Santiago and then arrived to the Santa Rosa de las Condes House.
Luego los autos fueron estacionados para una corta exhibición donde se vió el excelente trabajo de conservación realizado en ellos.
Then the cars were parked for a short exhibition which shows the excellent restoration work being done.
jueves, 19 de noviembre de 2009
Jueves de cerámica/ Pottery Thursday
After a long time updating my Pottery Thursday usual section, not because I haven't did anything on Thursday, it was just in order I had not time to take photos at the workshop.
Esta fuente tiene aproximadamente 34 cm. y unos 7 de alto, suena poco pero es grande. Está terminado el retorneo y ahora se tiene que secar y bizcochar.
This plate is about 34 cm wide and 7 tall, it seems small but is big. Triming is ended and now it have to dry and being bisque.
This other plate is about 44 cm in diameter and about 4 cm tall. It is a fact that ceramics looks larger than its real measures.
martes, 17 de noviembre de 2009
Quema primitiva, el resultado/ Pit fire, the vases
This is are the pieces from the pit firing. As this was my first experience there was a number of things that I didn't know, such as covering the pieces with salt, vegetables or some oxides to achieve more shades. So the pieces were not well prepared, then, I did not achieve a great result.
Este pieza fué quemada en el pozo con leña, tenía unas cáscaras de platano amarradas con alambre. Solo se lograron ligeras coloraciones.
This piece was in the pit fire, it had banana peels tied with wire. It only got light colorations.
Esta segunda pieza también se quemó en el pozo con leña, estaba cubierta con totora y algo de sal. Por el otro lado quedó más manchada pero muy manchada.
This second piece was also burned in the pit fire, covered with reeds and some salt. The other side was more stained but too dark.
domingo, 15 de noviembre de 2009
Quema primitiva 1/ Pit fire 1
On Saturday I went to a pit fire organized by the magazine Esteka by the Pottery Workshop Huara Huara.
Las piezas ya bizcochadas se cubren con vegetales, sales, malla metálica y otros objetos para que el fuego cree diferentes tonalidades lo cual es el objetivo de esta quema. El fondo del pozo se cubre con aserrín luego van las pieza intercaladas con leña. Se ha agregado sal y algunos óxidos para lograr efectos de colores sobre las piezas.
The bisque pieces and covered with vegetables, salt, wire mesh and other objects where the fire will create different shades which is the objective of this firing. The bottom of the pit is covered with sawdust then the pieces are interspersed with wood. They added salt and some oxides to achieve color effects on the pieces.
Se cubre todo con una capa de leña más delgada que mantendrá un fuego constante más lento. Todo se tapa con planchas metálicas para hacer aún más lenta la combustión ya que a esta temperatura se necesita más tiempo para que se fijen los colores en las piezas.
Everything is covered with a layer of thinner wood in order to keep a constant and slower fire . Finally is covered with metal roofing plates to make it even a slower combustion. In the low temperature of this kind of firing colors takes more time for laying down the in the pieces.