Chacala, Mexico

I really don't know why people stick with big-city beaches. This one, Chacala, a kilometer wide bay with perfectly soft brown sand, is 90 minutes' drive north of Puerto Vallarta. Twenty years ago it was a tiny fishing village you had to hike into from the highway. It's still only partly developed -- with no resorts or ATMS (or smooth roads). I liked how locals and tourists played volleyball together, musicians played to play (not for money), and a new married couple went right out into the waves -- in full wedding attire -- for photos.

San Blas, Mexico

Some 30 hours are better than other 30 hourses. Morrissey said that. And I say San Blas, three hours north of Puerto Vallarta, is worth the drive.

The beach is fine -- a dark brown sand beach with no one on it (weekdays, or when it's not Semana Santa) -- and a scrappy little town that's a hoot to spend time in. Particularly when one hour at the boozy San Blas Social Club turns to three, and the tequila bottle comes out. The bartender, Bernardo, is a tiny guy with a thick Hemingway beard, perhaps unsurprisingly considering he once was a bullfighter in Mexico City.

Much more to say, crocodiles and English poets for example, but will just sum up some of what I did in 16 seconds.

Holidays in 2012 – where to visit throughout the year

From Winter to Summer, Autumn or Spring, from the snow in the mountains to clear waters and sunny beaches, David has it all planned in advance for this year. As usual another amazing destination list :)

Deciding where to go on holiday can be tricky. You’ll often have a month in mind for when you’d like to go away but choosing your holiday destination isn’t always easy. To help you out with your decision, TravelSupermarket has identified 12 great holiday destinations to visit – one for every month of the year!

If you’re currently thinking about booking a last minute holiday, January is the ideal time of the year to visit the Caribbean. At this time of year there is a chance of rainfall but with temperatures throughout the month being at least 22 degrees, it is certainly a lot hotter than the UK. The Caribbean also starts its carnivals in January, giving you the chance to experience island life.


With choices from Antigua, Bahamas and Barbados and many others, you will be able to find miles of long sandy beaches and beautiful landscapes, as well as experiencing the laid-back charm of local towns and villages.

If you fancy a skiing break, then Geneva has over 200 resorts in traveling distance of the city and is an ideal destination for February. The city itself is also culture-rich and offers visitors the chance to wander down the streets of this green city and experience some of the finer things of Swiss life.


March is an ideal time to visit Marrakech, as the weather is warm without being too hot! The people of Marrakech are very friendly and the city itself is bustling with colour, sights and smells. It is easy to move from the narrow streets of the old city to the modern district, allowing you to experience what the city has to offer.


Crete is a popular European destination for some early sun in April, as well as for some excellent deals. The largest island in Greece, it offers beautiful coastline that is great for water sports as well as relaxing. The island has also lots to see, from natural features such as its gorges, to ruins from ancient civilizations.


Japan in May is very lush and the temperatures have yet to reach their hottest. The country offers the traditional Japanese lifestyle coupled with modern cities, having something for all types of visitors.


June is an ideal month for going on safari, with South Africa coming into its own at this time of year. The weather can be hot during the day, but it has cooler nights. Zambia has a number of National Parks, as well as spectacular landscapes that include Victoria Falls. The country offers a huge choice of safari activities, including horseback or elephant-back safaris as well as canoe or open vehicle safaris.


The fine weather in July is great for exploring Iceland. The country has such a varied landscape, including glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls and geysers. The days are long as the sun rarely sets and the land is green. There are plenty of activities, such as glacier skiing or even the opportunity to whale watch.


The jewel of the Balearics, Menorca, offers hot weather in August and the chance to relax on one of the many beaches that it has on offer. There are plenty of activities on offer for the whole family, including water sports, water parks, cycling and riding.


Menorca also offers a variety of other activities, including a number of golf courses. There is a variety of historical sites worth visiting on the island, as well as its National Park, the S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park.

