Adios Oaxaca…

The view coming back from San Baltazar Guelavila to Tlacolula de Matamoros.  Unfortunately the image doesn’t do God’s creation justice.   The sky was on fire with deep reds and oranges…

Tonight was my last Oaxacan sunset till this summer.  So it’s with heavy heart and open arms I bid Oaxaca “Adios!”

Looking forward to some down time to look over the photos and write more about what God showed me this week.

Always a blessing to serve with Adventures in Life and with Pastors Americo & Norma and Pastor Chable’.

Oaxaca Calling!

Inside the Cathedral de Oaxaca. That’s shimmering gold!

Today is my last full day in Oaxaca.  The mission if done for now and it’s time to explore a little more and plan for future trips this summer and next year.  I’ve learned to love the people of Oaxaca and the surrounding towns.  The secret is this…Oaxaca is a real gem. Rich with color and I have no problem rolling with 2 cameras around the crowded Zocalo on a Friday night.  As long as your not stupid, you will be fine.  I feel safer on the streets of Oaxaca than I do in downtown LA.

If you are interested in visiting Oaxaca, Dave Miller and I are planning a trip in July, during the Guelaguetza.  If your not familiar with what the Guelaguetza is all about, Google it!  It’s an amazing week of music and dance celebrating the life and culture of Oaxaca. More info on the trip soon.

Rock Chalk Jay-XACA!

Oaxaca, pronouced WA-HA-KA, kinda like Jay-Hawk-A!

Having grown up in sunny San Diego, California, you might expect me to be a strictly west coast sports fan.  I am a die-hard Chargers and Padres fan!  I am a SDSU Aztecs fan!  But back when I started caring about college sports, the Aztecs weren’t that good…

So come March, what was I supposed to do?  Honestly, I really didn’t know much about the rich history of the University of Kansas Basketball program when I first started rooting for them.  I decided to become a fan because I didn’t like any Pac 10 schools and I had family in Kansas.  Simple as that.  I’m glad now I choose to be a Jayhawk fan and not that other college in Kansas with the good football program.

March Madness!  That’s what was going on last night as I was trying to follow the Kansas vs Ohio State basketball game last night.  For some reason CBS sports doesn’t want sports fans in Mexico to follow college basketball online, since it was blocked because of where I was, in Oaxaca!  How stupid is that!  I don’t know if it was a NCAA thing or CBS sports being lame… I couldn’t find an audio feed either.  I reckon if I would have searched hard enough online, I could have found an illegal broadcast from someones laptop…oh well.

So there I am sitting in the church in Tlacolula, on my HP laptop, that doesn’t always want to work, “watching” the box scores online, refreshing every 5 seconds.  It was better than nothing.

Searching the web today for photos of the game last night.  I came across 2 that I thought were particularly powerful… I think this photo speaks for itself! Great Photo! (photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)As does this photo.  It shows the character of both teams and the true spirit of athletics and sportsmanship.  (photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

I’m glad Kansas won!  Hopefully I can find someone back home who recorded the game and I can “watch” it again.  I wonder if I can find a sports bar in town that will be showing the Big Game on Monday?

Rock Chalk Jay-XACA!

Well Done Good & Faithful Photographer!

Sitting in the shade under a tree at La Iglesia Ebenezar Bautista de San Baltazar Guelivila, soaking in the scene, contemplating profound ideas in my head.  Ha!  Not really, but it sounds deep.The Catholic Church in San Felipe Guila

I’m a big fan of David duChemin and his blog, if your a photographer who is interested in thinking and discussing some of the philosophical issues concerning photography, he is worth checking out.  Plus, he’s funny and a darn good photographer.  Go HERE to check his blog out.

Most of y’all have probably seen or heard the quote “Take only memories (photos), leave nothing but footprints.”  This quote is attributed to Chief Seattle.  One of the issues David talks about is what I will call the “residual fallout of photographers on a given area. “As I understand this, it’s about how we treat the folks we are taking photos of.  Naturally, it’s easier to “sneak” someones photo without asking them, but are we respecting and treating them like people? As fellow members of humanity?  David talks about building relationships and politely asking if you can take their photo as opposed to the “drive by” or “run and gun” approach.

So, I’m sitting and watching the Medical Team talk with some of the folks who came to the clinic today…and trying to figure out the best approach to photograph what I’m seeing.  I’ve been to San Baltazar several times now, I know many of the faces and they know me.  But each time is different and in a way, I’m starting new and I have to earn their trust all over again.

The whole cause & effect thang comes into play here.  The goal of MISSION focused is to photograph in a manner so as to not adversely effect the work that is happening.  It’s a blessing to be  associated with them.  We don’t want to get in the way!

