Photogenic Experiences and Locations to {Photograph} in Mexico
Mexico, the charming land of tacos, iconic artist Frida Kahlo, vibrant Tequila, and distinctive cactus crops. Past its stereotypical portrayal within the media, Mexico unveils a wealthy tapestry of various landscapes, charming tradition, and storied historical past, making it a haven for photographers looking for to seize its multifaceted essence. After spending a couple of weeks immersing myself within the lovely landscapes and energetic tradition of this lovely nation, I’m keen to focus on some important experiences that shouldn’t be missed by photographers venturing to Mexico.
Mexico on a map doesn’t look that massive however belief me once I say it’s larger than I anticipated. With its 32 states, Mexico presents an unlimited array of locations to discover, making it difficult to determine the place to go and what to see based mostly in your accessible time. Throughout my 2.5-week journey by way of Mexico with G Adventures on the Viva Mexico: Historical Ruins + The Mayan Riviera itinerary, I found the comfort of their various vary of excursions, perfect for these with restricted time who want to expertise as a lot as potential. These excursions not solely simplify your itinerary but additionally will let you focus extra on capturing memorable moments by way of your images.
Written + Photographed by Julia Marr
#1 Watch the dawn in a sizzling air balloon over the pyramids of Teotihuacan.
Teotihuacan is an archaeological advanced northwest of Mexico Metropolis, right here you will discover the temple of Quetzalcoatl, pyramid of the moon and pyramid of the solar.
One of the simplest ways to see these pyramids is from above in a sizzling air balloon, not solely do you get to see the huge dimension of those pyramids from above, however you get to expertise hovering excessive within the sky with many different sizzling air balloons. That is the proper picture alternative to create lovely imagery in any respect angles and you’ve got the proper gentle too.
I booked by way of Get Your Information, and all the things was tremendous straightforward, they decide you up out of your lodge at 4:50am and also you drive roughly 50 minutes to San Juan Teotihuacan. They organise your teams and you then hop into the air balloon basket and away you go.
Photograph Tip – I like to recommend utilizing a flexible lens like a 24-70mm, as you possibly can’t take luggage with you on the balloon so altering lenses isn’t potential. To learn extra about photographing dawn, take a peek at ‘Setting the Scene‘.
#2 Avenue images in Oaxaca de Juárez
Oaxaca is a state in Mexico, Oaxaca de Juarez is the biggest metropolis within the state. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Website, it’s recognized for lovely historic structure, vibrant streets, vibrant markets and conventional delicacies. A couple of Highlights within the metropolis embrace Oaxaca regional museum, Benito Juarez Market, Santo Domingo de Guzman Church.
A favorite spot of mine in Oaxaca was the neighbourhood of Jalatlaco, that is the proper space to {photograph} all the colorful buildings, flags and tradition in Oaxaca.
I like to recommend doing a strolling tour, there are a couple of images strolling excursions which are accessible. Strolling excursions are nice to show you in regards to the historical past and the tradition within the areas and present you the very best locations to go.
Photograph Tip – I like to recommend waking up early earlier than the crowds set in and utilizing the early morning gentle to your benefit. One other concept is to seek out rooftops to shoot off to get a distinct perceptive.
#3 Hierve El Agua
Hierve El Agua is a set of pure travertine rock formations within the state of Oaxaca. This waterfall was created by mineral water that pushes by way of limestone, settling onto the mountains edge creating this waterfall that appears frozen in time.
It is vitally completely different to different waterfalls that I’ve photographed earlier than, but it surely’s a rare website that shouldn’t be missed when visiting Mexico. It’s about 70km exterior of Oaxaca metropolis and greatest visited throughout a day journey from the town. Its open between 7am – 6:30pm, It’s value discovering a driver that can head out early to be the primary ones there because it does get busy from round 9am.
Rent an area information to take you across the waterfalls, there’s a small hike and the entire expertise goes for an hour. That is greatest to {photograph} the waterfall from all viewpoints together with straight beneath. Then after getting all of your photographs taken, take pleasure in a dip within the mineral swimming pools on prime.
