About a year ago I found a book on Colombia in Panamericana (a Colombian cross between “Barnes & Noble” and “Staples”). It was the kind of book I love to see – one that promotes the beauty to be found in Colombia. Chock full of wondrous photos mostly taken from the sky of landscapes of Caldas (“La Tierra del Café”) – the coffee growing region of Colombia. I noted then and there the name of the photographer – Carlos Hoyos – for one simple reason – I knew these photos were special.
You see, I have seen and read many books on Colombia and its landscapes – some are just great – others extraordinary and it is in this class that I place the books created by Carlos Hoyos and the photographs that illustrate them. Simply extraordinary.
So, you can imagine how I felt when a reporter friend of mine called me up today and asked me if I would like to join him in a meeting he had with this renowned photographer – of course I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn´t want to meet the man responsible for adorning coffee tables of homes and libraries worldwide with his photos showing Colombia in all its splendor.
So just after 10am today I caught up with Carlos Hoyos at the Quinta Gallery (run by Mauricio Quintero) in Bogota. There I got the chance to see his latest works taken from around Colombia. They all have a blue tone to them created directly by the artist during the process of creating the photo and all have been mounted on a clear plexi-glass to protect and present the photo artwork.
Here is one taken in Buenaventura on the Pacific coast.
Isn´t it gorgeous !? You can just feel tranquility ooozing out of the picture.
And here is another from the northern coast near Cartagena:
“Tree & Cloud”
These photographic artworks can be seen on the web at: Quinta Gallery or at the gallery in Bogota. Here is a picture I took today of Carlos.
I could go on and on about the special aerial techniques that Carlos uses to get his best architectural shots – but if you really want to find out more you can read about it in the following book in which his work really highlights the architectural beauty of the Colombian coastal city of Cartagena:
Art & Artists From Colombia 