Let me begin with a few photos that I forgot from last weeks post. This was another among many wildfires we passed while driving through the country. We got to pull over for this one and watch the fire spread with the locals who seemed used to this type of thing. They said they were waiting for helicopters to come since the fire was too intense to control from the ground. We only stayed for 10 minutes or so but there was no sign of help during that time.
This was a wide shot I got before the fire got really intense.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso1600, f/2.8, 1/3200s)
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso160, f/2, 1/400s)
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso160, f/2, 1/320s)
Although I was injured, the first half of the trip was more skating oriented, the second half was more geared toward adventure and checking out the more beautiful side of Colombia. We began by meeting up with our friend Paulo in Rionegro and exploring some of his families former and current properties away from the major cities.
When I wasn't laying in the hammock, I was taking in the amazing view from the 14th floor.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso100, f/5.6, 1/250s)
A full view.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso50, f/5, 1/250s)
The Escobar family: Paulo, Catalina and Paulito
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.2, 1/125s)
One thing I was looking forward to was visiting Hacienda Napoles. This property was formerly owned by Pablo Escobar up until his death where the government won it in a legal battle from the Escobar family. The land was so large and contained so many animals (hippos, elephants, lions, tigers, gazelles, etc) that the Colombian government couldn't even afford to maintain it. Our friend Paulo is Pablo's nephew and remembers flying into their private airport here every weekend as a kid. As he came back today as his family no longer has ownership of the property, he realizes how much has changed and how little of his family's presence remains.
This was an overlook we stopped by on the way to the Hacienda. The waterfall on the left rolls through and passes by the town on the right.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso100, f/8, 1/100s)
This is a close up of the little town in the valley.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso50, f/8, 1/160s)
1 of the 2 waterfalls leading into the small town.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso100, f/5, 1/1250s)
This is the entrance of the park. Pablo flew this plane by himself on his first drug shipment to the United States. For some reason, they decided to put zebra stripes on it now.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso50, f/5.6, 1/640s)
Even though they got rid of a lot of Pablo's original property at the Hacienda, one thing they left behind were his collection of cars which I found pretty cool.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.8, 1/2500s)
This is Pablo's first car on the left, the Renault 4L and his Mercades presidential limo on the right.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.8, 1/1600s)
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.8, 1/500s)
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.8, 1/160s)
The dashboard of his Porche.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.8, 1/640s)
Before we went to the Hacienda, Paulo was telling us about these amphibious cars that his uncle had and they actually had them there on display.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/4, 1/400s)
???
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso400, f/2.8, 1/1000s)
Getting my National Geographic on.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso1000, f/2, 1/4000s)
Paulito
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso100, f/2.5, 1/160s)
A couple of days later we went to Gutapé where Paulo and his family had a lake house and boat to spend the day on the man-made lake. This place also had a lot of history.
The Escobar family with Paulito at the wheel.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso100, f/5.6, 1/2000s)
Beautiful landscapes all over this lake
Sony A7II, Sony 55-210mm @136mm (iso400, f/6.3, 1/5000s)
This part of the lake was actually made over a city. The town was evacuated and flooded to form the lake and give water to neighboring cities. This cross on top of the church is all that's visible above water.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso100, f/5.6, 1/4000s)
My friend Jon Ortiz out on the boat.
Sony A7II, Sony 55-210mm @73mm (iso400, f/16, 1/1600s)
As we docked, we stopped by Pablo's former party house where this limo was parked outside.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @23mm (iso100, f/4, 1/1250s)
Shots fired.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso100, f/4, 1/1000s)
This was also Pablo Escobar's former lake house. It was blown up during an assassination attempt. This is the view coming down the driveway to the front of the house.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @17mm (iso100, f/4, 1/125s)
Back of the house and pool.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso100, f/4,5, 1/320s)
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @25mm (iso100, f/4.5, 1/200s)
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @25mm (iso100, f/4, 1/60s)
The courtyard.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso100, f/2.8, 1/100s)
Me standing on the edge of one of the rooms.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso100, f/2.8, 1/1250s)
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso100, f/4,5s)
Jon in one of the bedrooms of Pablo's house.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso100, f/2.8, 1/250s)
Sunset over Guatapé
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @27mm (iso200, f/11, 1/1250s)
The town of Guatapé is insanely colorful. Unfortunately we were never able to make it there during the day time but this gives you an idea of what the streets looked like.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso800, f/5.6, 1/3s)
The day after, we actually went back to Guatapé since there was one major thing we didn't' get to do the first day. That was to climb El Peñol which was a huge rock that you can climb and overlook the whole town and lake.
The climb up involves 740 stairs in high elevation which makes it even harder to breathe.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso50, f/4.5, 1/80s)
During one of the breaks throughout the climb.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso50, f/8, 1/100s)
This is the view from only halfway up.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso50, f/2.8, 1/500s)
Jenny at the halfway point.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso50, f/4.5, 1/250s)
The view from the top!
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso200, f/11, 1/500s)
Paulo brought his drone to get some ridiculous footage and photos. You can check out his footage HERE
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso200, f/4, 1/2000s)
Jon chilling at the top.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso200, f/11, 1/125s)
It's nearly impossible to single someone out since the peak is quite small and gets crowded easily. I don't know this man but this photo worked out perfectly.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @35mm (iso200, f/11, 1/200s)
Paulo enjoying the view between flights with his drone.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @23mm (iso200, f/2.8, 1/6400s)
Panorama of the lake.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @16mm (iso200, f/8, 1/640s)
Had to get a Colombian shoe selfie.
Sony A7II, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II @25mm (iso200, f/11, 1/160s)
Looking up at Jon on the way down.
Sony A7II, Canon 50mm f/1.4 (iso200, f/6.3, 1/400s)
Back down in the empty parking lot, we were pretty much in the clouds and used this opportunity for some photos with a cloud backdrop. Pretty surreal.
Sony A7II, Sony 55-210mm @199mm (iso400, f/6.3, 1/500s)
Jon and Paulo.
Sony A7II, Sony 55-210mm @109mm (iso200, f/6.3, 1/500s)
In the other direction, the sun was setting over the mountains.
Sony A7II, Sony 55-210mm @107mm (iso200, f/11, 1/640s)
Colombia offered some of the most amazing views I've ever seen and I know there's so much more I didn't get to see. It also gave me a chance to really get used to my Sony A7II and grow to really like it a lot. I need to get some Sony glass, then I'll be completely satisfied. Hopefully, I'll be able to make it back to Colombia next year and travel to a couple of other countries in South America as well.
In case you missed it, check out the first part of our road trip through Colombia here!
Gear Used:
Metabones Canon EF Mark IV Adapter
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