Traveling to brazil for one month, any suggestion?

[jonny1976]

i'm traveling next month to brazl for on e month. I'm going to improve my stock portfolio and so i'm planning to photographing a lot.
Anybody has shints or suggestion?

I'm not new on south american trvel, also alone, so i know u need to be care and pay always atttention and have thousand of eye, but wha i read is that rio is really really dangerous.i'd like o shoot some pary a night, like samba school party.
What's your experience?

in addition i have many lenses but i'll planning to travel lighter. I want to shot model too so part of my baggage will be occuied by a strobist kit with three vivitar flash.
i have the k10d ( plan to buy a k20d but i don't know)

16-50 2,8
50-135 2,8
105 2,8 macro sigma
10-20 sigma

18-55 kit ( useful for pano and cheaper solution in case i want to shoot the carnival or some party)
50 1,7
flash metz 58

i'd like to take only the zoom, but they are a bit obtrusive,
i could skip them and take only the other lenses...

Last i'm strongly thinking of buying the two limited 21 and 40 and add the sigma 10-20 the 50 and 105 for a really light kit.

I will use a big crumpler daily bag plus a little crumpler bag, like a hlstr, and take also some belt system bag from owepro and think tank to use them in cities and natural expedition.

thanks for suggestions!!

 

[jonska]

I would definitely advise you to take two bodies if you possibly can (i.e. buy the K20d or something).

In the Pentax Iceland shoot last July, in a group of just five photographers, one camera malfunctioned after the first day (fortunately, the owner was a genius and managed to work around all problems) and one camera was broken when it smashed against a rock late in the trip (fortunately, that photographer had a backup camera). Think of spending all that money and making all those plans, only to have your only camera malfunction or break or be stolen!

As an aside, I am going to Brazil myself next month and my kit will include the K10d, K20d, DA21, DA70, DA*50-135, Sigma 24-70 (if I can find one in time) and, for good measure, the DA18-250 (unless I have enough $$ to buy the Sigma 70-200 before I go - not sure I would need that except for sports events, however).

I know that stories of crime etc. in Brazil, and in particular Río, are rife, but Brazilians in general are great people (I lived there for several years as a youth, almost 40 years ago, and my daughter lives there now and has nothing but good to say about Brazilians - loves them, in fact, which is why she is there for the second time).

We have a few posters from Brazil here on this forum. Perhaps Pedro will respond to your post and have some advice. He is class. He is not fluent in English, but communicates easily through Google translate.
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper

 

[jonny1976]

i have a sigma sd14 17-70, i'm thinking of take it as a second boy, or in case i'll buy the k20d, but two body are real a fuss to take around for me, i'l decide this week.

I would definitely advise you to take two bodies if you possibly can
(i.e. buy the K20d or something).

In the Pentax Iceland shoot last July, in a group of just five
photographers, one camera malfunctioned after the first day
(fortunately, the owner was a genius and managed to work around all
problems) and one camera was broken when it smashed against a rock
late in the trip (fortunately, that photographer had a backup
camera). Think of spending all that money and making all those plans,
only to have your only camera malfunction or break or be stolen!

As an aside, I am going to Brazil myself next month and my kit will
include the K10d, K20d, DA21, DA70, DA*50-135, Sigma 24-70 (if I can
find one in time) and, for good measure, the DA18-250 (unless I have
enough $$ to buy the Sigma 70-200 before I go - not sure I would need
that except for sports events, however).

I know that stories of crime etc. in Brazil, and in particular Río,
are rife, but Brazilians in general are great people (I lived there
for several years as a youth, almost 40 years ago, and my daughter
lives there now and has nothing but good to say about Brazilians -
loves them, in fact, which is why she is there for the second time).

