Stone faces

I left something in that island, that I still haven't managed to get back... Even if since then I've covered thousands of miles looking for it. Must have fallen into the ocean. Maybe those Rapa Nui guys knew better than us and knew that looking in was always wiser than looking out...

I'm heading to...

Today, I was going to post a Central Europe pic which I found very 'artistic' and then I thought... isn't it boring? And went to my archives and looked for Tulum instead. After all, that's the place I can't wait to go to. Only... 2 more days!

PD.- Yes, I know, beach pictures overdose in this blog these days...

Always Peru...

Just finished reading 'Cochineal Red' by Hugh Thompson a few days ago. The book, it's a good, if slightly biased, depiction of Ancient Peru. In any case, for a traveler like me it gives you a good overview of the different archeological sites and the early history of the country. The style is premeditatedly that of an all-kind-of-public easy reading soft-cover (rather than a serious history book), like all the assorted booze stories let you know from the very first chapter, but nevertheless it's an enjoyable one. But what the heck, what's Peru without pisco sours anyway?

I've been 6 times to Peru, and what a weird country that is. One in which things have never quite come my way, in which (for giving an example) I've enjoyed some of the best dining experiences ever plus where I've also suffered from the worst possible episode of food poisoning. And that's just for starters... I've quite a few stories to tell.

This picture is a view of Lake Titicaca from Capachica. It was sunset on Easter's full moon night, this year. The skies, at that height, are so uniquely blue and transparent, and the clouds so white…

Cold and sleep deprivation added colors to the picture too.

In Broken Images

He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I'm slow, thinking in broken images.
He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images,
Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;
Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.
Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact,
Questioning their relevance , I question the fact.
When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;
When the fact fails me, I approve my senses.
He continues quick and dull in his clear images;
I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.
He in a new confusion of his understanding;
I in a new understanding of my confusion.

Robert Graves

Again...

And again... I couldn't resist to upload yet another Holbox island picture. I know, it's a cheesy sunset picture... But I'm so much looking forward this trip. Since I went there the first time this has been labeled as my 'favorite place on Earth' and still is. Not sure for how long, tourist development is an evil thing, but it's still pretty remote and without an airport nearby... so let's cross our fingers that stays like this for a little bit longer.
Only worry at sight are those hordes of tourists seeking to 'swim with the shark whales'... poor animals, it's all I can say. People laugh when I say that one day dolphins will lead a revolution and will start eating fat tourists... I really wait for that day. I can't really stand that 'swim with dolphins, sharks, whales, even manatees thing'... that makes all those animals captive or semi-captive so that some silly, boring and rich tourist kid can take a picture with them...
Apologies for the Sunday ranting, I woke up with my green conscience on today.

Back home

I'm going back home. Next week this time I'll be back in Mexico, and the place I really want to visit is this: Holbox. It's being a long time since my last visit there and I can't wait to be back in the island and do nothing but walk and walk along the beach, wake up at sunrise and just enjoy the feeling of being back... Anybody wants to come along? Coronas are on me.

Wien

I'm going back in time today. This is one of the pictures that started it all. After those days in Vienna nothing was quite the same for me, and I've been on the road since...

This was part of my first 'solo' photo exhibition. One big one meter print. It looked pretty impresive hanging on the wall. Can you imagine going to a lab these days and ask for a one meter tall enlargement of a 35mm pic? They'll think you're mad...

Lately I was thinking on how would it be to go back to Europe, so I couldn't avoid looking into my files for images that would bring back the feeling of what it would be like to be back there. This is one of them: 'Walking in the middle of night, camera in hand, through the center of Vienna on a cold March night, looking for images...'

Moai

The first moai I got to see at Easter Island. Moais are the one and only claim to fame for this little island in the middle of nowhere (literally). Funny enough all moais look inland, not outland. Which I'm not sure I understood, as if I where living in such a tiny place... I'd probably want to set my eyes somewhere offshore...

Jokes aside, I hold a soft spot for this island. It is an special place for me.

You can never have enough sunsets...

A view of Tikicaca

I know, another window. I just find them so poetic.

Sometimes traveling, gets so good that you don't want it to end... This was our view from our lodge in Capachica. One night only it was. A weekend trip.

Miss the sights and the company. Traveling on my own is never as fun.

After almost 2 years, I'm officially back!