There are still plenty of warm destinations in the USA in September. Although the weather can sometimes be unstable at this time of year, Miami offers some fantastic beaches with daily temperatures of above 22 degrees.


There is also the chance to visit the Everglades National Park, which as the subtropical wilderness of the USA, is home to a variety of species. There is also the Biscayne National park that offers the chance to dive around its coral reefs.

Visiting Dubai in October gives the chance for you to experience this truly unique city. Not only does it have many record-breaking landmarks and achievements, it also has many miles of beaches that are ideal for water sports. The city also offers traditional activities, such as camel racing and falconry.


November is an ideal time to take a trip halfway around the world to New Zealand. Both North Island and South Island have beautiful landscapes that include plenty of beaches, lots of wildlife, outdoor activities and the opportunity to experience the unique Maori culture. There is still plenty of sun at this time of year and it is an ideal time to explore.


Cancun in Mexico offers dry weather in December, with average temperatures of around 24 degrees. There are plenty of water sports on offer, including diving. As well as its many beaches, there is plenty to see and do. It has bustling towns and gives visitors the opportunity to explore the ancient world of the Mayans.


Whatever time of year you plan to go on holiday this year, this top picks are just a few destinations that will help you to follow the sun throughout the year.

The Frame: The Virgin Of Guadalupe

Photo © Anita Baca-All Rights Reserved

Did I realize that the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 14th Street (not far from where I live in New York City) would commemorate one of Mexico's most important religious holidays this past Monday? Of course not. I only find out stuff like that after the fact.

However, The Frame of The Sacramento Bee has featured 17 photographs of the celebration of this popular religious festival in Mexico City when millions make the pilgrimage to honor the dark-skinned virgin, said to have appeared to an Indian peasant on Dec. 12, 1531.

According to the captions accopmpanying the images, an estimated 5 million people from across Mexico arrived at the basilica Monday carrying large frames, wooden sculptures and ceramic statues of the virgin on their backs. The Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is recognized as a symbol of all Catholic Mexicans.

I chose to feature Anita Baca's photograph (above) showing a pilgrim who journeyed by foot from the state of Hidalgo, posing for a photo in front of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, while a fellow pilgrim stands by, not only for its colors but for its composition. Notice how the curve of the dark sombrero matches the curve of the icon.

Chico Sanchez: Mexico & Saints

I am pleased that Chico Sanchez (whose work has been featured on this blog many times) has now self-published a book of his wonderful photographs of Mexico. Chico's photographs of religion, faith and spirituality are published here in full color. It shares his journey through Mexico, a country of faith, mysticism and religiosity.

He has also announced another self-published book, Saints. In this book, Chico documents the celebrations and rituals honoring Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and all the Saints in Spain. The first part of the book features images from Andalusia, while the second is of images of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage in northern Spain.

Chico Sanchez is a Spanish photojournalist based in Mexico City since 2007, who worked in Venezuela for six years with Reuters, EFE, EPA and various newspapers.

Enrico Martino: Dia De Los Muertos

Time flies, and it's this time of year...once again! Observed on November 1st and 2nd, the Dia de Los Muertos is around the corner. Family and friends gather to pray for loved ones who have died. It is celebrated in Mexico, where it's virtually considered a national holiday. Traditionally, private altars honoring the deceased are built using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the dead. Visiting cemeteries, crypts and graves is also a tradition during these two days.

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (known as calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas. Also common are sugar skulls, inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Other special foods include pan de muerto (bread of the dead), a sweet egg bread made in many shapes, from plain rounds to skulls and rabbits often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones.

For those who are interested in documenting the Dia de los Muertos, photography workshops in Oaxaca are almost a tradition as well, and are plentiful.