We have a few posters from Brazil here on this forum. Perhaps Pedro
will respond to your post and have some advice. He is class. He is
not fluent in English, but communicates easily through Google
translate.
--
Shooting since '59 and still waiting for a keeper

--
http://www.pbase.com/jon1976

 

[thiago_silva]

Hi,

it is a fact that Rio is one of the most violent cities in Brazil. But how much you come in contact with this violence depends on on where and when you go. As a Brazilian, I'd suggest trying to contact some local photographers, to guide you through the city. Especially since Rio is a sort of "cramped" city, finding yourself at a really wrong place might take only a couple of wrong turns.

I've met this girl a long time go in a climbing course, and I know she is a professional photographer and climber in Rio. It might be a good first contact. Don't bother mentioning me, I doubt she remembers me:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelachaves/

I am also member of a Brazilian Pentax online community, and I can ask if there are any Rio photographers willing to help if you wish. Just let me know.

Be always mindful of your surroundings, and try to be as discreet as possible with your equipment. Again, having someone with you is recommended, as a lone photographer might be seen as an "easier" pray for a group of 2-3 thugs. Make sure you have everything insured, and that you have decent backup. Remember that Pentax gear is much harder to come by in Brazil. Never leave anything unattended, not even if its just a couple of seconds. Be also careful with unattended baggage in the airport, it can disappear in the blink of an eye.

And please, if you find yourself in a robbery situation, never, EVER try to react. I know that yelling, calling for help, etc. is a common recommendation in North America, but in Brazil there is a good chance it might actually get you killed. Criminals there tend to be more violent, unfortunately, especially the common street thugs which have very little to loose.

With all that in mind, please, enjoy the place. I don't know Rio myself, but I do know is one of the most beautiful Brazilian cities. My girlfriend was there a month ago, and having her aunt to take her to places and etc., she never ever had any problems.

Are you planning on visiting the North or Northeast? Definitely worth going for diversifying your portfolio. Again, let me know if you need any assistance, I know the Northeast very well (lived half of my life there), and also the North fairly well (from doing research in the Amazon region).

Cheers,

--
Thiago Silva - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thiagosilva/
Victoria - BC - Canada

'If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.' (Lewis Hine)

 

[Jack Simpson]

Hi Jonny,

I would take the Sigma 10-20 and the DA 50-135 your add-on flash
and, as jonska mentions, a second body definitely wouldn't hurt

Oh yeah, and try to learn a little Portuguese ... I know the following:

Obrigado -- thank you
je_nada -- your welcome/it's nothing

and, if you don't mind cheating a little:

(h)ola -- hello, albeit in Spanish
buenos dias -- good morning

Cheers and happy trails

Jack
--
MY BLOG.... http://www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com

It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one is doing

 

[sfa1966]

If so, take that as a 'backup'. I put backup in commas, because it will give you a viable alternative to your K10D. As you know, different brands can conjure up different atmospheres, particularly Sigma with that Foveon output.

--
Cheers,
sfa

A very limited photographer ...

 

[jonny1976]

hi thanks.
imy 50135 is at service now, with its brother), hope it come back in time.

good suggestion kit, maybe i'll take the 18-55 and a manual 50 1,7, for those shots at night during the carnival, losing thse equipment wouldn't be a great lost.

Hi Jonny,

I would take the Sigma 10-20 and the DA 50-135 your add-on flash
and, as jonska mentions, a second body definitely wouldn't hurt

Oh yeah, and try to learn a little Portuguese ... I know the
following:

Obrigado -- thank you
je_nada -- your welcome/it's nothing

and, if you don't mind cheating a little:

(h)ola -- hello, albeit in Spanish
buenos dias -- good morning

Cheers and happy trails

Jack
--
MY BLOG.... http://www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com

It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one is doing

--
http://www.pbase.com/jon1976

 

[jonny1976]

hi

tomorrow i'll buy probaby a k20d and use it mostly in "safer"SITUATION, the k10d will be my camera for "dangereous situation, it's 2 years old so wouldn't be terrible to lose it.
the two pancakes are on my list too.

the sigma would be great for landscape and beach shooting, in sunny day is better than my k10d i have to say and the lens is very good, in addition takes the same battery. it could be an option.

