2010: a good time to come to Mexico

2010 starts the countdown to Mexico's bicentenial, an all out biggest ever celebration and, for Mexico, that says a lot. Actually there are two celebrations: 200 years of freedom from Spain and then another 100 years since the Mexican Revolution. All of this history is explained here  Plans are afoot for all kinds of exciting nationwide events and tours. It's a good time to be here.

My friend Robin from Baltimore was here last week to catch the tail end of the holidays. She was delayed because of the blizzard that closed in the airport the day before she was to fly down. She finally got here and we celebrated several days together. The big one was last night in the jardin. She has been wanting to know how come she wasn't on my list of people in Baltimore to whom I sent ecards for the holidays. The answer is because I knew I would be dedicating this post to her.

Vaya con dios Robin and Esme. We will see you in the Spring. In the meantime, Robin, you can have these memories of the moments you spent in the jardin in San Miguel on New Year's Eve 2010

Click to enlarge or miss the fun

photos on the street, con el permiso

Click pictures to enlarge them.

During the SFWS, this is what got drilled into our heads and hearts: engage the person, make a connection, ask permission and then take control of the situation. Paul Elledge and Leasha Overturf insisted that what one sees in a timeless photograph is not the subject, but the photographer (or his/her spirit). It is uncomfortable to approach strangers and ask to take a photograph. Clowns are less intimidating because they are hidden behind a mask. Even so the clown on the right feels like he is looking straight through me.
The images above were taken on the streets of Guanajuato during our course field trip. Cervantino was still in town. But what a different experience from just a few days before. Below are several more from both trips...con el permiso y sin el permiso...engaging with the subject and not. No matter, they all have a "cinematic" feel for me. Maybe it's just Figueroa on my brain.

backfile: a fair visit II

Playing for Jesus

What caught my eye at the fair were the juxtapositions like those pictured here of the sacred and "profane." . It is these seeming incongruities which give the Mexican culture its overwhelming richnesss and color.

A Tale of Two Women

backfile: a fair visit

Just as the city prepares to celebrate the huge festival of its partron saint, Archangel San Miguel, and the Jewish Community is in the midst of the High Holy Days, just to keep things hopping, the fair comes to town for  a week or so. It's carnival atmosphere calls to those of us who love the surreal ambiance of so many Mexican events.

Kids on Bungee Cables
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Our Lady Anchored by Mexcal

backfile: tuesday market visit

Our Lady of Guadalupe is everywhere at all times.

While ideas for this blog have been fermenting, I have been shooting lots of photographs. For the next few days, I’ll be posting backfiles of various fiestas and meanderings around the town. Today…a visit to the Tuesday market.