Enrico Martino is an editorial, geographic and documentary photojournalist specialized in travel and cultural assignments. He's a contributor to Italian and international magazines, to include Meridiani, "D"-Repubblica, Epoca, Espresso, Panorama, Focus, Gente Viaggi, In Viaggio, Airone, Panorama Travel, Sette, Traveller, Tuttoturismo, Elle, Marie Claire, Merian, Spiegel, Die Zeit, Jeune Afrique, Altair, Rutas del Mundo.

Mexico - A Journey More Than Love

Kathleen, this is definitively the best way to end the week ;) Thanks so much for sharing your insights about Mexico. Mental note: must include Acapulco in my travel wish list. Also thanks to Wikimedia and Open Galleries for the nice photos.

Mexico, a land in North America geographically, is culturally in Latin America. It is a unique country with far reaching borders, exceptional food, friendly people, ancient pyramids and modern cities. It has diverse weather and major resort cities.

Mexico is divided up into sections based upon geography. The Pacific coast is known for its beaches. Northern Mexico has craggy peaks and desolate deserts and is not frequented by tourists. Central Mexico is the home of Mexico City. The Yucatan Peninsula is famous for the rain forest, Mayan ruins and resorts on the Caribbean. Baijo is the center for silver mining.


Mexico’s cities are popular tourist destinations. Mexico City, 700 years old and the one of the largest cities in the world, has a multitude of attractions from Aztec remains, to colonial history and nightlife. Acapulco is a well-known beach resort. Taxco, originally a producer of silver, is widely recognized for creation of decorations made of silver. Cancun is known for its beaches on the Caribbean. Mazatlan is port for shipping and transportation plus a resort for Spring break because of its inexpensive accommodations. These are a few of the many Mexican cities popular for holidays.

Besides the popular Mexican cities, Mexico has many other distinctive attractions. Visit the Sea of Cortez to witness births of whales and to swim with dolphins. Paddle a sea kayak and enjoy the sunsets at Puerto Pensacola. Travel to the Copper Canyon and ride the mountain railway - the CHEPE- up 8000 feet. While in the area, ride horses and watch birds. The area in the Sierra Madre and Chihuahuan desert is for rugged individuals who can expect intense travel conditions. Cruise the Rio Grivalva in Sumidero Canyon to the National Park to view wild life such as flamingos and crocodiles. Observe the monarch butterflies at Monarch Butterfly Breeding Sites in the uplands if Michoacan, especially from November until March.


Tourists interested in history and archeology will find many such sites in Mexico. Ek Balam has recreated Mayan sites with ornamented stucco and temples with engraved stone. The Mayan city, Chichen Itza, is named a UNESCO World Heritage location. Monte Alban, in Oaxaca, is a Zapotec spot over 2000 years old. Teotihuacan, close to Mexico City, is renowned for its pyramids.


Mexico’s cooking is diverse as it represents the regions. Its cuisine is divided by its regions and difference in ethnic groups. In northern Mexico, the meals are mostly the meat dishes of goat and beef. The central area’s foods are corn with various spices including Carnitas and Pozole. The Coastal cooking is mostly fish and seafood as well as corn recipes. Southeastern Mexico’s food is influenced by the Caribbean culture. Individual towns have their own special dishes such as the tamales of the south are made with leaves from the banana plant.

Accommodations in Mexico vary though chains of hotels such as Best Western, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Fairmont, and Palace Resorts, to name a few are located across Mexico Rates are more quite good in comparison to American or European chains. The rooms in these chains are acceptable for tourists, but not like the atmosphere found in traditional Mexican hotels. Those wanting to experience this should consider boutique hotels, which are steeped, in Mexican tradition throughout the country.

For travelers wanting to make purchases in Mexico, keep the following information in mind. Items in Mexico are measured in kilograms; length is measured in centimeters. Clothing comes in Continental measurements. Mexican currency is the peso that is divided into centavos. Good buys in Mexico are original local art- created in the manner of the old world including woodcarvings, textiles, and carved masks.