Short-term missions photography is a long term, big picture idea.  MISSION focused want to build relationships with organizations like Adventures in Life, so we can document the work that they are doing without ruining other photographers chances of photographing in the future.

How we photograph, how others photograph, can effect photographers for years to come…both for good and for bad.  What worries me is groups of photographers, who come on photo safari to Oaxaca or you name the area…and their goal is to get their shots.  Sometimes by whatever means necessary.

Jim recently went up to Yosemite to photograph.  He tells a story that is a great illustration of this idea.  He gets himself up early to get to a spot where he can photograph Half Dome from the valley, with the river in the foreground.  So he is the first one there, sets up and waits…some time later a group of photographers rolls in and someone decides to set up shop in the middle of his shot.  Not looking around and seeing who might be there already.  Respect!Respect for other photographers, for your surroundings, for the subject of your images.  While I don’t think the trees are gonna reach out and smack down that photographer, if your subject happens to be a person who is bigger and meaner than you, and doesn’t like the fact that you just took his photo without asking…he could put some hurt on you and your gear, that you might not like!

Don’t ruin it for other photographers by being a jerk!

For us, the reality is we serve a big God who cares for everyone, that they might all know Him as their Lord and Savior.  He is the Big Editor in sky who will hold us accountable for everyone thought, deed and photograph we take.

That we might hear Him say “well done, good and faithful servant (photographer)!”

Oaxaca the Walk

You can learn much about a person by looking at their hands and feet.  They can give you clues about who they are and what they like to do.   You see lots of sandals in the town of San Felipe Guila, outside of Oaxaca, Mexico.  A pair like these are fairly common as is the condition of their feet.

that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 1:9-10 ESV

Looking at the feet of some of the folks that came to the Adventures in Life Medical clinic in San Felipe Guila, you can tell life isn’t easy.  Much in the same way, walking with Christ isn’t “easy.”  We are told by God that we are  ”to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him.”On the outside, life appears to be hard for folks in the local church…but that doesn’t stop them from serving and worshiping Him, the One true God.  Sometimes you just have to walk the walk, and not let life and circumstances deter you from what God wants for each of us.

I love the above photo…members of the local church and Med Team folks from the States, as one body, with Pastor Rolando praying in Zapotec to the Creator of the universe!  How cool is this!

You can see photos from the medical clinic in San Felipe Guila HERE

Street Scenes Oaxaca

I’ve really come to love Oaxaca.   Not that I spend much time in big urban cities, but what I see in Oaxaca is like nothing I’ve seen before.  It’s not so much the “what” but more of an intangible “how” does the city feel…

The closest thing I have to compare it to is 2 weeks I spent in Turin, Italy.  I got a smokin deal for round trip tix from LAX to Turin, back in 2006.  It was the summer before the Winter Olympics in Turin.  I spent the first week with friends who lived across the street from the old Lingotto Fiat factory.  The view from their house is a bit more left, but this is pretty close.The mural outside the front entrance to Casa Arnel, in Oaxaca.

Turin is a much bigger city than Oaxaca.  The public transportation system is awesome.  You don’t need a car!  I spent the 2nd week in the northern part of the city, staying at a pensione (an old convent that had been turned into a hostel).

I spent that last week photographing all over the city.  Even though I don’t speak much Italian, emphasis on don’t, I managed to get by.  I never felt unsafe, uneasy perhaps, but certainly safe.  I had fun.The experience in Oaxaca is more viral.  The city is more colorful and the people love to hang out and people watch in the Zocalo.  While both cities have their fair share of tourists, Oaxaca feels more alive, even electric.I spent some time shooting more photographs on Saturday, walking and hanging out with the Adventures in Life Medical Team.  With my experience street shooting in February, I was looking for whatever came my way…here are a few of the scenes that grabbed my attention last Saturday…

Release the Hounds:: 2012 Adventures in Life Oaxaca Medical Team

2012 Adventures in Life Oaxaca Medical Team

Monday was the beginning of what will be a long, tiring and fulfilling week of ministry.  I’m excited to be part of this team, serving with MISSION-focused.com to help document the work of AIL.

Today we will be in San Felipe Guila once again…(the Medical Team saw 39 patients yesterday).Along with documenting the work of the Medical Team, Cyndy, (seen above) and I will be taking and printing family portraits at each site.  More on family portraits later…You can learn more about Adventures in Life HERE and  feel free to pop over to MISSION-focused.com to read more from Cyndy’s perspective this week.

So release the hounds and let’s have some fun!!