Matteo Bertolino - Blog

Dad at work

2012-02-10T04:08:00.002-06:00

Casa do Cura

2012-02-06T18:00:00.003-06:00

http://casadocura.blogspot.com/

No title

2012-01-20T16:03:00.002-06:00

Foggy Torino

2012-01-17T13:29:00.003-06:00

15-12-2012

-.-

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2012-01-04T05:53:00.000-06:00

Antogo

2011-11-18T16:24:00.000-06:00

http://www.matteobertolino.com/index.php?view=category&catid=2&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=62

Aymara's New Year's Day.

2011-11-18T13:21:00.001-06:00

http://www.matteobertolino.com/index.php?view=category&catid=3&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=62

Spider Man

2011-11-17T17:18:00.000-06:00

Cosimo

2011-11-16T07:27:00.000-06:00

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2011-11-14T09:32:00.001-06:00

Madrid. Modern tourism.

2011-11-14T09:30:00.001-06:00

Lia

2011-11-13T23:30:00.000-06:00

Iria y Leonardo

2011-11-13T23:05:00.000-06:00

Eye-lash

2011-11-13T17:08:00.000-06:00

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2011-11-13T16:56:00.003-06:00

Carlos

2011-11-13T05:13:00.000-06:00

-.-

2011-11-12T18:35:00.000-06:00

Niger

2011-11-12T08:34:00.000-06:00

My parents

2011-11-12T05:12:00.001-06:00

my mother, Nicoletta

my father, Raimondo

2011-11-11T05:01:00.000-06:00

2011-11-10T08:11:00.002-06:00

Tinku - Acacio

2011-11-04T10:48:00.001-06:00

Part of a larger reportage on an ancient traditional celebration in Bolivia, called "Tinku", practiced by Quechua rural communities, mostly in the north of the Potosì Department. Tinku literally means in Quechua language "encounter", and consists in two communities encountering once per year, the one from the low valley, the other coming from the high valley. Brutal fights among men and among women take place, and the blood spilled is offered to the Pachamama, so that the next harvest is blessed. Until not so long ago people used to die during this ritualistic - often uncontrolled - combats. Today little symbolism and rituality is left, whereas alcohol has become the master, emptying the spiritual bottle completely; drunk men fight, just for 'fun', and violence can indeed be terrific. Cocks fight, bull fight, women fight. To celebrate the chief, the boss, the toughest. Two against two, big man vs. big man, middle size woman vs. middle size woman, with a minimum of rules in each kind of combats: rules that are easily forgotten after days of massive non-stop drinking, giving often rise to uncontrolled violence.

This Tinku - in the remote villa of Acacio, whose celebration lasts various days - coincided with the San Juan celebrations, June 25th, which explains the existence of other combats-entertainments, like the famous "Toro-Tinku", the fight between bulls (a well known bull champion is called "the aereoplane").

Xesus

2011-11-02T09:09:00.000-06:00

2011-11-02T08:56:00.000-06:00

Urgencias

2011-10-19T09:46:00.003-06:00

Daily life in China

2011-10-10T06:31:00.001-06:00

China, 2011. Yunnan Region. Daily life.

Body and Mind

2011-10-10T06:26:00.001-06:00

China, 2011. Kunming, Yunnan Region. People, of all age, gather in public places (usually parks) once or twice daily, and together perform all kind of activities, mainly physical. This custom facilitates "social cohesion", within an holistic vision on mind and body.

At School

2011-10-10T06:19:00.001-06:00

China, 2011. Yunnan Region. Bayang village. In a local rural school, where children remain from monday until friday, under strict discipline. Yet, they are still children.

Karaoke

2011-10-10T06:15:00.001-06:00

China 2011. Karaoke is tremendous passion and entertainment for most of the people, and one way of spending money for the wealthy. Hotels often have a floor dedicated to the Karaoke, where drinks, plasma-screens, men and women spend time. Often with the happy ending.

'Dai' Women Smoking

2011-10-10T06:12:00.002-06:00

China 2011. Yunnan Region. In the rural village of Wen Ding, populated by the Dai minority group, South Yunnan, women especially smoke pipes, almost constantly.

Stipe Surac

2011-09-25T16:20:00.001-06:00

http://www.stipesurac.com/

Beautiful China

2011-09-23T04:30:00.002-06:00

HPA 2011

2011-09-23T00:30:00.000-06:00

Back from China, Kunming, where the 2011 edition of the prestigious biennial HPA contest - organised by the CFPA and UNESCO - held its final ceremony and celebrations.