Mexico offers visitors many opportunities to observe and partake in the diversity of its culture, its foods, its history, its resorts, natural parks and daily life.

Once again thanks Katlheen! Kathleen is a blogger who writes on a variety of different sites. Check out more of her work at Lahaina hotels.

Sara Galbiati: Lucha Libre In Mexico

Photo © Sara Galbiati-All Rights Reserved

Sara Galbiati is a freelance photographer based in Copenhagen, who graduated from the Danish School of Media & Journalism. She worked in various Danish national newspapers, and has accumulated awards in the Danish Picture of the Year, POYi, Canon Grant For Best Student Portfolio, the Danish FOTOKRAVLING, and was nominated for the Joop Swart Masterclass 2011.

I was drawn to Sara's Lucha Libre portfolio (actually there are two...one is a documentary style gallery, while the other is portraits of the wrestlers). Lucha Libre is a combination of sport, show-business and violence, and epitomizes the fight between good and evil....or between the good guys and bad guys in our current vernacular. The bouts are choreographed and winners are selected in advance.

Lucha Libre is extremely popular in Mexico, and has been a part of Mexican culture since the 1930’s. It's estimated to be the second most popular sport after soccer. According to Wikipedia, modern Lucha Libre require wrestlers to wear colorful masks designed in the likeness of animals, gods, ancient heroes, and other archetypes.

For an audio slideshow of Lucha Libre, Chico Sanchez has produced one here.

Alinka Echeverria: The Pilgrims Of Tepeyac

Photo © Alinka Echeverria-All Rights Reserved

Alinka Echeverria is a Mexican visual artist who was recently named 2011 winner of the HSBC Prize for Photography given by the HSBC Cultural Foundation of France. Her work for this prize showed 300 of the 6 million pilgrims that make their way to the Guadalupe Basilica, near Mexico City, bearing statues of the Virgin.

Her website has two interconnected galleries: the first is the black & white The Pilgrims, of portraits made in the Temple of Tepeyac, La Basilica de la Virgen de Guadalupe in Mexico City on the anniversary of the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the indigenous Mexican Juan Diego.

The second gallery is of color photographs, titled Road To Tepeyac, and is of backs of 300 Mexican Catholic pilgrims on their journey to the Basilica de Guadalupe in Mexico City. The photographs of the pilgrims are cut out from the rest of the scene, leaving us their backs and their religious images and icons.

The hill of Tepeyac is the site where the saint Juan Diego met the Virgin of Guadalupe in December of 1531, and received the iconic image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Talking Mexico on Fox News

Appeared on FoxNews.com Live this morning to discuss my pick for Lonely Planet's eight safe Mexico destinations to consider. Didn't get Puebla in. And I want to go to Puebla. See the segment here.

Go to Mexico

Nothing punctures misperception like actual travel. We saw it in the '90s for Vietnam, when Americans (in particular) worried they'd get detained or deported, then discovered a budding new ally of Southeast Asia; we see it when Middle Eastern nations shame us with their warmth and kindness. And there's ones closer at hand, like Mexico.

Despite a rise in drug violence, the news stories only tell part of the picture. And I wrote a piece for CNN.com on 'Why you should go to Mexico.' Fascinating seeing how ugly some of the reader's comments have gotten so quickly.

I also put together eight places to visit in Mexico now (safely) for Lonely Planet, all picked from the 17 of Mexico's 31 states that are excluded from any name-dropping in the US State Department's travel warning for Mexico.

Mexico, see you later this year.

Spring-Break Inspiration

Here's my Guideposts interview about some inspiring destination ideas for spring break: Mexico, Kansas, using local sports as vehicle to meet locals, and helping communities recovering from natural disasters.

Leslie Mazoch: Escaramuzas

"We're not just pretty things anymore".