Photograph Tip – Use a polarising filter when photographing Hierve El Agua as it should almost definitely be beneath harsh direct daylight and it would be best to minimise as a lot glare as potential and darken the sky.
#4 {Photograph} Dawn on Lake Bacalar
Bacalar Lagoon is a slim freshwater lake, its often called the lagoon of seven colors from electrical turquoise to deep indigo. The reason for that is from a mix of the limestone content material within the lake, the white sand, wind and solar, these all play a component in creating these magic colors. You received’t want a lot photoshop when taking images right here as a result of what you see on-line is strictly what you see in particular person, it’s a very lovely place.
Photographing the dawn is ideal right here because it rises over the lake, there are various public jetties you could {photograph} it from, and it is rather quiet as most individuals aren’t awake at the moment. I photographed the dawn right here for 3 days straight and day by day it was lovely to see, the colors every day have been completely different, and it was good to experiment slightly with my images.
Photograph Tip – I like to start out photographing dawn half-hour earlier than the solar is imply to rise, as I discover that generally that is when the very best colors shine by way of.
#5 Go to Chichen Itza
One of many seventh wonders of the world, Chichen Itza was a big metropolis constructed by the Maya folks round 600 A.D. It’s an unimaginable archaeological website that holds necessary data of historical past from these historical occasions. It’s an unimaginable website to see and to find out about, after visiting right here I’ve been very all for studying in regards to the Mayans and the methods to which they lived.
Chichen Itza is open to the general public from 8am – 5pm, 7 days per week, its situated within the state of Yucatan, japanese Mexico. Proper in the course of Merida Yucatan and the well-known metropolis of Cancún Quintana Roo. It will get very busy and sizzling; I like to recommend staying shut by and getting there round 7:30am to attend in line to be one of many first by way of the gates. Additionally, you possibly can rent a tour information to show you in regards to the historical past and that means behind the ruins, that is value doing as you be taught a lot and it’s so fascinating plus it provides a component to your images if precisely what you might be photographing.
Photograph Tip – The entrance of the Chichen Itza Pyramid is all the time essentially the most crowded, I like to recommend framing your photographs with a plant within the foreground to create a picture with minimal folks. In any other case across the again and in the direction of the edges of the pyramid there are usually much less folks, and these can be a very good angle to shoot on.
#6 Discover the Cenotes
With over 6,000 cenotes in Mexico, it may be slightly tough to know which of them are the very best to {photograph}. A lot of the cenotes in Mexico are within the state of Yucatan. There are numerous widespread ones, and they’re all distinctive in their very own methods, it additionally is dependent upon if you wish to images them from above or underwater.
Cenotes are pure wells, shaped when limestone bedrock collapses and exposes water beneath. They’re primarily recent water, purified from the earth making them so clear and recent.
Beneath is slightly checklist of the very best ones for images relying on what you wish to obtain together with your photographs.
- Cenote Samula – Underwater images, cave programs
- Ik Kil Cenote – Pure Sinkhole, pure enchantment for photographers
- Suytyn Cenote – Instagram worthy second with round platform surrounded by clear turquoise waters.
- Cenote Zaci – Semi Open cave, excessive cliffs, waterfall (Certainly one of my favourites)
- Grand Cenote – Nice for underwater, wildlife alternatives (Bats, turtles, crabs & fish)
Photograph Tip – These cenotes can get very busy, arrive early to keep away from giant crowds and ensure it’s a sunny day to have the ability to seize the gorgeous colors and underwater moments.
#7 {Photograph} Avenue Artwork
Irrespective of the place you go in Mexico there might be lovely road artwork, beautiful, vibrant murals painted all around the cities and small cities that it would be best to {photograph}. They range from conventional artwork works to artistic summary murals, my prime locations to {photograph} road artwork are Mexico Metropolis, Oaxaca, San Cristobal and Bacalar.
