Nearly every day in the late afternoon the Sierra Madre blows clouds over a mountain near the house. The only way I can think do describe how it looks is an avalanche. But I've done better than describe with words, I made a video of it. I highly recommend going to Vimeo and watching it in HD, click the title to do so. Enjoy.
Don Salomon and Doña Mery have been living here in Uspantán for about 30 years, and only once have they been to a restaurant here. Today Don Salomon told me that he had an errand for us to do, but wouldn't tell me what it was. We got in the car and drove off. We had hamburgers and french fries for lunch. They took me out for a surprise American lunch. It was really special. The food was great too.
About the photo above:
I took it on a dead tree that had been yanked out of the ground. I'm still working on it and the title but I am going to name it something to the effect of "Dreamograph."
In the beginning of February I was in NYC and DC for the National Prayer Breakfast. I had a great time there and while I was in NYC I went to B&H Photo, the world’s biggest photo store, and bought a big white backdrop. I’d been wanting to practice studio-esque photography and I thought it would be awesome to try it here.
The day I got back out here to Uspantán I set up the backdrop and started shooting. I've shot a couple hundred people's portraits since and am way backed up editing them. I want to use them to make a gallery when I return to Seattle in order to raise money for the schools out here next year. I'm thinking of naming it "Sunrises and Sonrisas." Sunrises because the day is finally starting to shine on the cycle of poverty and things are starting to change here in Uspantán because of the education and Sonrisas means smiles in Spanish, and is for the smiles it brings to the kids faces to be able to get an education. Here are some photos for your enjoyment.
Johnny