Charreria is Mexico's most traditional equestrian sport, and was dominated by males for many years. However, the presence of skilled female equestrians performing dangerous and synchronized exercises while riding sidesaddle led to the creation of escaramuzas (the Spanish word for scuffle) charras. These women train tirelessly for the chance to show off their equestrian choreography.

Escaramuzas is a "photo-movie" produced by Leslie Mazoch of her black & white stills and ambient audio, which includes a beautiful poem in Spanish (with English sub-titles). It could have been titled Mexican Amazons, since it documents Mexican women who take up this noble sport, and who ride their horses sidesaddle. From what I gathered from the slideshow, the escaramuzas was an accidental tradition that started in 1953, and was influenced by the gypsies of Spain.

Leslie Mazoch is a photographer and photo editor for the Associated Press in Mexico for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Prantik Mazumder: Mexico

Photo © Prantik Mazumder-All Rights Reserved

 Prantik Mazumder is a self-taught photographer, originally from Calcutta, India, and moved to North America for his graduate studies. Currently settled in Ithaca, New York, he's pursuing a career in scientific research.

He traveled to Mexico in 2006 with his first digital SLR, and has images from New Orleans, Ithaca, Peru and Mexico. I particulalry liked the above picture made in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, because of its colors and composition...and for the graffiti.

The Revolucion signage with the graffiti asking the local police not be brutal while the woman is covering her eyes is a message in itself.

Michelle Frankfurter: Destino

Photo © Michelle Frankfurter- All Rights Reserved

Having read Cormac McCarthy’s, The Crossing, Michelle Frankfurter started to photograph along the US-Mexico border, and focuses her photo essay Destino featured on Burn magazine on undocumented Central American migrants who travel across Mexico in an attempt to reach the United States to work.

It's a sad tale that highlights not only the harsh risks inherent in such an endeavor, be it from criminal gangs, from corrupt police, from accidents to a myriad of other life-endangering events on the way.

A number of photographers attending the Mexico Foundry Photojournalism Workshop chose a similar subject for their documentary projects, and the area known as La Lecheria, where migrants seemed to converge to hitchhike north-bound trains, was a magnet for those photographers.

Michelle Frankfurter is a documentary photographer who worked for three years as a staff photographer for daily newspapers: The Herald – Journal and Post Standard in Syracuse, New York. She spent three years living in Nicaragua where she worked as a stringer for the British news agency, Reuters and with the human rights organization Witness For Peace. In 1995, a long-term project on Haiti earned her two World Press Photo awards. She has worked for a number of editorial publications, including The Guardian of London, The Washington Post Magazine, Ms., Time, and Life Magazine.

Maya Elise Joseph Goteiner: Dia De Los Muertos

Photograph © Maya Joseph-Goteiner -All Rights Reserved

I just saw lovely photographs by Maya Joseph-Goteiner on PDN Photo of The Day, and thought I'd feature her work from Oaxaca and elsewhere relating to the Dia de los Muertos festivities, which was featured on PDN here as well. You can also see more of Maya's work on her blog.

The Dia de los Muertos is a Catholic celebration of the memory of deceased ancestors celebrated on November 1 (All Saints) and November 2 (All Souls). Its origins can be traced back to the indigenous peoples of the Americas, such as the Zapotec, Aztec, Maya, Purepecha, Nahual and Totonac. Rituals celebrating the lives of dead ancestors has been observed by Mesoamerican civilizations for at least 3,000 years.

El Rey: East Los Angeles' Mariachis

This is a delightful short documentary featuring Mariachis musicians in East Los Angeles produced by Drea Cooper and Zackary Canepari. The piece features Mariachi musicians who gather on corners of the streets of East Los Angeles looking for work, whether in birthday parties, in cafes, restaurants, quinceañeras, weddings and the like.

To my delight, the main singer belts outs out the famous Mexican song "Volver Volver", initially without the accompaniment of musical instruments. I used to hear it played often in the zocalo of Oaxaca...just delightful.

