mexico city

Rediscovering My Creative Autonomy: A Journey Back to Personal Blogging

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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.

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 personal website. It's not about seeking attention or validation; rather, it's about reclaiming autonomy and control over my content.

Here, on my personal 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.

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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¿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.