#2 Visual Soundscapes: Svaneti
A Photography + Field Recording Series
About a month ago, I spent four days trekking between Mestia and Ushguli. The experience was incredible, with some of the most scenic views I've ever seen. The small villages and towers scattered throughout the landscape make this route uniquely charming.
I initially considered making this Photography + Field Recording series focused on street photography, but I decided not to confine it to any particular style. I just want to share sounds that capture my attention and images that I find worth showing, beyond my street photography work. I don’t want to limit myself—my photography journey is just beginning, and there’s so much to explore to start setting boundaries already.
So here I am, sharing some shots I took with my Rollei 35 and Kodak Gold 200, along with recordings made with a Zoom H1n and a pair of Immersive Soundscapes stereo mics.
In the first audio, you can hear the sound of cicadas. These bugs have a very loud and distinctive call. They’re harmless but can sometimes test your nerves. Cicadas hold a special place in the collective imagination of people in South America, especially in rural areas, due to their unique life cycle. There’s a famous song called "Como la Cigarra" ("As the Cicada"), composed by María Elena Walsh and popularized by the voice of South America, Mercedes Sosa. This song is more than just a melody—it’s a testament to the human capacity to face darkness and find light, to fall and rise, to die and be reborn, like the cicada that emerges from the soil to sing once more.
The second sound below captures the strength of a river. I made several attempts to portray the force of the water current with my camera, but lacking ideas—and a menacing bull approaching—I decided to pause it for a while and walk away to safety. Despite this, I think the audio does a good job of conveying the atmosphere of the place. It’s almost like white noise, where only a few distinct sounds can emerge, such as the soft call of a cow you can hear at the beginning of the audio.
From the powerful flow of the river to the simple and tiny sounds of nature, each moment offers something valuable. By stepping outside the boundaries of street photography, I’ve found new ways to connect with the world around me. I hope these sounds and images bring a bit of that experience to you, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the small details that often go unnoticed.
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Photography and field recording. That's the great combo. Very happy to have discovered your work Eduardo!
I did the same hike in 2022, great experience! I loved to stop in villages on the way, and admire the landscapes