Bolivian airline&#39;s demise documented in haunting photos

Only the fact that it gave many people a reason to bash south american left-wing governments...

Aug 18, 2013permalink

Symansaez

So Sad.. I've been on a lot flights on LAB planes when I lived in Bolivia, oh the memories..

Aug 17, 2013permalink

(unknown member)

I think everyone commenting up to this point have missed the most important point which is how sharp are the corners of these photos.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

photosen

That bird shot is haunting, the whole series has a special air... I feel really sorry for the staff. Love the training shot, I'd like to have that in my living room!

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

Midwest

Ironic and sad that one of God's (or nature's) perfect inventions for flying should die trapped inside a flying machine that is grounded.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Camediadude

The bird shot is eye-roll inducing. A documentary it isn't.

Aug 18, 2013permalink

Brad

Sad to see the demise of one of the world's oldest airlines and so many good employees out of work. I was there one week before Morales took office, unforgettable experience. Did not have my DSLR with me, but do have a several images from an LX1 compact. He is welcome to add these to his collection. http://www.flickr.com/photos/92277538@N02/

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

John P.

Nice collection of images...very haunting.

Aug 18, 2013permalink

scotbot

Nice pictures spoiled by a really terrible website. Some horrible scrolling nonsense with a magnification option that just zooms in on the existing resolution image which if course looks terrible. Probably cost a fortune too. There is nothing fashionable about bad user interfaces.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

expressivecanvas

I agree... I clicked the link to the website... and I only lasted maybe 10 seconds before leaving the siite because I couldn't read anything, and thus, couldn't understand anything nor could I see how to actually view photos. Terrible site... no... horrendous site.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

electrophoto

Indeed... nice photos, but simply couldn't stomach using that horrendous navigation....

Aug 17, 2013permalink

balios

For a more dramatic effect, I would have placed the bird in the long hallway with the somber pilot looking down at it...

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Camediadude

Word. Contrived does not even begin to describe this. Not clicking.

Aug 18, 2013permalink

davidrm

This is nuts. How are we supposed to know if it is any good if we don't know what freakin' camera he was using???????

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Serenity Now

You're kidding right?

Aug 17, 2013permalink

InTheMist

OF course he's joking.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Wodheila

@ Serenity Now :

Let's hope you are!

Aug 17, 2013permalink

@daviddrm: Camera? Are you kidding? If he's a REAL photojournalist on assignment in a foreign country he's OBLIGATED to use an iPhone and hipstagram. You know, to just prove it can be done. And of course to make sure he doesn't scare off any potential subjects with a big scary DSLR camera.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

So sad to see people so deprived of sense of humour and intelligence that they can't recognize a sarcasm. Really sad. On the brighter side, fortunately some do.

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

photosen

LOL.

Newsflash: some people will never ever get irony...

Aug 17, 2013permalink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony_punctuation

I think the real problem is that the "irony punctuation mark" has never been implemented.

If they could have envisioned the interwebs back in the 1580's and realized what a nuisance the lack of such a character was going to become, surely they would have put it into common usage immediately.

When Fuji or Sony invents a full-frame time machine, first thing I'm going to do (right after checking the sharpness) is go back to 1580 and implement the "irony punctuation mark". Think of how many millions of people I will save from looking stupid on the interwebs...

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

Bobby Handal

Great photos, but far from the worst cases in those "People governments", it is very sad to go to countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia and Argentina, where now everything has gone to hell, everything deteriorated, thieves, beggars, poor people poorer, and the rich? left the country.... closed their businesses and went to Miami - leaving more people without jobs.

Before, they used to have a lot of poor, a good amount of working class with decent livelyhood , and a few rich, usually because they are industrialists and worked harder than anyone else, or stole it in corrupted governments. But now, under the "Peoples government" there is only two clases : the miserably poor and the wealthy government officials, but people are so ignorant and brainwashed that , as long that everyone is poor I don't have to covet thy neighbors weatlh I guess they are happy, even without toilet paper, and other basic stuff. Europe, USA, Australia, Nz, etc. you don't know how blessed you really are

Aug 17, 2013permalink

photo perzon

Bobby:

Some words replaced:

"Great photos, but far from the worst cases in those "People governments", it is very sad to go to countries like USA, where now everything has gone to hell, everything deteriorated, thieves, beggars, poor people poorer, and the rich? left the country.... closed their factories and went to China - leaving more people without jobs.