It has taken me two years to post again. Which is almost as much time as I've been away from a gallery. Kind of sad, so here we're again, getting back into the photo-mood. Lately life has been filled with airport, passport controls, planes and new images. I can't recall a time in my life in which I've traveled more than these days (not even when freelancing for the Rough Guide in Eastern Europe).
I need a new photo project (Mario we need to get back to that), but in the meantime at least I can start posting again some of what captures my eye these days...

And life's good, travelling light.

This picture was taken at Capachica, at Lake Tikicaca not a month ago. It was our bus stop to get back to Puno. Coolest bus stop view ever. Coolest company too. A great trip...

Nina and Pascal's Wedding in Tuscany

This picture beautifully summarize those days we got to share with Nina and Pascal in Tuscany. It was the most unusual wedding I've been too. And the sweetest too! It was crazy, good crazy, to reunite us all at a borgo near Siena for 3 days to celebrate the happy union of these two wonderful friends.

We got to explore the countryside together, to enjoy the many flavors of the local cuisine (I still miss that prosecco!), and to see again friends that now live far away from us, in places such as Switzerland, Argentina or Brazil. And of course to celebrate!

I also had the chance to take some wedding pictures too. I remember well how little I used to like to take wedding pictures, as for quite sometime, while at college, weddings were my main source of income. But I did enjoy to portrait Nina and Pascal. And this picture brings good memories and a big smile to.

All the best for you my friends.

Cenote diving

It's becoming a tradition. After each bicycle ride we end up swimming in a cenote. This time, last Saturday, it was underground, deep underground, and Mario ended up using his diving gear looking for a non-existent entrance to the great underworld.....

Spring

I received an email from Ivan last Sunday. He wrote about Germany, about going to London, about his plans... and about Spring. He was saying something I always say about Northern Europe and Spring: How you can clearly tell when Spring has finally arrived.

There is a day. A day in which the sun is shinning and everybody is smiling. A day in which you break away from winter and start feeling different. A kind of rebirth after winter. Everybody hit the streets, lay on the sun, sit down outside the pub with a beer... and girls change their clothes and their expressions to the point that you barely recognize them any longer.

For a southern soul it's all pretty amazing to contemplate for the 1st time...

My 1st "real" spring day was in 1999, St. Patrick's Day, in London. The day I took this picture. The day I took Valerie's pictures as well.

I woke up early today. I was reading something from Kyoichi Katayama, looked out of my window and saw that our garden tree is finally blossoming. And thought about Ivan's email. And thought about you too...

Postcard to Jessica

I'm not a big fan of "postcard" images. In fact I actively try not to take that kind of pictures, and if I can't resist it and end up doing it, I try not to display them. What could be more "touristic" than a view of the Alhambra from San Nicolas? I guess only a view of San Marco in Venice...

But, Jessica asked me to send her a postcard from Granada, so here we are! Also yesterday was the day my "cofradia" hit the streets of my town... I hate not being there for Semana Santa and to miss the parade once again. But I guess that's the price you've to pay for living on the wrong side of the Atlantic ;)

Happy Monday everyone!

Porra de Tacubaya

"Porra" is the Mexican name for a group of supporters that get together, use the same colors, and cheers for the same team, or fighter like in this case.

Another picture from the Arena Mexico. Of this one I like the warm lighting, the texture and the fans expressions when their guy lost his combat...

Sunset door

A last ray of sun caresses an ancient door at La Estancia. A beautiful restaurant in Cuernavaca, Morelos, not too far from Mexico City.

A beautiful afternoon and eve.

Sometimes, a glorious spring evening it's all a dream is worth.

Lucha Libre!

At the Arena Mexico, a couple of weeks ago. They don't allow anyone to take pictures, so I had to sneak this one. I was really moved by the entire atmosphere of the place. Can't really be described with words... It was my first visit, I'd to wait a long time before finally convincing my friends to go.

Have been thinking about doing something in the Arena. The place and the people are amazing. Would fit nicely on the exhibition about Mexico that I'm currently working on. Now all I need is to get a permit to get in there with my Nikon!

It has been a crazy month of March. Way too intense. Too much work too and no sight of slowing down.

Tulum's Moon

On a January eve, just after sunset. It's amazing what you can do with a handheld little digital camera these days... No teleconverter, or tripod, or postprocessing. Just a well worn Canon G7, in Manual Mode.

