La Guelaguetza: Oaxaca's Dance

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
While in Oaxaca, I photographed a couple of lively Guelaguetza performances and uploaded some of the results on to a website. The dances are a form of celebration that dates back to pre-Columbian times and which remain a defining characteristic of Oaxacan culture. Its origins relate to the worship of corn as a mainstay staple of the Oaxacan region, and indeed all over Mexico and beyond.

Eventually, these photographs will be incorporated into a multimedia slideshow.

La Guelaguetza

Read more »

La Guelaguetza: Oaxaca's Dance

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
While in Oaxaca, I photographed a couple of lively Guelaguetza performances and uploaded some of the results on to a website. The dances are a form of celebration that dates back to pre-Columbian times and which remain a defining characteristic of Oaxacan culture. Its origins relate to the worship of corn as a mainstay staple of the Oaxacan region, and indeed all over Mexico and beyond.

Eventually, these photographs will be incorporated into a multimedia slideshow.

La Guelaguetza

Read more »

Sneak Preview: Oaxaca

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
I've returned from Oaxaca with a couple of projects...still very much work-in-progress, but should be uploaded on my website in a few weeks. The above photograph is a 'sneak preview' of one of them.

Oaxaca's main square, the zocalo, is a wonderful place to relax, have a meal or good coffee, watch the world go by and hear some street music. It's admirable of the city's municipality to stage free performances of Oaxacan regional dances as well as music by the local brass band every weekend in the square. The audiences are mostly of Oaxacans, but some tourists also stop to enjoy the spectacle.

If you haven't been to Oaxaca yet, trust me...put it on your list. I had heard that David Alan Harvey was in the city with his students, but regrettably our paths didn't cross.

Read more »

Sneak Preview: Oaxaca

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
I've returned from Oaxaca with a couple of projects...still very much work-in-progress, but should be uploaded on my website in a few weeks. The above photograph is a 'sneak preview' of one of them.

Oaxaca's main square, the zocalo, is a wonderful place to relax, have a meal or good coffee, watch the world go by and hear some street music. It's admirable of the city's municipality to stage free performances of Oaxacan regional dances as well as music by the local brass band every weekend in the square. The audiences are mostly of Oaxacans, but some tourists also stop to enjoy the spectacle.

If you haven't been to Oaxaca yet, trust me...put it on your list. I had heard that David Alan Harvey was in the city with his students, but regrettably our paths didn't cross.

Read more »

And A Song Shall Carry Them Home

The Record, a newspaper group based in Stockton (California) has published a multimedia piece titled And A Song Shall Carry Them Home: The Journey of the Fermin Brothers. The story was authored by Jennifer Torres and photographed by Victor J. Blue.

Here's a synopsis of the story:

"Two years ago, a group of brothers left Acojtapachtlan, a village of about a dozen concrete houses in the hills of southern Mexico. They came to San Joaquin County without education, without money, certainly without permission. They brought little more than their ambition and hopes. One of them carried along a dream to save money, buy instruments and lead a band.

The brothers Fermin were like millions of other Mexicans who have crossed the border and like thousands who, even today, will attempt it. But the ties of home and family are strong. Two years of work in San Joaquin County had earned the brothers enough money for televisions, clothing, tools, accordions, guitars, speakers - and a truck to haul it back. On Oct. 17, the village of Acojtapachtlan was to honor its patron saint, San Lucas, with a festival. One of the brothers would stay behind in Stockton. Three wanted to be home in time to play their music at the festival."

An exceptionally topical and well done insight on who we describe as "illegal immigrants".

The multimedia story: And A Song Shall Carry Them Home

Read more »

And A Song Shall Carry Them Home

The Record, a newspaper group based in Stockton (California) has published a multimedia piece titled And A Song Shall Carry Them Home: The Journey of the Fermin Brothers. The story was authored by Jennifer Torres and photographed by Victor J. Blue.

Here's a synopsis of the story:

"Two years ago, a group of brothers left Acojtapachtlan, a village of about a dozen concrete houses in the hills of southern Mexico. They came to San Joaquin County without education, without money, certainly without permission. They brought little more than their ambition and hopes. One of them carried along a dream to save money, buy instruments and lead a band.

The brothers Fermin were like millions of other Mexicans who have crossed the border and like thousands who, even today, will attempt it. But the ties of home and family are strong. Two years of work in San Joaquin County had earned the brothers enough money for televisions, clothing, tools, accordions, guitars, speakers - and a truck to haul it back. On Oct. 17, the village of Acojtapachtlan was to honor its patron saint, San Lucas, with a festival. One of the brothers would stay behind in Stockton. Three wanted to be home in time to play their music at the festival."

An exceptionally topical and well done insight on who we describe as "illegal immigrants".

The multimedia story: And A Song Shall Carry Them Home

Read more »

Back From Oaxaca!

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy -All Rights Reserved
I've enjoyed the wonderful city of Oaxaca during the past week, and although I haven't devoted much time to personal photo projects, I did manage to fill a couple of flash cards during that time.

Not only is Oaxaca a wonderful city with excellent weather and food, but its people are charming, courteous and generous, with a fascinating culture and history. I will expand on all of this when I have time to review my photographs and my notes.

In the meantime, here's a photograph I took of Guelaguetza dancers. This is a Zapotec term for a collection of dances from the state of Oaxaca, and signifies "offering". Guelaguetza was the term used to describe the Oaxacan ceremony and celebration held each year to propitiate the gods in return for sufficient rain and a bountiful harvest.

Read more »

Back From Oaxaca!

Image © Tewfic El-Sawy -All Rights Reserved
I've enjoyed the wonderful city of Oaxaca during the past week, and although I haven't devoted much time to personal photo projects, I did manage to fill a couple of flash cards during that time.

Not only is Oaxaca a wonderful city with excellent weather and food, but its people are charming, courteous and generous, with a fascinating culture and history. I will expand on all of this when I have time to review my photographs and my notes.

In the meantime, here's a photograph I took of Guelaguetza dancers. This is a Zapotec term for a collection of dances from the state of Oaxaca, and signifies "offering". Guelaguetza was the term used to describe the Oaxacan ceremony and celebration held each year to propitiate the gods in return for sufficient rain and a bountiful harvest.

Read more »