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Maybe some of you had the chance to watch the wonderful movie “The Bridges of Madison County”, adapted from the novel by Robert James Waller.
Clint Eastwood plays the role of a not-so-young photographer (Robert Kincaid) on assignment for National Geographic magazine, shooting a photographic essay on some covered bridges in Madison County, in the U.S. state of Iowa, not far from Des Moines.
Robert, the photographer, meets Francesca (Meryl Streep), a somewhat-frustrated and lonely-also-not-so-young-but-still-very-attractive lady, italian war bride, who runs a farm with her husband. She happens to be alone for a couple of days, as her husband and kids are away at the 1965 Illinois state fair…
This chance encounter rapidly evolves to a very intense and dramatic once-in-a-life-time love affair. One can hear the deep voice of Johnny Hartman sing ballads in the background, and the whole story is described and interpreted with astounding artistry. The ambiance is very passionate and tasteful.
An overwhelming movie!
Besides picking up his beer from a cool box in the back of his green pick-up truck, Robert also stores in there his color films, subsequently changing them to Francesca’s refrigerator, when the growing lady’s hospitality permits him to share her house and bed comfort.
Yes, Iowa in Summer can be a hot place! I have experienced it myself. I also went to Des Moines to photograph some buildings by Mies van der Rohe, although I must have to concede that I didn’t know about the covered bridges back then.
What a pity!
Those of you old enough to remember the existence of color reversal film, probably know what I am talking about: great care is needed to avoid excessive heat on your films, or you risk to get back home from your dreamtrip only to find out that the colors have changed and shifted.
Yes, color film is heat sensitive and prone to surprises (black and white too, altough to a lesser extent).
Packing 30 or 40 rolls for a trip is also common procedure, taking most room on your bag, albeit with lesser weight than your photographic equipment. Despite the big volume and all the trouble, one also has much less shots at one’s disposal than in some small memory cards…
Well, having a cool-box with you is a good excuse to bring along some fresh beer. You don’t need nobody’s freezer!
The pictures that I show on this post where shot on Kodak Ektachrome 100S reversal film, with Canon gear. I was on assignment for the defunct magazine “Portugal Português”, which was associated with the better-known, but also defunct, “Casa Decoração”.
I made some assignments for both magazines for a while, before it was adieu, farewell.
Obviously, it was some celebratory date in Alcácer do Sal, but I don’t have a clue about what or why. I was too much busy (or too much lazy for notations?), back in those days, so I was happy when the client had his/her images and I could jump to the next spot, very often on the other side of the country.
The notations often got lost somewhere along the way, only the images and the feelings remained...
I would like to say thank you to all the people who have been supporting this blog.
You give me strength to keep going on!
Technical Data:
Camera - Canon EOS 1n
Lenses - Canon EF 17-35mm f/2.8 L USM + Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L USM
Filme – Kodak Ektachrome 100S
Location – Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
Date – October 1998
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Lovely pictures and awesome photography.
ReplyDeleteSaudades de Suas Fotos...Lindas,como Sempre...
ReplyDeleteRui,
ReplyDeleteMuito bonito este seu regresso.
Das fotografias o que se pode dizer?
A cor é de facto fantástica!
A partilha enriquece-nos. Grata. :)
Abraço:
Ana
Comovente Seu Texto...Belas as Suas Fotos!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for all your kind and supportive comments.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad that you all enjoy my photographs.
They only worth a thing when they can be shared. That's their function and meaning!
Without it, they are a waste...
Cheers,
Rui
Olá Rui.
ReplyDeleteUma vez mais adorei as suas fotos, mas há sempre uma ou outra com que nos identificamos mais. Alcácer do Sal é um lugar que visito com alguma frequência (mesmo que só de passagem) e uma das fotos em particular retém mais a minha atenção. As gaivotas sobre as barras de metal (restos de uma velha ponte? não me recordo o que eram), uma foto muito semelhante a uma outra que fiz no ano passado, com outras gaivotas e uma garça cinzenta, exactamente com a mesma perspectiva (sobre a ponte de frente para o rio), mas com muito menos trabalho e equipamento... uma D5000, uma tele e um cartão são leves o suficiente para levar até à praia (mais uma grande angular no saco), que ao contrário do filme, aguentam bem o calor, protegidos apenas pela sombra do guarda-sol). Estas duas fotos estão separadas por 13 anos. Para trás ficou o filme (ainda há, mas...) e agora qualquer um (até eu) faz a mesma foto que o Rui fez numa outra data apenas com o premir do botão. Enquanto por um lado agradeço ao digital (doutro modo eu nunca teria mais que a velha Minolta para captar um vislumbre de um dia de festa por ano; agora "guardo" tudo) por outro lado o mundo ganhou demasiadas imagens medíocres, mas essa é uma outra conversa.
O filme também já o vi e gostei muito, a história é leve mas apaixonante, e é inevitável ficar a pensar no nosso próprio papel neste mundo...
Tem graça a questão das cores. O que antes era um defeito é hoje criatividade! Bem que a minha avó costuma dizer para não deitarmos roupas fora de moda para o lixo porque anos mais tarde voltam a usar-se! :)
Um abraço e uma vénia, o seu trabalho é fantástico!
These are classics, Rui. Gems.
ReplyDelete