One of the things that I share during the Photo Walks I lead is how to approach our subjects with respect and engage with honest interest. As I often say, you get out of the streets what you put in. In that respect, I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to make portraits … Read more
I met Elsy years ago when I stopped her on the streets for a quick portrait of stranger. Since then we have collaborated in several photo sessions. Today’s portrait is from the last recent session. Honestly, I don’t know how far a portrait of stranger will take me, however, I am really happy to have … Read more
Here’s another entry on the I am Guatemala series. How about if this week we do another mini series to get rid of the notion of what a Guatemalan should look like? In the mean time, you can you browse the portraits of the series I am Guatemala. Enjoy!
Join me for a very special photo walk every Sunday of Lent, from 2 pm to 6 pm. Don’t miss this once-a-year chance to capture stunning aspects of the traditional processions from the intricacies of carpet building, to the coordination required to carry a wooden float. These special photo walks will get you to the … Read more
The Maya play the drum and rustic flute commonly known as tzicolaj, although some people claim it to be an actual xul. And I have always thought this was a chirimilla. Does anyone really know what is the actual name of this Mayan rustic flute?
The tradition of carrying the processional floats starts at a very early age as you can see here with portrait of a cucurucho and his son already dress up for the occasion. Yesterday I shared with you the portrait of a dolorosa and cucurucho baby, a mother and her son.
Today I share with you a photograph of a little cucurucho boy wearing what could be his first purple robe and his mother a Dolorosa or hermana cargadora. By the way, in case you didn’t know, purple is the color of penitence. With Lent the color purple becomes very fashionable in Antigua Guatemala. You see … Read more
This past Sunday the first Lenten procession hit the streets of Antigua Guatemala. Here’s procession from Santa Catalina Bobadilla as it passes in front of the Cathedral around 6:20pm, about an hour later than expected according to the processional route maps that were handed out. Nevertheless, it was better from a photographic perspective as we … Read more
The Antigua Guatemala’s golden hours during the afternoon are almost guarantee to give the quality you need to make great photographs. Try to set aside the time period between 3pm and 6pm for your shooting time. You will not regret it.
It’s a delight to walk around a city we so many beautiful textured walls. This wall is one of my favorites. You can find it on 6a avenida norte. Which wall texture is your favorite?
Here’s Guatemalan illustrated word of the day: Cariño for sweetie, honey, darling, tenderness, affection, etc. Cariño is such a versatile Spanish word; it can mean honey as ven cariño, come here, honey, or sweetie and darling; it can also be used as tenderness [dilo con cariño]. Cariño can also mean love, dear, and affection, as … Read more
That’s Guatemala for you, total strangers are willing to give you a smile to make your day a better day. It’s only fair to smile back and be nice and polite, methinks; how about you?
You have to live to believe it… walking around Antigua Guatemala you come across people with a big smile on their faces. Guess what made these two girls giggled and smiled?
Chepitos are the other kind of tamalitos de frijol I have had the opportunity to try in Guatemala. The difference between tayuyos and chepitos is minimal, but there’s a difference. As you can see, chepitos have whole black beans mixed with the corn dough. Also, the wrapping is maize husks as opposed to the banana … Read more
There are two kinds of tamalitos de frijol that I have encountered in Guatemala: Tayuyos and Chepitos. Today I bring you tayuyos which are basically small tamales, thus tamalITOS, with paste of black beans mixed in before cooking and wrapped with maize plant fresh leaves. As I have said before, in Guatemala alone, there must … Read more