I'm the winner of:

- A Documentary Award
- A Nomination Award

See you in 2 years...

Iria

2011-09-10T14:32:00.003-06:00

LAN - Publication

2011-08-04T04:16:00.001-06:00

http://in-lan.com/2011/08/la-grandeza-de-chiquitos/

LAN Magazine, with my photos. 80.000 copies now flying throughout all South America! Available in the seat in front of you.

Gumo

2011-07-24T10:00:00.001-06:00

http://www.gumophotography.com/

Totora

2011-07-21T07:25:00.002-06:00

. . .

2011-07-20T23:42:00.000-06:00

Cocks Fight

2011-07-09T17:17:00.001-06:00

June 24th, 2011. San Juan.

Acacio, Dep. of Potosì

Bolivia

2011-06-27T19:24:00.002-06:00

Sin titulo.

2011-06-27T13:27:00.000-06:00

Municipio de Acacio, norte de Potosì, comunidad de Kirusillani.

Bolivia, Junio 2011

Bolivian Oldies Goldies

2011-06-25T21:20:00.000-06:00

Angelina. 85 years old.

Acacio, Bolivia. June 2011

Eduardo. 89 years old. The oldest man from Acacio.

Acacio, Bolivia. June 2011

Angelina. 76 years old.

Acacio, Bolivia. June 2011.

Chantalle

2011-06-18T13:18:00.001-06:00

Chantalle is a travestite, a sex worker, here in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

On mother's day, female sex workers organised a special day of celebration, together with their children (being that many of them are mothers); several games were played, among which a lottery, with prizes.

Chantalle had the luck to win at the lottery a big basket full of goodies, like food, soaps, kitchen tools, and other useful stuffs. She has no kids. She donated the basket to the mother having the greatest number of children that day.

2011-06-16T21:06:00.000-06:00

‘Las trabajadorassexuales no agachamos más la cabeza. Algunos dicen que ejercer el trabajosexual no es digno. Nosotras les decimos que indignas son las condiciones enlas que tenemos que ejercer el trabajo sexual.’

Elena Reynaga,Secretaria General RedTraSexì

XVIIConferencia Mundial de SIDA

Ciudad deMéxico, agosto, 2008

Iria

2011-06-12T18:00:00.004-06:00

Sabina

2011-06-09T13:20:00.001-06:00

A person A woman. A mother. A worker: a sew worker.

Bolivia, 2011.

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2011-05-07T17:29:00.001-06:00

Take a polarised break. On the shore of the Titicaca Lake.

Photographic Workshop - Bolivia

2011-05-05T09:15:00.000-06:00

Inscriptions are open!!

For more info, please visit: http://www.shoot4change.net/?p=4983

A walk. Through NY.

2011-05-03T16:19:00.003-06:00

A random walk in a random city, in New York city. A quick walk, a little taste, a small fragment; fragments of the overwhelming, of dark and lightness, of insanity, fragments of a city ungraspable, so big, and yet in a way so small. Nothing pretentious.. just a simple walk through the unbearable, through this grain of chaos, bounded to a fascinating surreality. A simple walk through a sense majesty and desolation, in a jungle of illusions.

2011-05-03T16:15:00.000-06:00

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2011-05-02T08:34:00.003-06:00

the end

Cordillera, Real

2011-05-01T13:15:00.002-06:00

Toro-Toro's views

2011-04-02T07:15:00.000-06:00

I will miss you badly, Bolivia

Can't sleep? Count sheep.

2011-02-28T07:19:00.001-06:00

Red Line

2011-02-25T13:04:00.003-06:00

Is it an emergency?? Pick up the red line..

Water in Cochabamba

2011-02-25T13:01:00.005-06:00

Despite the famous "Water War" fought in the city in Cochabamba in the year 2000, which through massive protests and manifestations brought back the city's water system under public management - ending with the privatisation in favour of the US company Bechtel - several areas of Cochabamba, 10 years later, are still lacking water access. Marginal neighbourhoods - mostly the south zone of the city - lack a hydric system; families are forced to buy every day from camion water, which they store how they can, mainly in this old rusty metal tanks. Yet, it is not enough, families are large. Besides, the quality of the water distributed is poor, often dirty, causing diseases especially in the youngest.