If so, take that as a 'backup'. I put backup in commas, because it
will give you a viable alternative to your K10D. As you know,
different brands can conjure up different atmospheres, particularly
Sigma with that Foveon output.

--
Cheers,
sfa

A very limited photographer ...

--
http://www.pbase.com/jon1976

 

[jonny1976]

hi thanks for the contact.
i send her a mail. if you have other contact good.

in rio i will be very selecive with my shooting. probabl ill book some model for beauty and bikini shots. i think i won't stroll around all day with the camera.

clearly it's carnival time so i'll try to cover the event at the best. i'm trying to have a press pass but i can find a link to make a request.

i go wih a friends and in 2 people it's safer. in addition we are not "little" , and i hope this could make us safer ( i'm not a hero clearly, i'll give everything away without a whisper..jus tw yyounger in good shape are less a target than a couple for example)

last year i was ne month in argentina alone. i read argentina was very dangerous especially buenos aires, i have to say it was probably the only travel without any problems!!

Hi,

it is a fact that Rio is one of the most violent cities in Brazil.
But how much you come in contact with this violence depends on on
where and when you go. As a Brazilian, I'd suggest trying to contact
some local photographers, to guide you through the city. Especially
since Rio is a sort of "cramped" city, finding yourself at a really
wrong place might take only a couple of wrong turns.

I've met this girl a long time go in a climbing course, and I know
she is a professional photographer and climber in Rio. It might be a
good first contact. Don't bother mentioning me, I doubt she remembers
me:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelachaves/

I am also member of a Brazilian Pentax online community, and I can
ask if there are any Rio photographers willing to help if you wish.
Just let me know.

Be always mindful of your surroundings, and try to be as discreet as
possible with your equipment. Again, having someone with you is
recommended, as a lone photographer might be seen as an "easier" pray
for a group of 2-3 thugs. Make sure you have everything insured, and
that you have decent backup. Remember that Pentax gear is much harder
to come by in Brazil. Never leave anything unattended, not even if
its just a couple of seconds. Be also careful with unattended baggage
in the airport, it can disappear in the blink of an eye.

And please, if you find yourself in a robbery situation, never, EVER
try to react. I know that yelling, calling for help, etc. is a common
recommendation in North America, but in Brazil there is a good chance
it might actually get you killed. Criminals there tend to be more
violent, unfortunately, especially the common street thugs which have
very little to loose.

With all that in mind, please, enjoy the place. I don't know Rio
myself, but I do know is one of the most beautiful Brazilian cities.
My girlfriend was there a month ago, and having her aunt to take her
to places and etc., she never ever had any problems.

Are you planning on visiting the North or Northeast? Definitely worth
going for diversifying your portfolio. Again, let me know if you need
any assistance, I know the Northeast very well (lived half of my life
there), and also the North fairly well (from doing research in the
Amazon region).

Cheers,

--
Thiago Silva - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thiagosilva/
Victoria - BC - Canada

'If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a
camera.' (Lewis Hine)

--
http://www.pbase.com/jon1976

 

[thiago_silva]

I'll see if I can contact someone through the forum, and will let you know.

By the way:

Oi - Hello
Tudo bem - How are you?

Por favor - Please
Obrigado - Thank You
De Nada - You're welcome

Quanto custa? - How much?
Onde fica ..... ?- Where is .... ?

Tchau (pronounced like ciao in italian) - goodbye

Cheers, and don't hit the caipirinhas too hard!

--
Thiago Silva - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thiagosilva/
Victoria - BC - Canada

'If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.' (Lewis Hine)

 

[Eric C in OK]

it is a fact that Rio is one of the most violent cities in Brazil.
But how much you come in contact with this violence depends on on
where and when you go. As a Brazilian, I'd suggest trying to contact
some local photographers, to guide you through the city.

