Carnival

Every January and February, at the very height of South America’s hot summer, the nighttime is awakened by an uninhibited celebration of festive color, light and sound. Feather and sequin-adorned dancers, colorful fantastical floats and—over all—an infectious percussive drumbeat that draws spectators lining the streets into the party. Carnival time!

Photographers have long wished for special access to the spectacular Carnival celebrations in the New World. Rio de Janeiro is the largest and best known, but its size and fame create numerous obstacles for photographers—unruly crowds, restricted access, difficult-to-obtain press passes and hours of waiting in long, hot lines.

In Argentina, just to the north of Buenos Aires in Gualeguaychú, one of the world’s largest, yet least known, Carnival festivals takes place annually. Here, the exotic beauty and extraordinary creativity of Carnival is safely revealed for our cameras—with VIP access to the glittering pageantry and in close proximity to the stunning dancers—that is virtually unattainable at the event in Rio!

Floats of dazzling color and otherworldly description reach dizzying heights as tall as multi-storied buildings. Covered with ostentatious fluorescent feathers and blanketed with flowers, the floats are works of art. The costumes of the dancers easily rival the floats! Often handed down from generation to generation and ornamented with up to 2,500 brilliant feathers and an immeasurable amount of sparkling beading—sequins, pearls and stones individually embroidered in place—these “fancy costumes” can weigh up to 175 pounds. It’s hard to imagine this much costume could still leave so much skin exposed!

We are in a prime location to photograph to the Afro-Caribbean beat and explosive rhythm of percussion “orchestras” whose increasing tempo drives the dancing troupes into a frenzy of perpetual motion. Giants and ogres, warriors and witches, kings and queens, saints and serpents—all gyrating to the throbbing beat—stream past our cameras in Gualeguaychú's Corsódromo. The hypnotic spell of so much music and movement becomes equally infectious for the surrounding spectators!

Traveling across the Rio de la Plata into Uruguay, equally little-known and surprising Carnival events take place. Street parties or murgas display an electric flamboyance that nearly rivals their Argentine counterpart. Here, in the colonial districts of Montevideo, African heritage is emphasized and freedom from oppressive slavery is celebrated. The drum call of the tambores—an echo of Africa—and the vibrant costumes fill the senses with a rhythm and joy that demands to be photographed. Many of the dance groups come from Brazil to practice here before the Rio Carnival in March. After the parades, the party often continues with the crowds joining the costumed performers to dance in the streets long into the night.

Between the revelry of Carnival celebrations, we devote ample time to scenic subjects. At a cattle estancia, gauchos ride their magnificent horses for iconic images of ranch life. Colonia del Sacramento with its picturesque winding cobblestone streets, the colorful boats along the Paraná River Delta, and the myriad architectural wonders along the narrow walkways of Recoleta Cemetery provide quieter, but photogenic, interludes. And travel to Buenos Aires would not be complete without discovering its heart and soul—the tango. We photograph specially-arranged dancers in the photogenic outdoor backdrop of the city’s legendary Tango District. Sinuous and passionate, the alluring movements and dramatic postures of the dancers enthrall our lenses. Each photographer has an opportunity to find that perfect angle to capture the essence of the tango.

The pageantry of Carnival with every bit of the magic, color, artistry and cultural imagery as in Rio—but less commercial and with far easier access for photographers—awaits during a custom-designed Photo Safari to Argentina and Uruguay.