According to Wikipedia, the term "Mariachi" is said to be an adaptation of the French word for marriage or wedding "mariage" as this type of musical formation plays at these events.

via The Click

The world’s top 10 most beautiful beaches

A guest post brought to you by David from the team at travelsupermarket.com, a price comparison site which compares prices on hotels, flights, holidays and car hire.



Oludeniz Beach, Turkey



The beautiful Oludeniz Beach is undoubtedly one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean and it’s clear to see why. Known as the Turquoise Coast due to the stunning blue and aquamarine shades of water, the crystal clear sea is perfect for swimming in. Many water sports activities take place on the beach including scuba diving, water skiing, canoeing and banana boating. The most popular activity however is paragliding with many visitors taking to the skies to take in the spectacular views from 2,000 metres above the sea and beach.







Whitehaven Beach, Australia



There were plenty of Australian beaches that were candidates to make this list but due to its sheer beauty it’s Whitehaven Beach that has to be included. This picture-postcard beach is very special and not just for obvious reasons like the gorgeous fine, white sand which is 98% pure silica giving it its bright white colour or the warm, clear, azure waters which are perfect for swimming in. What really makes this beach stand out is the surrounding tropical forest and various islands dotted around in the distance.







Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles



Anse Source d’Argent in the Seychelles is without a doubt one of the most stunning beaches in the world. The perfect exotic beach is the ideal tropical escape and the beautiful coastline is a series of soft pink sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and colourful corals. Other stand out features of the beach are the rounded granite boulders and palm trees which make the beach feel even more tropical. The water is invitingly warm and makes the Anse Source d’Argent a popular destination with couples and families alike.







Fernando De Noronha, Brazil



Some 200 miles plus off Natal on Brazil’s north-eastern coast is Fernando De Noronha, an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the fact that Fernando De Noronha isn’t a single beach, it had to be included on the list because of its natural beauty and stunning surroundings. What makes this area so special is that there are so few tourists on these islands,

meaning that those that do visit Fernando De Noronha are often left alone in paradise. The clarity and warmth of the water and the abundant underwater life means that these islands are also popular with divers and snorkelers. As well as fish, dolphins, sea turtles and sharks there is a Brazilian warship, which sank in 1987 and is lying in pristine condition at around 60 metres deep.







Matira Beach, Bora Bora



Widely recognised as the most beautiful lagoon in the world, Matira Beach is one of the few accessible beaches in Bora Bora. Perfect for activities like swimming and snorkelling, the water is warm, crystal clear and extremely calm. The beach is free from large groups of tourists but should anyone be looking for even more peace there are even more isolated beaches nearby. From the white sand beach you’ll likely see dolphins out in the ocean which is a spectacular sight.







Maroma Beach, Mexico



A beautifully romantic beach which is situated on the Yucatan Peninsula coastline in Mexico, Maroma beach is blissfully peaceful despite being only 30 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Cancun. The pristine white sands, crystal-clear waters and warm tropical breezes have helped establish Maroma Beach’s reputation as somewhat of a paradise. Regularly nominated as one of the top 10 beaches in the world, the amazing landscape, vast expanse of uninterrupted pure white sandy beaches and the attractive green tropical foliage has helped Maroma Beach establish itself as one of the finest beaches on the planet. On top off all this there’s the Cozumel reef which is the world’s second largest barrier. Located just off the Maroma beach, it is a famous deep sea diving spot which also allows visitors to swim with dolphins.







Pink Sands, Harbour Island, Bahamas



Pink Sands Beach ticks all the boxes required to be considered a fantastic beach. It certainly has the beautiful soft sand, the warm clear water and the fantastic weather. There’s another unique feature however which helps this beach stand out from the crowd. The clue as to what this might be is in the name of the beach. Pinks Sands beach is known as such because it has, as you’ve probably guessed, pink sand! Attracting tourists from all over the world, the colour of Pink Sands Beach comes

from the reddish shells of microscopic coral insects called Foraminifera. When these insects die, they leave behind their shells which are then crushed by the waves and brought to the shore to mix in with the sand. The result of this is the pink sand which covers the Pink Sands Beach.







