Patagonia location: Isla Magdalena

dwaisman — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 14:12:11 +0000

The Isla Magdalena is surrounded by the frigid waters of the Magellan straight. The island is home to a vast community of penguins and seagulls that use it as their summer breeding ground. Its lighthouse, designed and constructed by a Scottish engineer, aided the navigation of ships that circumvented the American continent during the early XX century.

The CONAF manages the island which has been declared a wildlife protected area.

Isla Magdalena, Magallanes Region

The Isla Magdalena is about 35 Km from the Chilean city of Punta Arenas in the Magallanes region. It takes about a forty-minute boat ride to reach its shores and, because of the straight’s strong winds, reaching the island can be a choppy experience. In our last photo tour, the winds were calm and our journey was very peaceful.

Back in 1837, the Chilean government enacted a decree for the construction and organization of a national network of lighthouses.
The Isla Magdalena lighthouse dates from a much later time. It was constructed by the Scottish engineer and architect George Slight in 1901 and became operational by the following year. Originally, the installation of the lighthouse consisted of a house with five bedrooms, an office, an oil tank and a store, plus kitchen.

Old map of Southern Patagonia with Isla Magdalena marker

In 1976, it was declared of historical importance due to its strategic location and function to the shipping trade lines.
This maritime route was the original navigable link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans which precedes the Panama canal.

In 1981 the Chilean Navy delegated the maintenance of the site to CONAF, the Chilean park services, who has an active presence year round. There are two park rangers that take care of the lighthouse’s structure and protect the animal colonies.

Wildlife at the Island

During the summer, the Isla Magdalena becomes the breeding ground for its vast penguin population which hides its chicks underground to protect them from predators. The land is filled with holes which provide refuge to the colony during high winds. It also keeps the chicks safe and warm during the Patagonian night.
The waters of the Strait are abundant with mollusk and crustaceans which are the staple of the colony’s diet.

Penguin coming out of ground hole

Join us when we visit the Isla Magdalena to photograph its landscape and wildlife. Check out our coming Patagonia Photography tour.

All photos taken by DWaisman with Sony A7RIII, 100-400 mm, and 1.4 teleconverter.

Photography Location – Pucará de Tilcara, Jujuy

dwaisman — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:35:03 +0000

There are some photography locations that are truly special and photogenic like no other. Perhaps some of its advantages rely on their continuity and lack of change, such as their landscape and climate, which might not vary over many centuries thus preserving its charm and unique characteristics. The following is a photography location like no other.

Photography Location – Pucará de Tilcara

In our photo tour through the Northwestern region of Argentina – Magical Argentina – we’ll travel to this incredible photography location: El Pucará de Tilcara. An historical site with vast anthropological and archeological significance, which dates back before the Spanish colonization of America.

The Pucará is a city fortification with pre-Inca origins, strategically located on top of a hill, with rich, majestic views over the surrounding valley and La Quebrada de Humahuaca ( an access route that provided trade pathways to the Inca empire in the southern region. Currently a UNESCO protected site) This location was strategically chosen due to its access and its superior position against foreign invaders. Its history and constructions makes it a great photography location.

Traces of human habitation in the area date back more than 10,000 years. The Inca domination of the area only lasted for about half a century, and ended with the arrival of the Spanish in 1536, who founded the modern town of Tilcara in 1586.

Photography Location for Soda Estereo

During 1985, the Argentinian rock band “Soda Estereo” used this unique photography location as the backdrop for their emblematic single “Cuando Pase el Temblor” (When the tremor subsides).

The contrast of the ancient landscape against the group’s Goth/Dark looks, highlighted by singer’s Gustavo Cerati aesthetics, produced a truly striking contrast between the electro/reaggea groove with sound patches of northwestern Argentina pan-flute phrases.

The song and its music video not only became an instant hit throughout Latin America, but as a convergence of modern art and ancient history playing together, in search of a new cultural identity.