Many families, in order to cope with prices of distribution and with overall water scarcity, collect rainy water when possible (often in rudimental ways as in the image above); this is is fact a key reservoir for any households. The South zone of Cochabamba (immense) is marked by contrasts and overall poverty, services are poor, overall living conditions are precarious. Cochabamba is the third city of the country, in terms of importance and size. Water access keeps being an unresolved issues, despite promises and efforts, despite The War, despite Evo, despite time keeps passing by..

2011-02-24T15:57:00.000-06:00

"From my window I can see humanity going insane"

(C.H.)

2011-02-24T08:16:00.004-06:00

Bolivia is suffering these days, rains do not stop, 10.000 families affected by the massive rains. And the situation does not seem to get any better. National Emergency has been officially declared.

And if you add the ongoing national strike of the transport sector...well...it is a difficult country indeed.

Not really a good time to travel around...

2011-02-22T19:12:00.002-06:00

Because also ants take photos! Didn't you ever notice?

New Story!

2011-01-25T16:24:00.006-06:00

Check my new story, on the shore of the lake Titicaca, the mistery of Our Lady of Copacabana runs deep...
Enjoy.

http://www.matteobertolino.com/index.php?view=category&catid=19&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=62

2011-01-14T14:46:00.000-06:00

92

2011-01-01T18:23:00.003-06:00

Yungas

2010-12-31T21:15:00.003-06:00

Yungas is a region situated north of La Paz, humid, rainy, hot region. Mountains, hills and valleys strike for their beauty. The famous Death Road (see post below) connects this region with La Paz. The Yungas' local economy is massively structured around vast coca-leafs cultivations, representing - together with the Chapare region - the area where production is nationally concentrated, due to perfect clime conditions.

Rising fuel prices in Bolivia? Yes....No...

2010-12-31T09:03:00.006-06:00

OOn December 26 the first indigenous government of Bolivia, leaded since 2005 by the controversial Aymara president Evo Morales, announced one of the most unpopular measures in the last decades: the decree 748, the rise of fuel prices up to an 80% (measure popularly labelled as “gasolinazo”). In a historically highly conflictive and polarised country like Bolivia, this is a critical phase for the government of Morales and for his political party/movement – the MAS (Movement Towards Socialism – Movimiento al Socialismo), now facing growing unrests and opposition. Will this “necessary” measure undermine government’s support, generating waves of popular discontent and potential future political instability? Since December 27 the country is almost paralyzed. Buses terminal are closed in most cities, taxies and public transportation are on unlimited strike. The army is helping citizens to displace themselves through the deployment of military vehicles in main cities, as in La Paz; here, as in most cities, a huge manifestation took place on December 30, invading the city, paralyzing it completely, calling for the cancelling of the decree 748 and for president’s resignation. Several sectors manifested, police was massively present. Violent episodes have taken place all throughout the country in these tense days, violent groups attacked public buildings, banks, offices, stores. The central MAS’s offices in La Paz were also affected. Up to today 16 police officers have been severely injured, several citizens arrested. Vigorous unrests will probably follow in the next weeks. Some claim that the main opposition party (MSM – Movement without Fear – Movimiento Sin Miedo) is actually blowing on the fire, orchestrating violent groups’ actions in order to destabilise the government.

Rising fuel prices in Bolivia? Yes....No...

2010-12-31T08:41:00.009-06:00

After 6 years of fuel subsidies that allowed maintaining prices way below the average of neighbouring countries, the government decided to adopt this measure in order to fight contraband of fuel, which is causing an economic loss for the country year after year. President Morales spoke to the nation in order to explain this measure, arguing that is now crucial to equilibrate prices among neighbouring countries in order to stop fuel bleeding abroad. As predictable, the impact on the economy has been immediate: the day after prices were rising, not just in the transport sector but also in the food and basic products’ sector. Authorities’ efforts in order to explain and justify the measure have not proved effective. Despite widespread opposition, several peasant-indigenous movements and organisations nation wide - representing the social base of the Morales’ government - have publicly manifested their support to the decree 748 (while acknowledging its social impact), ultimately reaffirming their full commitment to “the process of change” (el proceso de cambio). Notwithstanding various sectors’ support, on December 31, at 22.15 p.m. the President Morales announces to the nation his decision to cancel the Decree 748 and all related measures. This came as a surprise to many. Morales argued that he listened to the people (el pueblo), and that people finally rule. Things went back to normality, people celebrated the victory, and fuel contraband will probably follow as usual. Happy New Year Bolivia. Bolivia is undergoing a profound – and of course conflictive - process of change, politically, socially, economically and culturally, under the guidance of a new government trying to revert decades of right wing neoliberal policies, widespread indigenous oppression, racism, social injustice and poverty. However, the political discourse at large appears pervaded by contradictions and uncertainty. This is a country were people’s power can force presidents to resign, as history teaches. Sector and unions are very strong and organised, able to generate tremendous pressure on authorities. The future of this “revolutionary” government is ultimately bound to its capacity to face social challenges, resolve systemic contradictions (for example industrialization and natural resources’ exploitation vs. preservation of Mother Nature – Pachamama) and to develop coherent discourses and policies able to successfully redirect historical neoliberal political patterns.

