Archive for June, 2010
An interesting talk here about the life of Gerda Taro, the pioneering and largely unknown female photojournalist whose work consisted almost exclusively of dramatic photographs from the Spanish Civil War.The talk is given by Irme Schaber, Taro’s biographer.
Taro was companion and professional partner of photographer Robert Capa.
More on Wikipedia
When the Spanish Civil War broke out (1936), Gerda Taro travelled to Barcelona, Spain, to cover the events with Capa. Taro acquired the nickname of la pequeña rubia (“the little blonde”). They covered the war together at northeastern Aragon and at the southern Cordoba. Always together under the common, bogus signature of Robert Capa, they were successful through many important publications (the Swiss Züricher Illustrierte, the French Vu). Their early war photos are distinguishable since Taro used a Rollei camera which rendered squared photographs while Capa produced rectangular Leica pictures. However, for some time in 1937 they produced similar 135 film pictures together under the label of Capa&Taro.
Subsequently, Taro attained some independence. She refused Capa’s marriage proposal. Also, she became publicly related to the circle of anti fascist European intellectuals (Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell) who crusaded particularly for the Spanish Republic. The Ce Soir, a leftist newspaper of France, signed her for publishing Taro’s works only. Then, she began to commercialize her production under the Photo Taro label. Regards, Life, Illustrated London News and Volks-Illustrierte were amongst those publications.[1][2]
Reporting the Valencia bombing alone, Gerda Taro attained the photographs which are her most celebrated. Also, in July 1937, Taro’s photographs were in demand by the international press when, alone, she was covering the Brunete region near Madrid for Ce Soir. Although the Nationalist propaganda claimed that the region was under its control, the Republican forces had in fact forced that faction out. Taro’s camera was the only testimony of the actual situation
Uncategorized | Tags: Female photographers in the Spanish Civil War, Female photojournalists in Spain, Irme Schaber|
Gerda Taro photo collection on youtube with interesting soundtrack. Includes many rare photos taken by the partner of Robert Capa, many which are from the Spanish Civil War. Here
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Series of photos from Robert Capa, mainly during the Spanish Civil War. Here
Budapest, Robert Capa Retrospective exhibition. This exhibition pays tribute to the work of legendary photojournalist Robert Capa – one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. Here
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Interesting short video on Robert Kappa in the Spanish Civil War, translated from German to Spanish. Incredible images. Here
Uncategorized | Tags: documentary video, Robert Capa documentary, Robert Kappa documentary, Robert Kappa video|
In Barcelona last week opened a political trial so engrossing that even a major air raid, even, the shattering concussion of bombs which exploded a few hundred yards from the courtroom did not distract the judges, prisoners or spectators. In an atmosphere electric with hate and Spanish passion, Andrés Nin was at last put on trial in absentia. Andrés Nin’s small, blonde Russian wife or widow had a ringside spectator’s seat.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,883776,00.html#ixzz0ppiy01qZ
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In english they are named “wolf spiders”, because it was supposed in a recent past that they hunted their preys in group, as wolves; but science demostrated that it was not true. Incorrectly, yet in Spanish they are sometimes named as “arañas lobo”, although more frequently receive the name of “tarántulas” or simply “licosas”.
Iberianatureforum
Uncategorized | Tags: llicosas|
This site has the lowdown on mining in Spain:
Most of Spain’s mineral wealth is based on gold and base metal mining. Spain is an EU leader in terms of the value of minerals and metals produced. All uranium oxide production by the state-owned company, Enusa, at its Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca) mines, has now finally ceased. Spain has ceased massive-sulphide mining operations in the Iberian Pyrite Belt whilst operations at Reocín in the north of Spain have also been exhausted. Rio Narcea Gold Mines has become the only major copper and gold producer in Spain.
Uncategorized | Tags: Iberian Pyrite Belt, Rio Narcea Gold Mines, Salamanca mines|
The ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is commonly used in Spain as a source of firewood using the technique called “pollarding”. Using this method the land owners are able to harvest decent firewood from their trees without killing them. Read
Uncategorized | Tags: Ash trees in Spain, Fraxinus excelsior in Spain, pollarding in Spain|
“Thanks to a long history of human agriculture, trade and migration Andalucia’s majestic landscape is very much the product of man as well as nature. One introduced species which transforms huge swathes of countryside in early spring is the edible Almond, prunus dulcis, with its spectacular white or soft pink blossom. Not only does the almond blossom transform the landscape, but its fruit, the almond nut, plays a major role in the agricultural economy and in the local culture.” Read
Uncategorized | Tags: Almond trees in Spain, prunus dulcis spain|
Ginkgo trees (female tree left, male tree right) belong to the oldest ginkgo trees in Spain. They were planted in Santiago de Compostela in around 1885. Read
Uncategorized | Tags: Ginkgo trees in Spain, Trees in Santiago de Compostela|