If you happen to solely wish to images road artwork in Mexico, you possibly can guide a road artwork strolling tour and be taught all in regards to the lovely artworks and artists.
There are additionally hidden road murals by the well-known Diego Rivera in Mexico Metropolis to seek out.
Photograph Tip – Use a wide-angle lens to have the ability to seize giant artworks right into a single body. This may assist present the size of the artworks that you’re photographing.
#8 Mayan Ruins – Tulum Archaeological Zone & Palenque
Apart from Chichen Itza and Teotihuacan, there are round 200 different Mayan websites that we find out about to go to that provide a distinct photographic expertise. The 2 that I consider presents essentially the most distinctive photographs are the Tulum Archaeological zone & Palenque.
Tulum Archaeological zone is a really scenic location, as it’s located proper on the gorgeous shoreline of Tulum. The ruins right here aren’t very massive however they’re lovely, the temple of Frescoes maintain among the best-preserved painted murals that depict life and work of the Maya. There are beautiful picture alternatives within the particulars of this website in addition to the great thing about the encompassing pure parts.
Palenque is within the state of Chiapas, this website may be very particular as it’s surrounded by lush forests and waterfalls. It appears like a totally completely different world in comparison with the opposite Mayan websites in Mexico. They consider that solely 10% of this historical metropolis has been excavated with the remaining nonetheless lined by the dense forest, it’s a stupendous website to {photograph}.
Photograph Tip – Don’t be afraid to zoom in and create detailed, cropped photographs of ruins. This permits for extra selection and uniqueness to your images.
#9 Immerse Your self within the Tradition of Indigenous Communities
In every single place I’m going I like to immerse myself in different cultures and find out about their beliefs and practices. I normally all the time do a homestay or guide a visit to an indigenous group; I really like with the ability to inform a narrative by way of my photographs of the lifestyle for these communities.
There are numerous completely different indigenous teams in Mexico, majority of indigenous populations are concentrated within the south-central and southern area of Mexico.
Many traditions in Mexico proceed by way of silver-smithing, mosaics, textiles, pottery, basket-weaving and Alebrijes. Photographing these traditions is a stupendous solution to join with the indigenous folks of Mexico, find out about their tradition and use your photographs to teach others on conventional methods of life.
You may guide excursions to go to indigenous communities with native guides, it is a nice solution to help and provides again to the indigenous folks. If you’re wanting one thing a bit longer a homestay could be an ideal choice the place you pay or commerce companies with an area household and actually immerse your self of their traditions and beliefs.
Photograph Tip – All the time ask permission to take images. Typically I don’t wish to miss the candid second, so I’ll take the picture after which present the individual that I took the picture of and ask whether it is okay if I maintain the picture, if they are saying sure then nice, if they are saying no then I’ll delete it and respect their needs.
#10 Azul Agua Waterfalls
Azul Agua interprets to Blue Water in English, In Mexico nonetheless it’s sequence of waterfalls situated on the Xanil River within the southern Mexican state of Chiapa. These waterfalls are fairly straightforward to entry, mostly by catching public transport from Palenque or a day journey from San Cristobal and prices solely 40 pesos to enter.
These waterfalls are greatest to {photograph} throughout the dry season (December – April) as that is when the water is brilliant blue in color, however should you have been to go to within the moist season it should nonetheless be value a go to to see the mass of water flowing down these falls. When you’ve got a drone, it is a good spot to fly it and create some insane aerial images.
Photograph Tip – Deliver alongside a tripod and a ND filter to have the ability to create some lengthy publicity magical of the waterfalls at any time of the day.
*The hyperlink to G Adventures is shared for these eager to comply with the same itinerary. Julia is a contributor of The Wandering Lens and was a paying buyer of G Adventures, this was not a paid commercial, and isn’t a sponsored publish, as a substitute it’s a group of lovely photographs and moments from her expertise travelling from Mexico Metropolis to Tulum.
Julia is all the time looking for to discover and seize new adventures that take her internationally. Primarily based in Australia, Julia is a portrait photographer with a ardour for journey and nature images.