Coroico

2010-12-29T20:42:00.000-06:00

Coroico, in the Yungas region, Bolivia. Local market, by night.

Death Road

2010-12-29T17:55:00.002-06:00

Finally closed two years ago and replaced by a safer and more modern one, the popularly know as "the death road" stands today as an infrastructure antiquity, extreme human draw on stunning mountains. Going down from La Cumbre (at around 4.600 metres above sea level), near La Paz, until the town of Coroico (at 1.500 metres), this road of around 60 Km. runs between amazing peaks, rainfalls, and stunning vegetation, crossing a variety of different micro-climes. You begin way up with scarf and gloves, you end up sweating crazy after few hours. The road is still open and used today, mainly for touristic purposes, as it remains highly popular; it is also used by local communities living in the region in order to displace themselves, but, unfortunately, they cannot count on a sufficient traffic flow as back then, to reach bigger towns, when this was this only road connecting La Paz with the Yungas region.
Hundreds of people tragically died on this road. It is no joke. The path is extremely narrow, cliff drops are of hundreds of meters, missing a curve or crossing a camion could be fatal. Crosses are still numerous along the way, reminding visitors not to mess with Mother Nature.
Landscapes are simply overwhelming, views are incredible, it is a marvellous place indeed. As marvellous is the whole Yungas region, where this road will lead you. More or less safely. Just keep your right side...

2010-12-29T12:35:00.000-06:00

La Paz

2010-12-28T06:37:00.001-06:00

night..

and day.

2010-12-22T08:04:00.004-06:00

Tunupa's Salt Lake, vulgarly know as "Uyuni's Salt Lake", from the name of the awful small town, Uyuni, where around 100 tour agencies offer the hyper-classical tour on the Salar.. Around 98% of tourists visiting Bolivia go to the Salar, the largest in the world, 3.650 metres above sea level, around 11.000 Km squared. A must indeed. One of the locations absolutely mostly shot. Try to goole/flickr it and see!

Salt naturally draws hexagons, from which the Salt Lake breaths. Besides tons of salt being extracted, underneath it there is a large reserve of lithium, now under an experimental extraction phase undertaken by the government. White gold for our technological unnecessary contemporary gadgets..

This image was captured at dawn, around 6 a.m., when very first sun lights where hitting the salt desert. In the back the holy Tunupa Volcano, originally used for religious ceremonies, and still today worshipped by local Aymara people.

2010-12-18T06:32:00.001-06:00

Landscape from the Sud Lipez region, south Bolivia, a plateau bordering Argentina and Chile, between 4000 and 5200 metres. A region of deserts, lagoons, volcanos, glaciers, minerals and other stunning natural beauties. White colours are given by the borax, a mineral common (and precious) in this region.

2010-12-16T15:59:00.000-06:00

El Chino

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A man consumes his daily breakfast in a simple local restaurant, in Samaipata, Bolivia.

And so do I.

2010-11-30T20:06:00.003-06:00

1-05-2010. Manifestation in La Paz.

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2010-11-30T19:58:00.003-06:00

A typical butchery corner in the popular market. Sucre, Bolivia.

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2010-11-21T17:11:00.004-06:00

Camiri, in the "Chaco" region, Bolivia. A small home-made circus performed a show, for around 16 spectators, me included. I had a lot of fun.

2010-11-01T13:53:00.000-06:00

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An indigenous woman walks in La Paz on a sunny day, talking with her cell phone.

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