This image, taken in Littlehampton, UK, to me is a juxtaposition of my image of the Sunset in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (see previous posts). Whilst those hues were giving warmth and hope, this image is presenting cool tones and possibly an acceptance of the coldness. In the same vein, when looking at this image I’m reminded that there are some instances in life that are just not worth the overexertion of energy. Only this time it’s a matter of acceptance and a reframing of mind. It’s looking in another direction for the source of comfort and reassurance that everything is going to be ok. The knowledge (and dare I say, fact) that all things are working out for our good is a chime worth ringing every now and then. Or constantly, as is the case in this season. Visually, I’m reminded that it’s ok to redirect your attention, to disengage every now and then, to realign yourself with your thoughts before returning back to reality, putting yourself back on track to do the work that you were put here to do.
The City of Gods
If you exclude the thousands of tourists local and foreign who visit on an hourly basis, then going to Teotihuacan literally feels like you are stepping into history. A reconstruction of what once was a civilisation pre-dating Eduardo Cortes and the conquistadores, this place attempts to retell the story and the lifestyle of the inhabitants which to my knowledge derived from expert tourguides (plural because I ended up visiting more than once) the first settlers let alone creators of the city remain a mystery. The Aztecs found it like this and made it their own after the inhabitants left due to food shortages (according to one of the theories).
I don’t know why, maybe it’s my love for history and migration stories that have existed throughout humanity’s existence, but something about physically being here and hearing the narrated theories behind the meanings of the Avenue of the Dead, Pyramid of the Sun and Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl absolutely fasinated me. The responsibility of ensuring the stories are as close to the truth as they could be, is huge, when in reality everything is theorised. Unless you were there you’ll never know truly know the complete experience. Up until this moment my knowledge was scarce. Now? I’d love to take a course on Mesoamerica - or at least read a book about it.
Postcards from el Pueblo Magico
The vibrancy of the blues, whites and beiges and the soft grains brings a a sense of European nostalgia. Once a colonial town, Taxco was once known for mining silver, with its legacy of hosting copious amounts of silver for jewellery and silverware still evident when you go to visit today. It’s charm is very evident as you walk along the cobbled streets, every turning capturing my eyes.
Street and cityscape photography was my introduction to photography, and still remains the one style that I find so much joy doing. I love the look of building architecture, the way houses are designed. You can tell the history of a place by its aesthetics. Or can you? By one glance I would have thought this was somewhere in Spain, until I realised that I’m as physically far away from Europe as the residents and their ancestors have been for the last 250 plus years.
PoPo
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.