Much Belated Last Post From Oaxaca....

YAAARRRR! It's me! On the way up into the mountains de La Sierra Norte! ¡Que chido! ¿Ya? Anyway, it was very curvy. Very! However, Mexicans from this region have been driving them since they have been driving. So, they drive fast. I got a little queasy feeling, and that never happens to me. Never. I can go on crazy American (and Mexican) carnival rides and eat all that funnel cake and cotton candy and keep going. So it was curvy.



On the way to Calpulalpan we stopped in Ixtlán de Juárez. Which is the birth place of
Benito Juarez. Benito Juarez was the first president of indigenous blood. He came from a Zapotec family in the rgion of Ixtlan. He was also the father of the reform in Mexico. Kind of a Lincoln of Mexico. Pretty cool dude, considering the rest of Mexican political/military history.
Also, in Oaxaca they LOVE him....well some people. Not everybody.




Went to the museum to Benito Juarez in Ixtlan, very nice. Some good prints and sculpture on Juarez.




"The men of the Reform"




Portrait sculpture of Juarez


Me and the man.


In the summer these Scarabs are everywhere! Especially at a little higher elevation. In the little mountain Pueblos there were thousands of them. Strangely, the majority of them were on their backs as well. But I found a few that weren't. They were big too. Like as long as a silver dollar, or maybe two digits of your finger.



Also, the day that we were traveling was voting day in the State of Oaxaca. They were state elections. Mexican politics are so confusing that I am not even going to comment. I just tried to do some extra research, could not make sense of it, and am going to hold my tongue. But PAN vs. PRI and the history of Oaxacan politics and the teachers strikes etc. are a very interesting thing to study, if you feel so inclined.


They did not like it when I took this picture, I had to leave...



Basket in Calpulalpan



The church there was gorgeous and very old. We had to walk around and find someone to let us into it. Finally a young man let us in to look and take pictures without flash.



Virgen de Guadelupe, beautiful.



I devoured fresh river trout caught and cooked up right there in the mountains. Very good. With mezcal and beer , a very good meal. Straight Oaxacan, really more like Zapotec, but whatev. Delicious, and real.



Then I slept in a hammock in the mountains, and waited till my friends found me. Ha! Excellent day. Thanks for looking!! As always.

-Nicholas Pippins

Miscellaneous Images From The Last Week in Oaxaca

Iohan and Donaji. The oldest and youngest children of the family I am living with. They are both really nice. Also, extremely sweet to each other. I think we forget how wonderful our siblings are. I sure am thankful for mine more recently.



Rosaries made from ceramic "Barro Negro". The area near Oaxaca is famous for this pottery. Is it very beautiful, and worth the trip to the pueblo were it is made. This art is traditionally made in San Bartolo Coyotepec, it is a very nice and tranquil place, compared to Oaxaca. The church there is also very nice looking. However, it was closed while I was there, and I could not go on the grounds.



Some sandals out in the Campo



The flowers in the rainy season here are very beautiful. The wild flowers are still a little far and few. This only makes them more beautiful.



A forgotten shoe in the road near my families home outside the city.


Me, in the forest!!



My friend Donald. I had the pleasure of running around with Donald for two weeks. He has now left Oaxaca for his land in Michoacan. He is an Austin native, an alum, and retired employee of UT.

Thank you as always for stopping by and taking a look!

¡Hierve El Agua y Mucho Mezcal! ¡Ayayay!

The Church of Santo Domingo. The churches here are absolutely gorgeous. Also, within the walls of this church is a museum and a botanical garden. I plan on going to the museum tomorrow.




Hierve El Agua (The Water Boils). These springs literally come bubbling up on the side of a mountain. They are not hot or cold. However, they are heavy in mineral content. Because of the heavy mineral content there are formations of travertine (sp?) all over everything. There are beautiful pools that extend to the edge of the ridge.




Some formations.




A photograph from in the pool (yes I took my camera in the water!)




More formations. The amount of wild looking formations are endless.




The postcard shot.




