el santo de carton

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El Santo De Cart贸n invisibility: the unseen around us Photography and Design // Victor Ramos Content // Santos Instructor // Beth LaDove School // Academy of Art University Course // Photo Narratives Semester // Spring 2009 Note: this publication is not authorized, endorsed or affiliated by any public or private organization.

THIS BOOK IS THE PRODUCT OF A STUDENT, PRODUCED AS NON-COMMERCIAL WORK, INTENDED FOR PERSONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Copyright 漏 2009 // Victor Ramos All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the author.

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FORWARD If you've visited San Francisco then you've probably noticed them driving through town. Big workhorse trucks tagged with graffiti, equipped with makeshift wooden-side-panels and staked dizzyingly high with flattened cardboard. They are the roaming cardboard recyclers of San Francisco.

However, it's most likely that you've forgotten about them, or at least have become so accustomed to seeing them, that you've perhaps blurred them into the background, making them part of the city-scape like I did.

In early April of 2009, I decided to explore this world of roaming cardboard recyclers. I wanted to understand the intricacies of their world, how they work, the challenges they face and how they see their role in society. So, I casually introduced myself to a couple of men driving a truck and they lead me to a man named "Santos" who became my official guide and subject of this book. Santos opened up his world to me, allowing me to ride in his truck and follow him on his daily route.

Santos showed me his uncanny access to countless businesses and locations throughout San Francisco. Through this process, I learned how Santos truly is a master networker, interacting with the public and always looking to make connections and friends. In the end, I became aware that Santos is much more than a cardboard recycler, he's a co-worker of the masses and an acute observer of society.

The following images were take in the span of two days, but they constitute an average day in his life. This is the story of Santos, the unseen around us.

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5:13 AM

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En la vida, siempre tienes que mirar para puertas abiertas y si no hay, bueno, tienes que hacerlas.

In life, you always have to look for open doors, and if there aren’t any, well, you just make them.

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Veo un montón de gente descontenta con su vida. Siempre con prisa o preocupados por perder su trabajo. Unas veces no creo que se dan cuenta de que este país está lleno de oportunidades.

I see a lot of people unhappy with their lives, always in a hurry or worried about losing their job. Sometimes I don’t think they realize that this country is full of opportunities.

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7:13 AM

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9:21 AM

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10:07 AM

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11:42 AM

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Cuando empecé, tuve un pequeño camión. cuando fui a vender el cartón, me dieron siete dólares.

When I first started, I had a small truck. when I sold the cardboard, they gave me seven dollars.

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1:16 PM

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1:52 PM

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3:41 PM

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Voy a coger el cartón de hoy, y mañana voy a volver para las paletas, me dan dos dólares por pieza para ellos.

I’ll grab the cardboard today, tomorrow I’ll come back for the pallets, I get two dollars a piece for those.

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4:36 PM

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Así que, ahora has visto el ciclo de principio a fin y para ti se acabo. Pero, para mí, el ciclo comienza de nuevo mañana.

So, now you’ve seen the cycle from start to finish and you’re done. But, for me, the cycle begins all over again tomorrow.

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Photography and Design: Victor Ramos // words: Santos | 70