Elle Macpherson, 1990
Yesterday I decided to visit a place I wanted to photograph for a while, the first public housing project in Puerto Rico, done as part of the PRERA (the Puerto Rico Emergency Relief Administration) in 1933, providing funds to stimulate the economy and build infrastructure improving living conditions in the island.
“El Falansterio” sports a fantastic Art Deco style, the structure itself rounds the lot with 6 gated entrances, doubling as a barrier while enclosing a grand courtyard. Both the inside and outside can be observed by balconies, accessed from the hallways and shared by two apartments
The exposed concrete leaves a grayscale view with accents of color around you, from flowers, ironwork, or from vibrant chairs, restored and placed in the many balconies as a result of the mission of Espacio Común in reestablishing a sense of community through the ever-present element of Puerto Rican architecture, the balcony.
That same day I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Gratacós (founder of the project) and her partner, Jesús ‘Bubu’ Negron (Puerto Rican artist) with a mutual connection of Carolina Cestero, a trusted consultant of the project who I met back in the high school days when involved with the newspaper.
iron hearts and pastel concrete on #305
kodak portra 160
mamiya 645 af i
hato rey, san juan, pr
façade of a home in maguayo, dorado
quick stop in a lechonera after “finishing” that day’s trip driving and shooting across the island with the help of christian yamil. the place, with an open facade, was completely empty and just glowed in the middle of the night like a lantern. as if it was begging for it, i had to stop and photograph it.
“ok..” said christian half-asleep being a good assistant.
kodak portra 160
mamiya rz67 pro iid
hatillo, pr
vernacular architecture itself narrates the story of the people and my job i think is to interpret it with my photographic language just like a violinist can interpret a musical composition, all colors and decorative details are deliberate choices that combine with the protagonist’s movement of life.
kodak portra 160
k.b. canham dlc 4×5
dorado, pr
first photoscapade after a busy christmas with the family, this time warming up to the camera in río piedras with christian yamil. did a couple of mistakes getting used to the shutter system, definitely made me miss the simplicity of large format.
more to come!
kodak portra 160
mamiya rz67 pro iid
río piedras, pr
BellezzoNero 