Paradise

Today's sunset at The Hacienda Santa Rosa, not far from (happy coincidence) Granada, in Yucatan, Mexico.

I love Yucatan. After all, this is my place of choice in the world. And as Desire Charnay once said: "Anyone who can leave Yucatan with indifference, has never been an artist and will never be a scholar".

Window to Paradise

View from room no.1 of the Xaloc Resort at Holbox Island. Not this weekend, but next weekend's destination... I miss the island so badly.
There's something about windows. I find them so poetic. They bring us light, they give us views... and what's a photographer without light and views? One day I'll make an exhibition exclusively about windows.

About to hit the road now. Check out this space next Monday for some gorgeous images. It's time to escape and look for some adventure. Happy weekend to all of you!

Calle Pereza (Laziness St.)

My favorite address in the world. Calle Pereza (Laziness St.) in Bubion (a little and nicely preserved village set in Las Alpujarras, part of Sierra Nevada Natural Reserve, in the South of Spain). The name matches the street beautifully. A place to get lost and do... nothing.

I'm so tired after such a busy week that I can't wait for the weekend. I'm looking forward to having some time to do lab work and process the film from the trip. Mario and I had our meeting with the Art Director at Xcaret and we're ready now to start editing the video and printing the pictures. Hope to post that one soon! As always... stay tuned!

Reflections

One from the New York series. Need to go back soon because I missed B&H this last time...

But first I'll wait to see what Photokina brings us this year :)

Beauty

This shot has a little story to tell… During hurricane Wilma I made the conscious decision of not shooting anything of what was happening, because I didn’t want to remember any of it. I was alone at home on the second night, in the middle of storm, on a pitch dark night, reading El Quijote, and the view of my table with my glass of red wine, the candles and the book, stroke me as something beautiful. So I took my camera and shoot it.

As we have another storm nearby, this image came to mind this evening. What’s the moral of this story? I guess that there’s beauty hidden in every situation.

Das Riesenrad

My 1st camera was a Ricoh, and that's what I got as a birthday present from Kika last weekend. It's in top-notch condition and exactly like the one I had :)

So I have a perfect excuse to post another "vintage" picture that I took using my humble Ricoh. This time is from Vienna's famous Wheel at the Prater. It's cross processing (c41 film developed using e6 chemicals, or was it B&W film? I can't quite remember it...).

Good old film times are coming back.

The Andes

The Andes as seen from Machu Picchu, very early in the morning of a December day. Surrounded by clouds that filled with mystery a place which is already enigmatic enough under a clear blue sky.

I would love to go back to Peru just because of those mountains.

No bullshit here, please

He certainly won't take any... a character larger than life. Different style of picture this time. The movement and the warm colors match well his gesture.

The Making of...

This entry is a little tribute to Kena, as none of this would have been possible without her (pictured here with Teresita). She was the one that took us in her recruitment trip through the Mayan communities. I like this picture because it shows well the dynamics of our meetings.

Today Mario and I met with Daniel, one of the members of the Production Team at Xcaret, to go over the concept of the exhibition and site the proposed areas to display our work.

Mario took the lead and wrote our project. It's a cool one. I'd miss the production side of an exhibition, when the concept takes shape little by little and you start picturing the photographs hanging on the walls...

Of the three proposed spaces, we particularly liked one of them (the hacienda), and I hope we get it. The pictures will look so great in there.

Now we've the weekend to adapt our initial project to the space we want, to make a rough cut of the video materials and to select some of the pictures that we want to display. We'll be meeting them again next week and we want to have a great dossier to show.

BTW the icing of the cake is that we may even have our documentaries and pictures projected on the giant film screen that they will build for the occasion.

Sisters

Yet another one of the latest series of Mayan communities portraits, I still have to develop the B&W film, but this is pretty much the core of my part of the exhibition. Mario has some amazing video footage to go with it. I hope to upload it once he finishes editing it. It's really cool stuff.

Today we are meeting the folks at Xcaret to discuss our project and the spaces available for us. Exciting!

Regarding the sisters, they didn't talk much... but they didn't need to. Their facial expressions said everything they needed to say. They were something, believe me.

Can't stop thinking about how much did I enjoy taking these pictures...