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

moacir

I agree with photo perzon

Aug 17, 2013permalink

MarcLee

I am having a hard time figuring out which of the two political dimwits trolling this thread is the worst.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Seagull TLR

Does DPR mean Digital Photography Review or Digital Political Review ;-)

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

Reilly Diefenbach

Big oligarchy fan, I guess. Hugo Chavez was the best thing ever to happen to Venezuela. Rich pigs and the CIA didn't like him much. When the big money people want revenge, they have no shortage of financial or actual hit men to make it happen, as we see throughout that part of the world, where people actually want to use the country's resources for the benefit of the people instead of international mega corporations.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Boston Tea Party a$$holeness: we can never get enough of it.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

malabito

Reilly Diefenbach, ignorance is a wonderful thing, I am from Venezuela, and been lucky enough to travel to a few places around the world. Its really something watching kids and adults from USA to Nordic countries preaching Chavez, Fidel, and Che Gevara, so stupid how they find them cool, a fashion statement. .. Just because a government disagrees with USA politics doesn't make it a good one. Will be interesting knowing if you have ever gone to Venezuela to see the reality of it....

Aug 17, 2013permalink

leebee

What a moron

Aug 17, 2013permalink

REShultz

Bobby, you live in Honduras, right? Well, that country is in sadder shape! Most violent in the world. Stricken with poverty and as capitalist as they come. All kinds of governments have problems.

Aug 18, 2013permalink

knize10

Ah, Evo Morales and his Cuban style ''Revolucion'' only brought tears, misery, envy and poverty to ALL of Bolivia (except Morales, his family and friends in the army and other pinchos (well connected goons). It will still be a slow descent to destruction of what was left of Bolivia.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

SeeRoy

There really are some @ssh0les around here. Nostalgic for the days of Presidente Banzer are we?

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Some people miss the times when South America was USA's backyard.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Vahab

I was moved by the verse from the Bible.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

That bird photo.

That single image just implodes all credibility of the whole article.

IMO

Aug 16, 2013*permalink

daddyo

I agree 100%

Aug 17, 2013permalink

daddyo

Perhaps what we can't see is the cat sitting in the seat next to the dead birdie.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

http://www.ask.com/question/where-do-birds-go-to-die

Aug 17, 2013permalink

MarcLee

Couldn't agree more.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

bronson

If the photographer is going to take artist license by placing a dead bird on the seat, at least do it right and not position it smack dab in the middle.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Nukunukoo

Or maybe crop it using thirds...

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Andrew Booth

Would have been better with 'selective colour'. He should have desaturated the seat and surroundings.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Midwest

Are we sure it was placed there? Birds often end up in places where they don't belong, and then can't get out again.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

If you liked it, then you should have put a birdie on it
If you liked it, then you should have put a birdie on it
Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it, then you should have put a birdie on it
Oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh

All the single lens reflex, all the single lens reflex...
Oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh

Aug 18, 2013permalink

blue skies

A dying enterprise is a sad thing and the photos convey that. As for the dead bird I thought it was a crumpled leaf. Need to put on my glasses...

Aug 16, 2013permalink

David 247

I for one enjoy DPR's efforts to bring us some serious photography articles and viewpoints. Been enjoying them, or at least the ones I find time to read. And let's face it, real life isn't always beautiful and nice. But it is real.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

The Davinator

I agree. The level of ignorance in some of the comments I've read here is quite simply astounding.

Aug 18, 2013permalink

Reilly Diefenbach

Another Cochabamba story, no doubt.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

Ahmet Aydogan

As a pilot, I am always a little saddened by the sight of machines that were designed to fly after they are finally grounded. The dead bird on the seat may a bit heavy handed, but it still works, too. There is a haunting quality to these photos. Thanks to DP review sharing them. I'm looking forward to seeing the whole book.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

johnparas11zenfoliodotcom

As a bird lover I find it highly offensive that DPReview posted that 2nd photo.

How can they have the audacity to make that image viewable to the public knowing full well that at least 87.6% of "normal" human beings are adamantly against the death of innocent little birdies?

This is nothing short of promoting AVICIDE and I won't stand for it! I demand this post be taken down!

Shame on you Barney Britton for condoning birdie-bashing on a photography website!

Aug 16, 2013permalink

Juck

Swing and a miss.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

is this sarcasm?

Aug 16, 2013permalink

KariIceland

Please do stop being a giant wuss. What a joke you are if this is not sarcasm. What do you do? make love to birds and are so upset that things actually DIE?

Aug 16, 2013permalink

Oops, I forgot. This is a camera site. People have no sense of humor here.