With crystal clear skies, Tulum is one of the best places on Earth to contemplate a full moon.

Albaicin, a window

I had forgotten how beautiful the Albaicin was, how full of little details, corners, passages, trees, towers, churches, plazas... is. Every little thing is in harmony with its surroundings. I guess that's why I love Yucatan so much. Something, a deep sense of beauty, of equilibrium, is present here as well.

And yes, I have something about windows...

That angel at the top of Granada's Cathedral

This is my first post in a while. In the meantime I've been to Mexico DF and back to Spain to meet my newly born nephew and attending my dad's birthday... Not to mention a very hectic period at work.

But I'm back and reloded.

More pictures to follow soon!

PD.- The image is of St. Michael the Archangel

Fellow travelers

A happy picture! We met fellow travelers Betina and Joel in Izamal. I went there with Ros and Frank on our way back from Rio Lagartos (as these two are avid birdwatchers), and we all stayed at the Green River. A little hotel with a lavish garden and charming staff (Francis is most helpful), I very much recommend it for its reasonable price and relaxed atmosphere. Rooms are a little past their best, but they're currently working on them.

Joel was not only a fellow traveler, but a keen tennis player and a certified car nut too, proud owner of a fab Mercedes 280 SL (Pagoda). So I could only but like him. We all shared lunch at the unique Restaurante Kinich (Bruce's eatery of choice when visiting these latitudes), and I helped them to find a hotel in Puerto Morelos. As I haven't heard back from them, I'm fearing that they didn't survive the treacherous drive through the storm... or that they completely hated the hotel I booked for them.

It's always cool when you meet nice people like them when you're on the road. Traveling is the single best thing in life.

Dia de la Candelaria

One of last weekend's faces... I love the colors and the expression. Izamal was celebrating the festivity of the Candelaria, and she was part of the parade that arrived to the monastery.

Rio Lagartos

I know, I have quite a soft spot for pelicans. And I find this image particularly charming for some reason.

On Sunday I took Frank and Ros to Rio Lagartos, for a boat ride and some bird watching. We got to see the flamingos, although from a considerable distance, and many other species.

It was a lovely afternoon spent by the sea...

Inca girls

After all the (unfair) criticism that Sebastiao Salgado received for his Refugee Children book and exhibition, I don't feel that comfortable exhibiting pictures of children. This one I took in Peru over 2 years ago, and for that same reason, I still haven't publish it.

Innocence is lost forever it seems. At least in the eyes of way too many beholders. Fortunately not in the smiles of these charming little Inca girls.

Henri Cartier-Bresson Interview

We all have a hero, somebody that inspires us, somebody we'd like to be. For me, and for thousands of photographers around the world, this person is Henri Cartier-Bresson.

He invented photojournalism as we now know it. We all are Henri's children in a sense, and even so he remained a remarkably subdued figure during all his life. Always refusing to appear in public or being photographed.

That's why when I discovered this one hour long interview I was so thrilled. To being able to see inside this giant of a man, it's a very privileged thing.

A wonderful interview by Charlie Rose, with the most enthusiastic introduction by Richard Avedon (another master). Don't miss it. It'll be your best spent hour ever.

Winged Warrior

This is a well known sculpture at Ek Balam.

However impressive as it is on the outside, it's the inside of Utik Kan Le'k Tok' tomb what it's set to change many of the views that we currently hold about Mayan culture.

Little has been published about what the archeologists have found, but expectations are pretty high. Much has been said about Ek Balam, but little is known for sure as it's a relatively new archeological site. Works only started in the mid-eighties, and 2 big structures have not been excavated yet.

This impressive winged warrior is one of the tomb's guardians. The entrance to the tomb is guarded by Kukulcan's fauces and it's meant to be an entrance to the underworld, probably used for initiation rites.

Today I met with Mario for the 1st time in months... Our Mayan project it may still have a future. More to come!

The Albaicin at sunrise

Cold January Day

Yesterday it was as cold as it will ever get around here... it really was chilly. Yet these kids were having a great time and didn't seem to be worried by the very cold sea water.

Went to Puerto Morelos for a fish meal and tequila (it was way too cold for beer). That pretty little place never fails to make me feel good.

This week...

...that rain never seems to stop... I can't wait for a bit of sun to get out, stretch my legs, and take some sunny pictures. It's even cold down here! And I miss the pelicans!