Buenos Aires is culture. This city is a visual playground full of surprises, colors, shapes and people of all kinds. The center feels like an European capital and the outskirts feel like LA or any major modern city sprawled out into the abyss through a network of never ending highways. All of these elements combined create a unique atmosphere for skateboarding and for anyone who is obsessed with documenting the world around them and the things that are going on.
Most mornings I would get up, walk a couple miles down Avenue Rivadavia and shoot photos of the people walking in the neighborhood. I quickly fell in love with shooting in San Telmo and Recoletta because the contrasts are so sharp. Traveling just a few blocks in Buenos Aires can quickly get you into an area that you don’t want to be in. In the four months in Argentina, I never had problems until the last week. I almost got robbed in a plaza because I didn’t buy 3 pairs of socks from a piece of shit in the park. He demanded my camera and my phone in a quiet tone of voice. I acted like I did not understand and walked away. I had been warned since my first day in Argentina about Once.
This classic Porteno neighborhood has gone through a couple transformations, but has almost always been the center for clothing commerce in Argentina. The unique mix of people that this place brings is incredible if you happen to wear a camera around your neck every waking second you’re outside. There’s a train that brings people in from the west side of the city which is notoriously dangerous, making the mix even that much more interesting. But like I said, I had no problems in four months, so it all comes down to being smart and keeping your eyes open. Knowing who is in front and behind you is as important as knowing what street you’re on in a jungle like this.
Matt Phipps
