Life

Journeys in Focus: Embracing the Roller Coaster of Photographic Pursuit

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At times, my path through the world of photography has felt less like a straight road and more like a roller coaster, complete with unexpected twists and exhilarating highs. Now, at 55, I’ve come to a place of acceptance about my relationship with photography—a realization that fame and financial success may not be the destination of my journey. Yet, this realization brings me back to the core question: Why do I continue to pursue photography?

The answer is both simple and complex, the latter much like life itself. I do know that when all is said and done, I photograph because it's an essential part of who I am and who I strive to be. My obsession isn't just with capturing images but with the act of freezing a moment in time, allowing me to discover and study the details of lived experiences. Photographs serve as a testament to the limits of our memory, reminding us that our recollections are but shallow imprints of reality. Yet, they also seem to celebrate the human capacity to focus on what truly matters to us, filtering the world through our unique perspectives.

This journey hasn't been without its missteps and detours, particularly when it came to navigating the expectations of others. Early on, I found myself obsessing over the 'right' way to approach photography—what gear to use, which settings to choose, and whether my work would earn the approval of those I admired. This concern for external validation led me to abandon certain techniques and styles, fearing they might be seen as gimmicky or out of touch.

But with time, I've learned that photography, like any form of art, is deeply personal. It's a medium through which we express our individuality and view of the world. The true value of photography lies not in its ability to garner fame or fortune but in its power to capture the essence of a moment, to tell a story, to evoke emotion, and to connect us to the broader tapestry of human experience.

In my photographic journey, I've always sought connection over competition—yearning to engage with others who share a pure joy and passion for the art of capturing images. My path has been shaped by humility and a desire to learn, free from the ego that often gates knowledge and growth.

Yet, amidst this journey, I frequently grapple with self-doubt. At times, comparing my work to others, I wonder if I'm just fooling myself into believing I'm creating anything of value. But then I ask myself, does it truly matter? Perhaps this journey is less about the outcome and more about the connections I forge with the world and the people who inhabit my photographs. These interactions and captured moments help me understand the world and my place within it.

I often reflect on Vivian Maier, a talented yet reclusive photographer. Did she withhold her work due to a perceived lack of social capital, or because she doubted her own talent? Maybe, like me, she found fulfillment simply in the act of photography—the joy of capturing a fleeting moment in time.

This introspection brings me back to why I began photographing in the first place: to capture the minutiae of life, to hold onto fleeting moments, and to understand the world more deeply. It's a continuous journey of connection, reflection, and self-discovery—a quest not for validation, but for the intrinsic joy found in the art of photography itself.

Below I leave you with some images I captured during a weekend stay in the Mazahua region in the State of Mexico, Mexico.

With the bakers

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In late 2015 my wife and I were invited to join a friend and his wife --Juan and Esther-- on a two-hour excursion outside Mexico City in San Rafael Atlixco. For days he nostalgically took us on a tour down memory lane detailing his family history and upbringing against the backdrop a place that had once been very commercially active in the 20th Century; it had been the town's golden century, that is until the French operation went belly up. 

Knowing my obsession for meeting people and documenting life, Juan took me to meet the owners of a local bakery walking distance from his spacious and recently renovated weekend home.  

Scrub

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An afternoon scrub after the rain somewhere along Canal de Miramontes in Coyoacán, Mexico City. 

Keeping things clean is a common struggle in this city. Sometimes, dust just seems to appear out of thin air within seconds of its removal. This sweeping and scrubbing of sidewalks is a practice that still intrigues me given 

The exit and the entrance --all the same to me.

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The exit and the entrance --all the same to me.

Exit to Francisco I. Madero in Mexico City's downtown. 

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The Sponge on Broadway

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Sponge Bob on Broadway

An image made while visiting New York to be with my parents who were living in Poughkeepsie at the time. Really hard to fathom the person who must have been wearing that suit in 90-degree Fahrenheit temperatures right on Broadway in the middle of July. He had made the effort to stand in the shade but the humidity that day was unbearable even for my father, my son, and me who were all dressed for the weather. Thinking about it while remembering a New York Times article I read about these street performers in New York City puts a lot in perspective. What some people are willing to do to make ends meet; they deserve a great deal of respect.

¿Tienes frío? (Are you cold?)

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Are you cold?

A woman reaches for a sweater donated by the public in Mexico City. A group of journalists and photojournalists kicked off a campaign this winter labeled with the Twitter hashtag #SinFrioDF to get folks to donate clothing to those in need. 

I get asked these days by friends and family abroad about how Mexico is doing. Almost immediately an image of former President Carlos Salinas on the cover of Time Magazine in 1993 with the headline "Mexico Is Looking Up" flickers across my mind followed by the rest of significant events since then. Indeed, in spite of the economic turmoil that ensued in December of 1994 as the Mexican peso plunged things did take a turn for the better shortly thereafter. The party lasted a while as NAFTA began to take root and the world economy boomed. Mexico could have used this period of growth to diversify its economy, but didn't and the opportunity was ignored at a hefty price: its future. 

Today Mexico is struggling to stay on its two feet as it fights destructive gusts from internal and external whirlwinds. Dreams of one day joining a dwindling middle class are being crushed as poverty rises in a country where approximately 50% of the population already faces extreme economic hardship and reduced life chances. Inflation on some basics suffered significant increase according to some figures released at the start of the year while the current administration lives in denial of both the rise in deaths from the drug war as of 2014 and the impact of the commodity and currency crisis on the nation's economy. Just to think where things could be taken if the people who could make a difference were concerned with being transparent about the issues. Recognizing a problem brings you that much closer to fixing it, if it's not too late of course. 

Tower, light, and people

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Tower, light, and people

Downtown Mexico City looking towards one of Mexico City's most iconic landmarks. 

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