We went in anticipation for Popocatépetl to erupt. It teased us instead. An volcano that usually squirts out lava on an almost daily basis decided to lay back this time round. Popocatépetl, a volcano with a twin, Iztaccihuatl, is the second highest peak in Mexico. Up until this point, I had never been in such close proximity to a volcano. It was breathtakingly cold, but also very mystical: the sounds of nature surrounding our lodge felt very reminiscent of the campsites I used to seldom frequent when I was young. For one night only, sleeping alongside Popo was intimate and full of wonder.
In the shadow of the night, I remember seeing the stars illuminating the sky as if it were giving us a private light show. I thought to myself, there’s no way I could even attempt to capture this. A friend was teaching me how to photograph Popo at night, something I’ve never attempted to do and rightly so - it’s hard. It requires the technique, the use of the infinity focus, and a decent lens. Me being me I decided to wait until the dawn to attempt anything worth editing in post. There was something about the morning sky that was so hopeful. The sun ray’s golden glow kissing the foreground made for an alright snap, a reminder that a new day hints at a new frame of mind, a new attempt at something after engaging with trial and error the previous day, as well as a fresh new gaze to alter or magnify your visual perspective of the landscape.