Did you ever have one of those days where nothing goes right? Fortunately, for me they don’t happen very often. I can’t remember one in recent history. But there are days where everything goes right. And when you’re a photographer it’s Nirvana. That day for me was at the estancia el Galpón del Glaciar near el Calafate in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Let’s just call it Patagonia perfection. I have to say photographically speaking it was my best day ever.
This section of Patagonia is replete with beautiful landscapes, mountain peaks like Fitzroy, Cerro Torre, and the amazing glacier, Perito Moreno. It’s a glacier that’s actually growing instead of shrinking. I loved photographing this spectacular scenery. But I’m a bigger fan of places where I can shoot people and animals. I was happy to hear that this location would have scenery, sheep, and horses. And when they added gauchos to the mix? Bada bing. Heart be still! Patty was really feliz! I have the reputation of photographing good looking male subjects so this was going to be right up my alley.
Serendipitous day
Our visit to this estancia (ranch) coincided with a visit from a professional photographer from Buenos Aires. The management had hired her to populate their new website with images of the estancia and the surrounding landscape. Since horseback riding is an activity they offer their guests, they staged a run of all the horses with the handsome gauchos in pursuit. The background for this were the spectacular mountains and the shoreline of Lake Argentino. Somebody pinch me!!
The participating gauchos seemed to be having the time of their lives. They were racing back and forth across the surf at full speed. (It’s call galloping, Patty.) We didn’t have to worry about not having enough shots because they were having as much fun as we were. The ‘head’ gaucho was a few decades older than the other two and was straight out of central casting. Boots, gaiters, a small whip, a boina (beret), and a cigarette to boot just in case we didn’t think he was masculine enough.
Click on photos to see them full size:
My personal fave was the young man named Pablo. Not only was he a great horseman, but could even quit his day job and do modeling.
As I said: Patagonia perfection! (and ladies, you’re welcome!)
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