Kondoi Beach, Japan



Taketomi Island is an island just off the coast of Ishigaki Island and is home to one of the world’s best beaches. With its emerald green water, white sand and warm water that is ideal for swimming in, Kondoi beach is undoubtedly one of the finest beaches in not just Asia but the world. Nearby are grassy, shaded picnic areas which are great if you want to get out of the sun for a bit.







Sinclair’s Bay, Scotland



When you think of beautiful beaches you probably don’t think of Scotland. However, when the sun comes out on Sinclair’s Bay it has the look of a Caribbean beach with a very Scottish twist! At either end of the four mile arc of white sand are the ruins of 16th Century castles. Home to a spectacular array of wildlife including plovers, dunlins, porpoises and orca, there’s plenty to take in when you visit and the best way to see all of the beach is on horseback.







Lanikai Beach, Hawaii



Like Australia, there were plenty of candidates from Hawaii but Lanikai Beach is probably the best of the Hawaiian contenders. The name Lanikai means ‘heavenly sea’ in the Hawaiian language and it’s certainly a fitting name for this beach. With warm clear water and a fine white sand beach, the beach is popular with locals and tourists alike. Located on Oahu's Windward coast, anyone in the area should be sure to check out this stunning beach and its beautiful surrounding areas.







Once more a big thank you David and hope to have you writing here again soon!

Rodrigo Cruz: Women Warriors

Photo © Rodrigo Cruz-All Rights Reserved

The reason I go out onto the streets with my camera is simple: I want to tell people's stories in an intimate way through powerful imagery. -Roberto Cruz

Rodrigo Cruz is a freelance photographer with a particular interest in abuses of human rights, especially against women and children in his native Mexico. His work was published by National Geographic and The Washington Post, and by NGOs such as Amnesty International. He was shortlisted for the 2010 Anthropographia Award for Photography and Human Rights; received an honorary mention in the photo contest ‘Global World: through the lens of human rights’; and was selected last year to participate in PhotoEspaña’s Descubrimientos in Guatemala City.

I met Roberto at the inaugural Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Mexico City in 2008, and he was one of the indispensable members that made it such a success. Many of the photojournalists, whether instructors or students, relied on his knowledge, contacts and assistance for their projects and classes.

Have a look at Rodrigo's Women Warriors and Dance of Mice; these are two unusual traditions practiced in Guerrero in southern Mexico. One of his audio-slideshow projects especially relevant at this time when illegal immigration is being targeted in our southern states is The Promised Land.

For further details on Rodrigo, his projects and talent, drop by Canon Pro Network.

Jon Guido Bertelli: Last of Zapatistas

Photo © Jon Bertelli -All Rights Reserved
Jon Bertelli is an international photographer, who currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, but was raised in Florence and academically trained in the visual arts there and in Oslo.

He lived in Mexico in the late nineties, and documented the last surviving Zapatista fighters; the veterans of the 1910-20 Mexican Revolution of the South, led by the famed (and feared) Emiliano Zapata. While Pancho Villa's revolution was concentrated in the north of the country, Zapata and his insurgents represented the south.

Jon photographed the surviving insurgents; most of which were over 100 years old. These were idealistic men and women who sacrificed their well-being and lives to follow Zapata. Many were decorated as war heroes by the Mexican government, and some have been recognized internationally for their bravery.

You have the choice of seeing Jon's The Last of the Zapatistas on his website, or on FOTO8 where his portraits have been made into an audio-sideshow.

The audio track used is La Soldadera by Garcia-Pujol and Jimenez. While it's a beautiful and appropriately evocative piece, imagine if the audio of the elderly Zapatistas' voices, telling us a bit of their exploits, was also included!!