Teresita (2nd one)

She is quite something, as you can see on her face. She's character by bucket loads, and charm too. I was sad we couldn't stay for the ceremony in memory of her father in law. That would have been very interesting to us. But nevertheless we'd had a great time talking to her, meeting her daughters and seeing the preparations.

We definitely have to come back one day.

Mario and Kena confirmed yesterday that we've the space to showcase our work in the forthcoming Dia de Muertos Festival at Xcaret. That was one big birthday present. It's been so long since my last exhibition that it feels great to be working on a new one.

Character

He had character. Mayan societies tend to be very matriarchal, and the communities we visited were no different on this, with the ladies taking care of pretty much everything (relationships, providing food and income, work, family…). He was somehow the exception. He played the host and mediated with us. He was good company too, witty and fun.

His face was very expressive. I like this picture because it’s full of dignity and pride. He looked like somebody who knew well his place in this world.

Charm

I can only think of one word when I see this picture: "Charm". It makes me smile too.

Another one from last weekend's trip. I already said it before, but we met some really amazing people along the way...

Mayan ladies

We met these charming ladies during our visits to the Mayan communities this past weekend. Listening to them speak in Mayan language, just made my desire to learn it, even more pressing.

The pictures were technically challenging, as it was a very hot day and every meeting took place indoors. The "palapas" don't have windows, so the only available light is the one coming from the small front door.

So low light + handheld = patience.

Can't wait to develop the B&W film I took with me. I've high hopes for those rolls!

Tomorrow I'm meeting Mario again to keep on defining our project. It has been growing little by little and we're now talking about a full-blown documentary of the Caste War of 1,847...

Stay tuned!

Teresita

This is Teresita, with her youngest daughter and her one year old granddaughter. She was kind enough to pose for me with her family, and to show us the preparations for the memorial in remembrance of her father in law, that she was going to host the following day.

We just got home from our trip to the Mayan comunities of the south of the peninsula. Kena went down on Thursday, and today Mario and I joined her, and Don Abelardo from the DIF (Integral Development of the Family Institute).

It's been a long (and very hot) day driving from community to community. But it was worth the effort. I can't possibly put into words how special this was for me, and how badly I want to go back. Plus I can't thank Kena and Mario enough for giving me the chance to join them.

We met some truly amazing people, and took some special pictures too. We came back with a smiling heart and the promise to return soon.

I'm tired tonight... but more to follow. Stay tuned!

Xochimilco, Mexico DF

I like mariachis... They're always so much fun.

I took this picture in Xochimilco last year. The canals (what's left of the ancient Lake Xochimilco) are very popular on weekends and bank holidays, when many Mexican families and tourists rent boats ("trajineras") complete with mariachis and food. If you ever happen to visit Mexico City during a weekend, this is a "must do" activity.

Midnight on July 9th, 2006 (Rome, Piazza Venezia)

I was there. Partying like a "vero romano", after Italy's victory over France on the 2006 Soccer World Championship's Final... Everybody was totally crazy, and nobody wanted to go back home. I like this shot, it reflects well how was to be there, on that very emotional night. And I miss Rome too...

Voladores de Papantla

Last Saturday I posted a picture about Tepoztlan, the birth place of Quetzalcoatl, and today I'm posting a picture of a Volador ("flyer") de Papantla.

This is a 1,500 years old rite dedicated to Quetzalcoatl ("the morning star"). The ritual itself is called "The Tree of Life", and is a meditation about the mystery of life and a calling to keep the world in balance within ourselves.

It never stops to amaze me.

Wiener Naschmarkt

An old picture rescued from my archive. Today, Kika left behind what was the start of a novel that I started to write a while ago. The story was partly set in Vienna. My mind works with images, so as soon as I started to read it... this one came to my mind.

I love food markets, and this must be one of my favorites.

Billy Joel's "Vienna" song also came to mind. As well as my "1st proper" camera, a Ricoh KR10M that I'd to trade-in to buy a Pentax Super A and a SMC 50mm f1.4. I was a student, living and working in London, and money was in short supply. I try not to be very romantic about those days... but now that I think about it... I really really really do miss my old camera.

Night at Tulum

A night full of stars, the darkest spot on the beach, long exposures and a little Canon G7 to create this evocative image.

Tulum is dotted with little "beach huts" hotels, and most of them don't even have electricity, let alone air conditioning... If you want to feel in contact with the nature, this is the place.

