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.

Looking for dolphins

During a ferry ride to Holbox Island, a little girl and her granny look to the ocean, searching for dolphins. A high key image, but its color rendering is not that far out from reality. This is the 2nd image of this set that I'm publishing.

Happy Family

I've been meaning to call Mario all week to get us back working in our exhibition... but I've been way too busy lately.

I love the B&W one I published a while ago, but this one works too in color.

Getting ready for the wedding

A Mayan community wedding is something very different to your average medium class stiff and pretentious ceremony. To start with the entire family helps in the preparation of the party like cooking the dinner (usually “cochinita enterrada” – textually that would mean buried pork, meat that it’s cooked in a hole covered with stones and coal) or making the decoration (with palm leaves, or even glittered paper).

He was very skillfully making the decorations that were going to be used in the church. The bride was very young and totally relaxed. The entire atmosphere was one of celebration and joy. We were cordially invited, shame we couldn’t stay…

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!

Valladolid

Valladolid it's an old colonial Yucatecan town. Usually no more than a quick "souvenir-shopping" stop for tourists traveling to Chichen Itza, the town actually deserves better than that.

It has the oldest church in Yucatan (built in 1552), a spectacular cenote (Dzitnup), and a pretty good restaurant and charming hotel at the main square or "Zocalo" (El Meson del Marques).

I love to go there for dinner, and then walk around the square and check what the local Mayan ladies have for sale... Another candid shot, like the previous one.

Restaurante Kinich

I had to promise Bruce that I'd take Kika to this restaurant, so I finally did last Saturday. The best place to eat in Izamal, and the most charming too. The girls were having a laugh and I couldn't resist it, I'd to capture the scene.

The picture is slightly cropped, it was a candid snapshot so I didn't have the time to compose it. I like this one, makes me smile.

Ferry to Holbox Island

Street and photo-reporting photography is where I come from. And what I enjoy the most too.

This photo was captured on the ferry that connects Chiquila with the Island of Holbox about a year ago. I had just bought the G7 and was having as much fun using it, as I ever had with any other camera.

The light was bright and beautiful, the sea had that incredible shade of Caribbean Blue, and I was travelling with friends (and my then would-be fiance). What else can you ask for? A lovely day as it ever was.

The little girl was travelling with her grandmother. They both looked so happy and in synchrony with the place. When dolphins came to greet our ferry... I was ready to capture the moment.