WELCOME For me as a photographer is a pleasure to bring this part of Colombia to your hands.Through the years this land was forbidden to ordinary people for any reasons, Guerillas, Smugglers, Criminal Gangs were the heads of this territory. The Guaviare Region was a most hit by the violence; her River, land, and People suffered the consequences of an undeclared war. Today, thanks to the effort of Ong’s, Government, and Army her people got a new hope for a better tomorrow, and not only locals, visitors who could enjoy landscapes, sunsets, and the warm of Llaneros(1). The series It’s Colombia is inspired by “It’s Colombia, not Columbia” sentence made a mistake of a multinational marketing campaign. Trough this journey I want you to enjoy all the magic of this part of Colombia. It’s Colombia/On the edge of the jungle is a peaceful photographer point of view, is a new vision of a harmony between River, Land, and People. So, enjoy !
page 2
Photography MGalindoV Design AdeKfoto Diagramacion Enrique Arenas Text Jennifer Atkins Silvia Maria Hoyos Printed New York Publisher Orange Publishing www.orangephotopublisher.com ©Todos los derechos reservados 2016
page 3
NOWEN BRIDGE This journey begins in “Nouwen Bridge”, it serves as the gateway between the Great Eastern Prairies of Colombia and the tropical forests of the Amazon. It extends across the Guaviare River, also allowing a glance at the Guayabero River. It extends for 926 meters, connecting the Orinoquia and Amazonia, making it the sixth-largest viaduct in Colombia.
page 4
on the edge of the jungle
07. THE RIVER 06. THE LAND 08. PEOPLE
page 5
page 6
THE RIVER “The Rivers, the blood of the earth.” Throughout its course, the Guaviare River that forms the Guayabero River and the Ariari joints, hence its name, river found a perfect example of life along the river. The communities live by and for the river, which offers not only food but a necessary way of river transport in the immensity of the plain. In many indigenous cultures as U’was the river itself is a living organism and as such should be treated with respect and admiration.
page 7
Guaviare River Guaviare River, Spanish Rio Guaviare has its source in two other rivers, the Guayabero river, and Ariari, central and eastern Colombia, a major tributary of the Orinoco River. Initially known as the Guayabero River, it is formed in southwestern Meta department by the junction of the Tagua and the Duda rivers, which descend from the Andean Cordillera Oriental. As it flows eastward between Meta department to the north and Guaviare departments to the south.
page 8
page 9
page 10
on the edge of the jungle
page 11
page 12
Down The Guayabero ...”Everything on the raft must be swept off or crushed under the roof of stone, and the voyager was on the verge of being swallowed by the horrible-whirling flood, when Apatou, admirable in his coolness, bracing his pole against the rock above his head, by a superhuman effort swung the raft far away...” Our Continent Vol II No.5 Philadelphia, August 1889
page 13
...” On the 21st they again entered the head of Orinoco three leagues below the mission Emeralds. It was now a month since they had left that river near to the mouth of the Guaviare. They had still to proceed seven hundred and fifty leagues before reaching Angostura”... The Life and Travels of Alexander Von Humboldt James Blakwood London, 1924
page 14
page 15
page 16
...”The lower course of the Guaviare does not seem to oppose any obstacles to navigation, but as no European settlements have not yet been established on the banks, it is only navigated by the native tribes. It falls into Orinoco near 4 N. Latitud after a course of more than 500 miles. ..” The Penny Cyclopedia London, 1840
page 17
The Land “...Orellana the discoverer of the Orinoco having found idols of solid gold, had fixed the attention of adventurous on an auriferous land between Guaviare and Papaneme...” Alexander Von Humboldt London, 1879
page 18
on the edge of the jungle
page 19
page 20
Travel between the tropICS ...”they ascended the latter river as far as the mouth of the Rio Guaviare, paffing the famous cataracts, where the caverns contain mummies of the nation destroyed by war...” The Monthly Maganize Vol XIX Part 1 London 1805
page 21
...”We find of the course of this river from 60 to 70 leagues west of San Fernando two walls of rocks bounding to strait where the father Maiella terminated his excursion. That missionary told me that in going up the Guaviare...” Equinoctial Regiongs of America Aime Bompland London, 1885
page 22
...”Hence it follows, that the periodical oscillations rivers are, like the equality of temperature of caverns and springs, a sensible indication of the regular distribution of humidity and heat, which takes place from year to year on a considerable extent of land...”
Equinoctial Regiongs of America Aime Bompland London, 1885
page 23
...”With not even a lizard. The only animal material at all was the point of an antler which I found when scraping earth from the slab... ...The ridge continues to the southwest and must be the only landmark between the llano and Guaviare...” Dance of the Dwarfs Geoffrey Household
page 24
on the edge of the jungle
...”The toucan that Humboldt bought way very young; yet it delights during the whole voyage in teasing the nocturnal monkeys while where melancholy and irritable...”
The Life and Travel of Humboldt Richard H. Stoddard London 1860
page 25
peace. “it does not mean to be in a place where there is not noise, trouble or hard work, it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart”. (unknown)
page 26
on the edge of the jungle
page 27
page 28
on the edge of the jungle
page 29
I just hope I hope that you find a reason to smile, I hope you stay happy all the while, Don’t lose hope as things would change soon, Don’t give up to your pain, If you don’t lose hope, Things will be fine, Everything will fall into place on time! (unknown)
page 30
page 31
“As they lived, free countless ever, so the brave Aturians died; And the green banks of the river All their mortal relics hide Yet the parrot, ne’er forgetting, those who loved him, mourn then still One the stone his sharp beak wetting while the air his wailings fill Where are now the youths who bred him to pronounce their mother tongue Where the gentle maids fed him and who built his rest when young” Fragment Professor Ernst Curtius tutor of Prince Frederich of Prussia
page 32
page 33
page 34
‘“Less than fifty years ago the first colonists arrived at this area, driven here by violence in other parts of the country. In those times, people hunted Indians for sport, or caught them to use as slaves. So it is not surprising that the nomads of the Nukak Maku preferred to stay in the jungle where nobody bothered them. And then one day, about seventeen years ago, a group of around fifty sick and starving women and children came running into the village of Calamar, after a journey of two hundred kilometers on foot. What had happened to the men of this group never became clear. Naked and hungry they entered the gardens and houses of the locals, looking for food. Being nomads, they had no concept of private property, and communication with them was impossible because nobody could speak their language. The locals were dead scared of the naked ‘savages’ and sent them back into the woods as quickly as they could. But “the evil” had happened – this brief contact with Westerners had brought them in contact with influenza and tuberculosis. Within a few years, the majority of the Nukak Maku were dead.” Niels Van Iperen
page 35
page 36
on the edge of the jungle
page 37
page 38
“...There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where the colors are brighter, the air softer and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” Elizabeth Lawrence
page 39
“The wide-eyed innocence found in a child’s eye on a night like this will bring a smile To even the darkest of souls.” M.Segreto
page 40
on the edge of the jungle
page 41
“Home... A place of peace and silence A place of love Where crying is okay A place where you can yourself without pretending A place of kindness An acceptation Home is every our love I just wanna go home.” Imani Vandenberk
page 42
page 43
page 44
on the edge of the jungle
page 45
“I will not play at tug o’ war. I’d rather play at hug o’ war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, And everyone grins, And everyone cuddles, And everyone wins.” Shel Silverstein
page 46
page 47
we are a creative modern publisher with fresh new idea www.orangephotopublisher.com