This was a reference "Anthony Karen/KKK" thread that that went off the rails.

Lighten up folks.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

What are the odds that the bird was placed on the seat by the photographer?

... like: right in the middle of the seat?

Aug 16, 2013permalink

100% Arthur "Weegee" Felig style.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

InTheMist

You guys... Do you live in a dream land where rainbows and puppydogs reign?

A dead bird on a rumpled airline seat is the PERFECT analogy for a failed airline - not to mention the damage to families, communities and economies.

Journalistic ethics would demand that you don't reposition the bird, but some of you make it seem like the bird was personally slalked and bludgened by the vile photographer to spiff up the scene.

Aug 16, 2013*permalink

That's a CONSERVATIVE for you. Blaming the birds. They have had to dig through dirt and eat worms because of the repressive anti-avites! They are only reacting to the horrors this world has shown them. They are the down-trodden! BIRD POWER!

Aug 17, 2013permalink

ABM Barry

Oh you sensitive little flower, it'a the birdie from the camera silly!

You don't think they use Real Birdies in cameras"? Honestly, where do you think they could place the "feeder hatch" in compacts! You would also need a poo chute of some description?

87.6% Mmmm accuracy plus! I expect that you are in high demand with poling groups. Islam is about 30% of the world population, ... they don't value life at all, ... so that show's a slight discrepancy in you %

AVICIDE,.... Sadly some of us are too interested in killing each other to even think about a little birdie!

We have feeders on our property; Parrots and a large variety of birds visit daily. We have quite a few visitors and to be honest, in 50 years I have never heard anyone announce that they are Birdie haters! "You were Joking weren't you JD Thomas?

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

MarcLee

Now I know why I like my comedy from professionals.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

RichRMA

Your response is funny, in a histrionic way. Unfortunately, the photographic community has too many of its share of politically-correct leftists who have no issue with art being an image of Christ in a jar of urine, but balk at showing what a shambles one of their kind has made of a Latin-American country.

Aug 17, 2013permalink

GaryJP

Gosh the political drum bashers ARE crawling out of the woodwork today aren't they? And we all know NO airline has ever failed in the US. That's why the flight attendants are 100 years old. .

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Serenity Now

What are the odds he put the captain right in the middle of the window?

Aug 17, 2013permalink

Seagull TLR

@TDThomas Where did you get the figure 87.6% from? ;-)

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

@Seagull TLR: Like 98.2% of the statistics on camera forums, I made it up. But you know, it's probably correct...

Aug 17, 2013*permalink

daddyo

Well, if they do start flights again, I think I'll hold off on a ticket purchase.

As an aside, someone needs to do a similar photo documentary on the Buckner Building in Whittier, Alaska. I've only seen it from the ferry, but some have gotten very interesting photographs of the building's interior. Bears are said to inhabit the building in the winter, so that would not be a good time to visit!

Aug 16, 2013permalink

justmeMN

How dare DPR do an article about actual photography, rather than photography hardware! (grin)

Aug 16, 2013permalink

SWSF14

We're informed about a very interesting piece of work that involves photography.

Why do some people insist on wasting time trolling when they aren't even interested?

Aug 16, 2013*permalink

whawha

Very interesting pictures. Not being cats, ducks, flowers or rainbows they wont meet much interest around here, but its excellent photojournalism.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

mandophoto

Laughed out loud, couldn't help it. You are right. Still, DPR is trying.

Aug 16, 2013*permalink

graybalanced

Maybe there are none of cats and ducks you mentioned, but...

"Put a bird on it" - Portlandia

Aug 16, 2013permalink

mckracken88

yeah...im not haunted...

Aug 16, 2013permalink

KariIceland

I guess some people just won't ever understand photography then.

Aug 16, 2013permalink

bigdaddave

What self-indulgent nonsense. Why does this deserve to be here?

Aug 16, 2013permalink

itchhh

I think you're being a little rough

Aug 16, 2013permalink

happypoppeye

...because DPR has been doing journalistic pieces ...hopefully trying to turn the site into more of an all around photography site and less of a photo gear site. It's called expanding your user base, thus more hits, thus selling ad space for more money, thus making more money ...and hopefully it rolls into a site that puts more into itself and making it a better experience for all of its, expanded, users.

Aug 16, 2013*permalink

Chris Noble

Big Dad Dave: Your post is self-indulgent nonsense. Why does it deserve to be here?

Aug 16, 2013permalink

rb59020

It's racist!

Aug 16, 2013permalink