Magic Land (Photographs and video)

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The entire city of Ciudad Guayana, and consequently the entire state of Bolívar in Venezuela, possesses what could be described as magical lands, an endless array of landscapes and natural sites that beautify every environment we can see. It is a truly harmonious world; in every corner of this state, we can appreciate the grandeur of its nature. This is precisely what I show in this video and photographs, where you can see each of the edifices belonging to Cachamay Park in Puerto Ordaz, one of the city's most important natural parks. Besides being practically in the heart of the city, its proximity makes it very accessible, and it's like stepping into another world. You might not feel like you're in the same place as the city, but you are.

This short but refreshing visit to the park, which I hadn't been to for several months, was intended to capture some scenes I might not have seen before, including details of its rivers and waterfalls, as well as its surroundings comprised of large trees and lush vegetation. Beyond that, I also wanted to take some videos. While some scenes are aesthetically pleasing, almost like photographs, others show the movement of the water in its extensive waterfalls, which share the same name as the park.

This visit was a truly radiant day. After intense rains, which are unusual for this time of year, the sun finally arrived, making it the perfect opportunity to see how the river and waterfall are still flowing strongly. The sound is so powerful that you can hear it as soon as you enter the park—a sound that I find incredibly relaxing, like a heavy, steady, and rapid downpour. These and other things are what make this place so special. I've been visiting it my whole life, ever since I was a child when my parents used to bring me here, and even now, as an adult, I feel the same way about it.

For the video, I wanted to show a sequence of certain parts of the park with details of its surroundings, but also with the intention of including a bit of the sound of the waterfalls. Although it's only faintly audible due to the music I created for this video, the original sound in the scenes where we see water and waterfalls was so loud that the camera didn't capture it very clearly. In fact, even without the waterfalls or water appearing in the scenes, the sound could still be clearly captured, accompanying you in every corner of the park. For me, it's a wonderful part of the sensory experience.

It's also a blend of the visual—everything we see with those beautiful natural tones—the sounds of the place, and even a touch of the tactile, as you can feel the water splashing in certain areas closer to the waterfalls. Eternal waterfalls that never cease their constant cascade, a state they have maintained for thousands of years. These places, due to their geological and geographical formation, have existed for a very long time, spanning several eras. Perhaps they have changed at certain times, or perhaps also due to human intervention. While this park is almost entirely natural, it was initially shaped by human activity, including the design and construction of certain paths and even buildings.

All photographs, video, and music are my own work.

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