I visited Campinas, SP in August and I arrived with my K10D+ DA* lenses. My host told me to put my expensive camera and lenses in the hotel safe and take my Point & Shoot camera into the city. He was a Canon shooter with some nice long glass and it was taken from him at gunpoint in the middle of the city during daylight. I got one morning to take some nice shots with my good equipment before I left for home.

Brazil is a beautiful place with a lot of amazing things to see, great food, great people and interesting culture. The fruit juices are amazing and so are the rodizio. It is a dangerous place to be with a camera if you don't speak Portuguese. Enjoy your stay and take back lots of memories, but be careful if you take your SLR.

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehcloninger/

 

[Eric C in OK]

Obrigado -- thank you
je_nada -- your welcome/it's nothing

I found that my mixture of English, Spanglish, hand signals, and Portuguese was sufficient most of the time. Like most countries, "hello", "good day", and "thank you" go a long ways. In fact, I found some Brazilians speak better English than most Texans.

FWIW, pronouncing every syllable of "obrigado" will mark you as an American, but you will figure out how to pronounce it by the second day.

On my 7th day there, after a happy hour, I called home and talked into the answering machine for 5 minutes. My wife told me when I got home that I sounded like a drunk Canadian. I thought you would appreciate that, Jack.

(h)ola -- hello, albeit in Spanish
buenos dias -- good morning

Try "bom dia" (bon jia).

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehcloninger/

 

[Jack Simpson]

Obrigado -- thank you
je_nada -- your welcome/it's nothing

Olá! Eric

I found that my mixture of English, Spanglish, hand signals, and
Portuguese was sufficient most of the time. Like most countries,
"hello", "good day", and "thank you" go a long ways.

Você é ponto-lá em Eric e, de facto, aquelas eram as três (3) frases Eu aprendi… bem, pelo menos tentado … enquanto viajando durante todo Europa. Tão lá eu era b@$t@rdi$ing aquelas três (3) frases em francês, alemão, Espanhol, italiano, português e UKlish; D. Muita hora, pessoa olhou estupefacção um pouco mas ciente que eu lhes estava tentando polido e tomou geralmente a piedade em mi

In fact, I
found some Brazilians speak better English than most Texans.

.... mesmo em Crawford: o: o: o: o ..........

FWIW, pronouncing every syllable of "obrigado" will mark you as an
American, but you will figure out how to pronounce it by the second
day.

…. mas, agradeça a bens, nunca um canadense; D

On my 7th day there, after a happy hour, I called home and talked
into the answering machine for 5 minutes. My wife told me when I got
home that I sounded like a drunk Canadian.

Mim, uh, don' t sabe realmente a….o umm… diz, erh, pede isto… mas, uh, como faz sua deusa encantadora como o missus… ah,… saiba que um bêbedo O canadense….ah…. soe como??? Mim didn' t chama-a coleta outra vez, fiz eu: o: o???? ............

I thought you would
appreciate that, Jack.

Mais do que você podem imaginar

de Jack

(h)ola -- hello, albeit in Spanish
buenos dias -- good morning

Try "bom dia" (bon jia).

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehcloninger/

--
MY BLOG.... http://www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com

It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one is doing

 

[Jack Simpson]

Obrigado -- thank you
je_nada -- your welcome/it's nothing

Olá! Eric

Hi Eric,

I found that my mixture of English, Spanglish, hand signals, and
Portuguese was sufficient most of the time. Like most countries,
"hello", "good day", and "thank you" go a long ways.

Você é ponto-lá em Eric e, de facto, aquelas eram as três (3) frases
Eu aprendi… bem, pelo menos tentado … enquanto viajando durante
todo Europa. Tão lá eu era b@$t@rdi$ing aquelas três (3) frases em
francês, alemão, Espanhol, italiano, português e UKlish; D. Muita
hora, pessoa olhou estupefacção um pouco mas ciente que eu lhes
estava tentando polido e tomou geralmente a piedade em mi

You are spot-on there Eric and, in fact, those were the three(3) phrases
I learned ... well, at least tried ... whilst travelling throughout Europe.
So there I was b@$t@rdi$ing those three(3) phrases in French, German,
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and UKlish ;D. A lot of the time, people
looked at rather bemused but aware that I was trying to polite and they
generally took pity on me

In fact, I
found some Brazilians speak better English than most Texans.

