Rediscovering My Creative Autonomy: A Journey Back to Personal Blogging
Before delving into blogging, my journey as a photographer began on platforms like Flickr and early blogging sites that emerged in the early 2000s. These platforms not only allowed me to share my work daily but also facilitated interactions with fellow photography enthusiasts and professionals. However, as my audience expanded and my site gained visibility through higher rankings on Google searches, the landscape of social media was rapidly evolving.
Loan shop owner one evening in Mexico’ City’s Chinatown.
Instagram was emerging, yet to reach its current prominence, while Twitter served more for microblogging and textual sharing. Despite photographers being present on these platforms, they weren't the primary choice for showcasing work as they are today. Nevertheless, the allure of social media's growing popularity gradually diverted my attention from the traditional means I once believed would offer greater opportunities and visibility.
Unbeknownst to me, the algorithms governing these platforms began to dictate visibility, sometimes hindering rather than aiding my goals. Consequently, I've decided to revive the practice of blogging and self-publishing on my website. It's not about seeking attention or validation; rather, it's about reclaiming autonomy and control over my content.
Here, on my platform, I can share my thoughts and images without the pressure to compete for likes or followers. Instead, it's about the pure joy of expressing myself and capturing moments that resonate with me. I aim to return here frequently, perhaps even daily, or at least weekly, to share my musings and the moments I cherish.
With that said, allow me to leave you with a glimpse of recent and not-so-recent moments captured during my walks through the vibrant streets of Mexico City.
Dunning-Kruger and the stories we tell ourselves
En movimiento sobre Eje Central, Centro Historico - Ciudad de Mexico.
After listening to a podcast on the Dunning-Kruger Effect —when an incompetent person is unaware of his own incompetence— I could not help but ask myself if I suffer from this cognitive inability to recognize my own incompetence when in comes to my photography. Many times I've asked myself —and still do— if my photography will ever measure up ; if I should just give up and seek something else I might be "good" at? But I couldn't get myself to do it if I came to a full realization of skills I might lack in this activity I enjoy so much since I was a child. I enjoy making images too much. I love stories and making photos is my way of capturing and sharing them.
Yes, I know I am just capturing the light of a given moment and how that moment is interpreted, or the story told, will be different from person to person, but it's a story nonetheless.
Interested in knowing more about the Dunning-Kruger Effect, check it out here.
T.V. Dinner
A not too unusual seen one evening in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.
Iztapalapa, Mexico City
An Oligarchal Tyranny?
Street labor in Mexico City.
Street labor in Mexico City. A literal illustration of what some are forced to make a living in Mexico.
I've been re-reading Robert D. Kaplan's Empire Wilderness in which the author describes what he believes the United States is transforming into: an interconnected globalised network of city states united and governed by concerns of economy and growth in which the poor are left behind while the better able move to suburban gaited communities isolating themselves from the "threatening and unsightly poor" while at the same time avoiding the moral obligation to be their brother's keeper. A picture that better outlines the socioeconomic divide in places like Brazil, Teheran, or even Mexico which the author describes as an oligarchal tyranny --a depiction I find hard to disagree with after having lived here for near 20 years. Be it the U.S.A., Brazil, or Mexico, what can be said of democracies that not only fail to provide for their most deprived citizens but simply don't care to?
The Observers
While observing a cleaning ritual in downtown, Mexico City.
Onlookers at a "limpia" in downtown, Mexico City.
The Crossing
Young lady crossing Lazaro Cardenas in Historic Center, Mexico City - Mexico.
Eje Central Lazaro Cardenas, Centro Historico - Ciudad de México, MEXICO
Kissing On Reforma Av.
This couple kissing on the street proves they have no shame --not that they should be-- over their expression of emotion towards each other. Yet as a a photographer capturing such moments I cannot help but sometimes wonder if the public nature of the act gives me any right to photograph it. The "guilt" loses its traction as I rest on why I took the image. As time runs along a single direction, this moment simply celebrates a solitary event in the human history shared between these two souls.
Digital Kills The Analog Stars
Back in 2006 you could still run into photographers in some parts of Mexico City who made a living making images of folks in "touristy" areas. The ubiquity of digital sent most of them into early retirement.
Tengo miedo...
Seen in Parque De Los Venados, Mexico City circa 2007. The quotes on the cardboard read: "I am afraid of losing my job and being broke "; I am afraid of not finding a partner and having no children"; "I am afraid that if my father dies I will have to face life alone."
Doble Limpia
Shamanismo en el Zocalo del D.F.
A shaman performs a spiritual cleansing while a city municipal worker proceeds with his on a more familiar plain.
Saying hello to a friend...
While on one of my usual Saturday walks in downtown, Mexico City.
An Organillero friend along Madero Av. where you'll be sure to find him almost on any given day of the week.
Hugo & Ignacio
I took a long stroll downtown last Saturday with nothing in particular in mind to photograph. Quite frankly, there was a lot more more aimless wondering than actual shooting, but it felt good to simply go with the flow and not burden myself with the obligation to come home with "the shot". I've discovered this allows me to be more aware of what is going on around me while ensuring I don't miss more meaningful moments.
Anyhow, I was walking from a leather shop when I noticed Hugo (on the left) with an instant Polaroid camera pointed across the street. This got me curious so I approached him and his friend Ignacio (to the right) asking what they were up to. Hugo enthusiastically explained that they were visiting from Monterrey to give a photography workshop the following day.
Further into the conversation both Hugo and Ignacio showed me their work on Instagram and Flickr --I was very impressed and inspired. Both are professional photographers with exceptional body of work. Hugo also operates a Lomography embassy store in Monterrey. You can see links to Hugo's work here and Ignacio's work here.
Corner Shot
Here's an image from circa 2006 when I first delved into the use of an ultra wide lens (Sigma 10-20mm). Around 2013 I started to experiment more with other focal lengths: 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm. Yet 15mm is pretty much how my mind likes to see the world: wide and inclusive as to not lose context. It sort of reflects my obsession with drawing meaning about a fact or piece of information from the environment in which it is found. I had backed away from using the wide for fear it was becoming a gimmick and not allowing me to grow my vision. The aforementioned concern disappeared upon realizing that photographic vision is nothing less than how we perceive the world and how we choose to convey that which our mind's eye sees.
Clowning Around
I ran into this guy while exiting the Nativitas Metro Station. He was getting off the VW and I just started taking photos of him while he was fixing his bag. He was OK with it. I waved goodbye and that was that.
Clowning around outside Metro Nativitas, Mexico City.