10 reasons why Mar del Plata is a street photographer’s paradise

When one thinks about street photography destinations, cities such as New York and Paris come up as the metropolis that have attracted the most street photographers over the last century. Though obviously, any city will do for street photography, there are special places where one find itself completely at ease. That was my case in Mar del Plata, which  just broke into my list of favourite cities for street photography.

Thinking retrospectively about why I found Mar del Plata such a wonderful place for street photography, I came up with a list of 10 reasons :

#1)  It is a large city.

With a population slightly below a million inhabitants that increases by about 50% in summertime, Mar del Plata is a large city. Street photography is obviously easier in such a metropolis than a little town of 500. Opportunities are all over the place in Mar del Plata and you’ll find a great diversity of situations and scenes. (click on pictures to enlarge)

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/250, ISO160

#2) A diverse cityscape.

The best way to describe Mar del Plata’s cityscape is probably to portray it as a mix of New York and an Italian beach resort such as Rimini. High rises facing the sea, large and straight avenues forming square blocks and bays surrounded by cliffs. Part of the city also reminded me of San Fransisco due to his steep avenues leading to the sea. Mar del Plata also boasts a very photogenic harbour, as well as less fancy neighborhoods will also give you an hindsight on life in a normal city of Argentina.

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F8.0, 1/250, ISO160 (ND filter)

#3) Buoyent life.

Let’s face, Mar del Plata is crazy in summer time. Beaches are so overcrowded that you’ll have a hard time to find a place to settle your sunshade and towel. Yet if you are an admirer of Martin Parr, that place will be perfect to experiment with his style. Feeling a little adventurous? You might attempt a few surfer shots, though obviously your equipment might suffer. Life also happens within the city blocks as thousands stroll through the center is search of restaurants, shops or night shows. As for the subjects of your pictures, the sea resort brings all kind of very interesting characters. People come to Mar del Plata to have fun and so expect some pretty rare situations.


Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/90, ISO800

#4) Colors

Mar del Plata is all about colors. Billboards, clothing, signs, cars, make it a very colored city environment. If your photography is about colors, Mar del Plata is definitely a place for you.

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F8.0, 1/250, ISO160, ND  filter#

5) A mix of modernism and mid twentieth century looks.

Some might call it exoticism, but I find these old vintage Argentinan cars to be very photogenic. You’ll still see many of them in the streets and they often make great shots opportunities. Similarly, while most of the town is very modern, you’ll still find blocks or neighborhoods with that old decadent style which almost makes you feel that time stopped 50 years ago.


Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/2000, ISO160

#6) Light conditions.

Though I stayed only for two days, I was lucky to go through quite a span of light conditions. Light is very harsh during the day, and it will create great shadows at the base of the numerous high rises, similarly to New York. The beach and sea reflections will also open up a wild array of shots, and even a rainy day will combine perfectly with the colors of the city. Sunset will see some streets illuminated as sun rays find their way through the high rises of the cityscape At night, the numerous theater lights and giant billboards will almost make you feel like on Broadway.

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F2.8, 1/125, ISO800

#7) Great weather.

Evidently, it is much more fun to shoot in Mar del Plata weather then let’s say Moscow’s. The weather is great in the sense that it is never too hot and never too cold. This is probably due to the mild Atlantic waters that allow the fresh breeze to maintain the temperature in the 25 to 30 degrees range. It does cool down at night and a rainy day will have you wear your jacket. Winter is moderate, no snow but I was told that it gets pretty cold there too. Remember that the South Pole is not that far from Argentina.

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/1500, ISO160, ND filter

#8)  It is a safe city.

The trouble with many Latin American metropolis is that security is often an issue, even in city centers. Theft and even assaults might put off many street photographers, especially when you wander with equipment that might be expensive. I found Mar del Plata to be very secure with a strong police presence, even when walking in less concurred areas. Nevertheless, like any city, Mar del Plata does have its less favored areas, so stay cautious when you stroll outside of downtown.

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F1.4, 1/3000, ISO160

#9) Friendly people

All the people I interacted with where very friendly. I guess people on holidays feel more relaxed anyways. As for locals, they were all very open and never refused a portrait. I never got into trouble while shooting without permission, most people answering with a smile or engaging conversation. Obviously, if you do shoot on the beach, be careful as not all people do like to be shot half naked. I myself avoided it in Mar del Plata though I did experiment it without issue in a similar atmosphere in Villa Gesell.

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/500, ISO800

#10) 100% Argentina

Unless most sea resorts in the world, Mar del Plata is mainly the destination of Argentinians. You’ll cross path with a few international tourists (mostly from surrounding countries) yet it will provide you with a great immersion in the every day life of Argentinians on vacations.

Leica M9 with 35mm Summilux Asph at F4.0, 1/125, ISO160

A last word

Next time you’ll have to pick a destination for your vacations where you want to combine street photography to beach time, consider Mar del Plata. The extra airfare cost will be compensated by the lower cost of lodging, food and entertainment. You’ll get an authentic experience of vacations in a Argentinian resort and a very fertile ground to go out and shoot. Definitely a little paradise for street photographers.

Leica M9 with 60mm Hexanon at F1.4, 1/4000, ISO160, ND filter

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