Another photograph in one of the pools




This is a a little stream of the water coming out of the rock. The heavy mineral content creates many colors.




Another spring in a different part of the mountain.




This area, at least during the rainy season, is green and beautiful with many plants that become ready to bloom during this season.




"Viva Mexico" scratched into the red bark of a tree on the side of the mountain.




¡¡Maguey!! This region is also famous for its Mezcal. The wikipedia article after this link is good and correct about the production of Mezcal. Mezcal is a close relative to Tequila, and some of it is really good.




This young girl was helping with a stage in the process of mezcal production. After they cook the roots of the maguey plant, they smash it with a large stone wheel.




Maguey or blue agave.

P.S. I bought a bunch of this stuff. But they don't really bottle it at the factories. So you have to fill up a plastic bottle you have on hand. I have since found a store that sells glass bottles and tops specifically for this. I have bought one to put my mezcal in. I have a feeling that on of these weekends might get a little borracho.

Fotos de Los Calles de Oaxaca

I am learning more and more about the teacher protests and other group protests that have been happening in Oaxaca for the last 28 years. I am also learning more of the indigenous peoples of this region and the pueblos they live in. The most famous and instrumental protests occurred in 2006.




There is graffiti all over the city of Oaxaca. Most of the graffiti is in reference to political groups, and the ongoing protests. There are many references to APPO. There are many calls to fight against capitalism. As well as many calls to free political prisoners. Some of the graffiti in these pictures has already been scrubbed of the walls of churches and municipal buildings. I think it is on going process.







I also found a Chevy Nova in Oaxaca. For those of you who do not know, "no va" means no go, or doesn't go. It seems to be a kind of marketing legend that this car sold poorly in Spanish speaking countries because of the name. I have found that this is apparently false after reading some internet articles. I also put a little vintage flair on this photograph in PS due to the timing of this story.

Enjoy. Thank you!!

Fotos de La Playa

The beautiful and talented Margaret Compton Hobbs




My Mom and Dad




AND......The CRAZY family shot! AAAaaaahhhhh!!!

El Primero Post de Mexico

Ohh Yeeaaahhhh!!!




A few night time shots. The first I have done in quite a while. There is really something about slowing down and paying the attention to an exposure that is over ten seconds. The longest ten seconds of your life. Waiting for that click of the shutter and mirror.



The moon was almost full. The sky was clear. The perfect conditions for a few long night shots. As well as a great night for a few tequila shots. Also a good thing about those long exposures. You can do something else!




I really love Mexico. These were taken near Playa Del Carmen. I am now in Oaxaca taking classes for Spanish. A great summer. However, it is very often difficult to be away from family and friends. These journeys are for healing, but man they hurt sometimes. I love you all!!

Thank you for reading and looking.

WIldflowers near my parents house...

I shot these the other day after reading a blog post by Chase Jarvis about stepping outside the daily work and doing something for yourself. Lately, I have been working a lot on this school job. I have taken portraits and group photos for them. I have not shot much for myself in several weeks. Except for these flowers, and some iphone pics. There are so many ideas I have and so many things I want to do. I really want to concentrate on creating some really great photographs to show you out there, I need to step it up. I know now what is it to trudge through a paying gig that is more than a few hours at a wedding or event. The amount of work I have done after the shooting is incredible. I feel like I need an assistant. The actually taking of the pictures is wonderful. I need to find a way to bypass the post for the really big projects, because the pay is good. It is a job.



















I shot several of these pictures with a little kick of light from an sb-800, with the CTO filter that comes with the flash, and the diffuser dome on. I believe I was compensating the exposure down 2-3 stops and just adding a little light from the side. Flash exposure compensation at -1. I have had a little help with the grip recently from Joe McNally. This means that with a flash in hand, I was shooting with the camera shoved up in my left shoulder, and my left eye in the viewfinder, the flash in the left hand around the right side of the camera. Now I bet I moved the flash around a lot depending on were I wanted the light, but with this method described you really are more stable and balanced. Or bring a light stand like a smart photographer...