Mazatlan, Sinaloa

It was Lorena and Jorge's wedding, and we're treated to a boat ride before the event. It was late November and the sunset incredibly red. Then a fishing boat just happened to cross the horizon just when the sun was sinking in the sea...

Convento de la Natividad

It looks like a medieval monastery set in Roncesvalles Valley, in the Spanish Pyrenees, yet it's set in Tepoztlan, not far from Mexico City.

The place is stunning, and according to the myth, the birthplace (1,200 years ago) of Quetzalcoatl - the feathered serpent god.

I'll never forget this place, or how I lost my breath climbing the nearby Tepozteco Mountain.

Holbox Island

Low tide in the island. It's been a while now since my last visit and I can't wait to go back (next time Kika comes, this is where we'll go). Bronco needs to stretch its legs too...

Chiquila

A local awaits for the ferry to Holbox Island at Chiquila's pier. It's been over 4 years now that I live in the Mexican Caribbean, yet I'm still constantly amazed by its light (and its charm)...

I took this picture last year, during my first trip to the island with Kika and Ivan. So much fun and beauty.

Stormy Monday

This blue is beautiful even with stormy weather. This was taken in Isla Blanca, which is probably the last (but not for much longer) virgin beach around Cancun. Soon a new "hotel zone" development (already approved) will surely destroy all this beauty...

Will anybody ever put an end to this shameful destruction of our planet Earth? I won't be holding my breath.

Taxco de Alarcon (Guerrero)

A picture of Taxco's Santa Prisca's church. Taxco is a pretty old colonial town on the west of Sierra Madre del Sur. Famous for its silver mines, the town is full of jewelers (more than 200 of them have their shops here). A short trip from Ixtapan de la Sal. I went there with Kika a year ago. A charming little place that I wouldn't mind to visit again...

I'm sorry that I had to copy-paste Prisca's story for you (this is taken from Wikipedia). It makes up for an interesting reading...

Prisca was of a noble family and at thirteen years of age was accused of Christianity before Emperor Claudius. By his command she was taken to the temple of Apollo to sacrifice there, and when she refused, was buffeted and sent to prison. She was released from prison, but when she still held steadfastly to the faith, they flogged her, poured boiling tallow upon her, and sent her back a second time. She was at last thrown to a lion in the amphitheater, but it quietly lay down at her feet. She was starved for three days in a slaves' prison house, and then tortured upon the rack. Pieces of flesh were next torn from her body with iron hooks, and she was thrown on a burning pile. She miraculously still remained alive, and was accordingly beheaded outside the city.

London Underground - Victoria Line

For some reason I woke up this morning with this image in my head. I guess I've been missing home lately. I took this one a long time ago, in 1992 when I was starting to play with cameras, and I'd just discovered Kodak Tri-X.

Don't ask me why, but in this blog I'm having a great time showing images that I've captured using totally unglamorous equipment. In this case, a Ricoh KR10M, the 1st camera I bought with my own money when I was 16 years old. BTW the standard Ricoh lens was truly awful when it came to flare.

Once, just for the fun of it, I posted this same picture in a Leica photo contest... only to recieve positive reviews from "fellow" Leica photographers talking about the beautiful grainy/3D effect that "my Leica" lens had rendered.

Dreams

This is what dreams were all about when I was 6 years old... Nostalgic little image. Life was easy back then.

Pelikan

As a little boy, I grew up surronded by "Pelikan" inks, pencils, pens, erasers... and thanks to those tools, pelicans held for me almost mythical status. It wasn't until I came to live in the Caribbean that I finally saw one in the flesh.

What can I say? I'll always have a soft spot for these birds. I took this picture with the little G7 in Puerto Morelos a few weeks back.

Hacienda de Henequen

For a brief moment in history, around 1880, Yucatan was one of the richest regions of the planet thanks to a peculiar kind of cactus that thanks to its rich fiber content, was used to make everything from ropes, to bags, to shoes...

Those glory days are long gone (synthetic fiber anyone?) but a couple of very small, scaled down, henequen operations (I won't be so bold as to name them "Haciendas") still survive. Ake, as I was writing yesterday, it's one of them.

This guy turned to be a complete nutter and manage to scare Kika. For me, he was just another zombie on this very eerie place...