.... mesmo em Crawford: o: o: o: o ..........

even in Crawford ..........

FWIW, pronouncing every syllable of "obrigado" will mark you as an
American, but you will figure out how to pronounce it by the second
day.

…. mas, agradeça a bens, nunca um canadense; D

.... but, thank goodness, never a Canadian ;D

On my 7th day there, after a happy hour, I called home and talked
into the answering machine for 5 minutes. My wife told me when I got
home that I sounded like a drunk Canadian.

Mim, uh, don' t sabe realmente a….o umm… diz, erh, pede isto… mas,
uh, como faz sua deusa encantadora como o missus… ah,… saiba que um
bêbedo O canadense….ah…. soe como??? Mim didn' t chama-a coleta outra
vez, fiz eu: o: o???? ............

I, uh, don't really know how to ....umm ... say, erh, ask this ...but, uh,
how does your lovely godess like missus ...ah, ... know what a drunken
Canadian would ....ah .... sound like ??? I didn't call her collect again,
did I ???? ............

I thought you would
appreciate that, Jack.

Mais do que você podem imaginar

More than you can imagine

de Jack

Cheers,

Jack

(h)ola -- hello, albeit in Spanish
buenos dias -- good morning

Try "bom dia" (bon jia).

--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ehcloninger/

--
MY BLOG.... http://www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com

It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one is doing

--
MY BLOG.... http://www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com

It's amazing what one can do when one doesn't know what one is doing

 

[Salviano Junior]

An uncommon view of the Sugar Loaf;



At night;



Jam session;



A panorama at the sunrise;



Lucy, the lovely daughter of Bob, during the dental ugly duckling stage, under the morning light;



My son and Bob - probabily solving all the problems of the world, hehe



Hope you enjoy your trip.

Espero que aprecie sua estadia no Rio.

Um abraço,

Salviano Junior
Rio... duh

 

[thiago_silva]

A panorama at the sunrise;

Wow, the houses on the left, with the lights on and the sat dishes brings this picture to a whole new level. It just SCREAMS Rio and Brazil at you. Execelente, parabéns!

--
Thiago Silva - http://www.flickr.com/photos/thiagosilva/
Victoria - BC - Canada

'If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.' (Lewis Hine)

 

[Salviano Junior]

Wow, the houses on the left, with the lights on and the sat dishes
brings this picture to a whole new level. It just SCREAMS Rio and
Brazil at you. Execelente, parabéns!

Thank you Thiago.

Everybody knows, Rio has a lot of "standards" beautiful views, but - in fact that's true for the most places - the hide ones are fascinating and the really ones.

I just visited your photo stream, outstanding!
That's one caught my attention, because it's nothing but perfect!



Gotei bastante de tudo. Parabéns e um abraço.

Salviano Junior

 

[jonny1976]

thanks a lot for the suggesion..so u recommend this favela..it's easy to reach?

probably book a n aprtment in ipanema cause i'd like o make some lirstyle shooing with models too for my stock agency so i need tpo be near the beach..but i'll go for sure there fto see.

i have planned to go to favela rocinha with a guided tour..they told me i can take photo in many part of the favela and only in sme places no.

An uncommon view of the Sugar Loaf;



At night;



Jam session;



A panorama at the sunrise;



Lucy, the lovely daughter of Bob, during the dental ugly duckling
stage, under the morning light;



My son and Bob - probabily solving all the problems of the world, hehe



Hope you enjoy your trip.

Espero que aprecie sua estadia no Rio.

Um abraço,

Salviano Junior
Rio... duh

--
http://www.pbase.com/jon1976

 

[Salviano Junior]