Jul 2, 2018
Cindy Carlsson
This image was shot with an Olympus OMD EM-1 (a micro 4/3rds mirrorless camera) with a wide angle 7-14 Olympus Zukio pro lens. It was processed in Lightroom and then edited with Topaz Impression to create a painterly effect before receiving a final edit in Lightroom.
We visited San Germán on Februrary 11, 2017, as part of a road trip around Puerto Rico. This photo was taken outside San Germán’s oldest church, the 18th century Porta Coeli ("Gateway to Heaven") Convent Church. The historic church is now a religious museum, but remains at the heart of the city. I chose this photo for two reasons: First, although essentially a still life, this image reminds me of the people of San Germán. When I came across this scene I thought it looked like a stage set. And, in a way, it is. As I watched from a nearby patio, I discovered that the community used the historic church and its dramatic stairs as a stage for commemorate important moments in their lives. On the afternoon we visited, the brightly painted VW bug was here as a prop for a young woman wearing a glittering black slip of a dress. She was here with the owner of the vehicle, a photographer, and what appeared to be her father and younger sister. The glamourous young woman posed for photos on the stairs, by the church, and with the car before briefly disappearing out of sight. Meanwhile, another photographer entered the scene with a bride and groom in tow. Soon they too were posing on the stairs, by the church, and (while the party attached to the car was out of sight) with the car. And then a third bride and groom came to have their wedding photos taken here, this time with their bridal party and photographer along! If we had stayed another hour or so, I suspect we would have seen the girls celebrating their quinceañera mass just down the street come here to pose for pictures too. No matter the occasion, this seemed to be the place to be have your photograph taken. The second reason I chose this photo was because processing makes this look a bit like something from a dream. That slightly imaginary quality seems apt in the aftermath of hurricane Maria. While the building and stairs remain, San Germán was impacted by the hurricane. I don’t know how many buildings were damaged, but it seems likely that the families I watched document happy milestones in their lives are living a much different reality right now. Like most of Puerto Rico, the city is likely lacking electricity, clean water, cell phone service, and other basics we all take for granted. For some, their lives may have been changed forever. When I look at this image now, it seems as if it was captured from a dream. And that’s how the Puerto Rico I experienced seems right now – like something from a dream. It seems so real and yet as if it can never really be recaptured as it was.
Cindy Carlsson
I’m a travel photographer and writer from Minnesota. As someone from the northern part of the USA, I’m always eager to visit tropical places and I fell in love with Puerto Rico. When not out exploring the world, I’m sharing my discoveries at www.ExplorationVacation.net.
Website : https://explorationvacation.net/
Twitter : @TravelgalCindy
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