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 searching for to seize its multifaceted essence. After spending a number of weeks immersing myself within the stunning landscapes and energetic tradition of this stunning nation, I’m keen to spotlight some important experiences that shouldn’t be missed by photographers venturing to Mexico.
Mexico on a map doesn’t look that large however belief me once I say it’s greater than I anticipated. With its 32 states, Mexico presents an unlimited array of locations to discover, making it difficult to resolve the place to go and what to see based mostly in your obtainable time. Throughout my 2.5-week journey via Mexico with G Adventures on the Viva Mexico: Historical Ruins + The Mayan Riviera itinerary, I found the comfort of their various vary of excursions, excellent for these with restricted time who want to expertise as a lot as doable. These excursions not solely simplify your itinerary but additionally assist you to focus extra on capturing memorable moments via your images.
Written + Photographed by Julia Marr
#1 Watch the dawn in a scorching air balloon over the pyramids of Teotihuacan.
Teotihuacan is an archaeological complicated northwest of Mexico Metropolis, right here you can find the temple of Quetzalcoatl, pyramid of the moon and pyramid of the solar.
The easiest way to see these pyramids is from above in a scorching air balloon, not solely do you get to see the huge measurement of those pyramids from above, however you get to expertise hovering excessive within the sky with many different scorching air balloons. That is the right picture alternative to create stunning imagery in any respect angles and you’ve got the right gentle too.
I booked via Get Your Information, and all the pieces was tremendous simple, they choose you up out of your resort at 4:50am and also you drive roughly 50 minutes to San Juan Teotihuacan. They organise your teams and then you definately 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 may’t take baggage with you on the balloon so altering lenses isn’t doable. 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 stunning historic structure, vibrant streets, vibrant markets and conventional delicacies. A number 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 right space to {photograph} all the colorful buildings, flags and tradition in Oaxaca.
I like to recommend doing a strolling tour, there are a number of images strolling excursions which might be obtainable. Strolling excursions are nice to show you in regards to the historical past and the tradition within the areas and present you one of the 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 via limestone, settling onto the mountains edge creating this waterfall that appears frozen in time.
It is rather completely different to different waterfalls that I’ve photographed earlier than, however it’s a unprecedented website that shouldn’t be missed when visiting Mexico. It’s about 70km outdoors of Oaxaca metropolis and finest visited throughout a day journey from town. Its open between 7am – 6:30pm, It’s price 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 finest to {photograph} the waterfall from all viewpoints together with immediately beneath. Then after getting all of your pictures taken, take pleasure in a dip within the mineral swimming pools on high.
Photograph Tip – Use a polarising filter when photographing Hierve El Agua as it’ll most certainly be below harsh direct daylight and it would be best to minimise as a lot glare as doable and darken the sky.
#4 {Photograph} Dawn on Lake Bacalar
Bacalar Lagoon is a slender freshwater lake, its generally known as the lagoon of seven colors from electrical turquoise to deep indigo. The reason for that is from a combination of the limestone content material within the lake, the white sand, wind and solar, these all play an element in creating these magic colors. You received’t want a lot photoshop when taking pictures right here as a result of what you see on-line is precisely what you see in particular person, it’s a very stunning place.
Photographing the dawn is ideal right here because it rises over the lake, there are lots of public jetties which 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 daily it was stunning to see, the colors every day had been completely different, and it was good to experiment somewhat 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 one of the best colors shine via.
#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 vital data of historical past from these historical occasions. It’s an unimaginable website to see and to study, 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 positioned within the state of Yucatan, japanese Mexico. Proper in the midst of Merida Yucatan and the well-known metropolis of Cancún Quintana Roo. It will get very busy and scorching; I like to recommend staying shut by and getting there round 7:30am to attend in line to be one of many first via the gates. Additionally, you may rent a tour information to show you in regards to the historical past and that means behind the ruins, that is price doing as you study a lot and it’s so attention-grabbing plus it provides a component to your pictures if you realize 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 pictures 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 typically much less folks, and these may also be an excellent angle to shoot on.
#6 Discover the Cenotes
With over 6,000 cenotes in Mexico, it may be somewhat tough to know which of them are one of the best to {photograph}. A lot of the cenotes in Mexico are within the state of Yucatan. There are various fashionable ones, and they’re all distinctive in their very own methods, it additionally will depend on 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.
Under is somewhat listing of one of the best ones for images relying on what you want to obtain together with your pictures.
- Cenote Samula – Underwater images, cave methods
- Ik Kil Cenote – Pure Sinkhole, pure attraction for photographers
- Suytyn Cenote – Instagram worthy second with round platform surrounded by clear turquoise waters.
- Cenote Zaci – Semi Open cave, excessive cliffs, waterfall (One in all 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 massive crowds and ensure it’s a sunny day to have the ability to seize the attractive colors and underwater moments.
#7 {Photograph} Avenue Artwork
Irrespective of the place you go in Mexico there might be stunning road artwork, beautiful, vibrant murals painted all around the cities and small cities that it would be best to {photograph}. They fluctuate from conventional artwork works to artistic summary murals, my high 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 may e-book a road artwork strolling tour and study all in regards to the stunning 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 massive artworks right into a single body. This may assist present the dimensions 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 pictures are the Tulum Archaeological zone & Palenque.
Tulum Archaeological zone is a really scenic location, as it’s located proper on the attractive shoreline of Tulum. The ruins right here aren’t very large however they’re stunning, the temple of Frescoes maintain a few of 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 fantastic thing about the encompassing pure components.
Palenque is within the state of Chiapas, this website may be very particular as it’s surrounded by lush forests and waterfalls. It looks like a very 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 ravishing website to {photograph}.
Photograph Tip – Don’t be afraid to zoom in and create detailed, cropped pictures of ruins. This enables for extra selection and uniqueness to your pictures.
#9 Immerse Your self within the Tradition of Indigenous Communities
In every single place I am going I like to immerse myself in different cultures and study their beliefs and practices. I normally all the time do a homestay or e-book a visit to an indigenous group; I really like with the ability to inform a narrative via my pictures of the lifestyle for these communities.
There are various 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 via silver-smithing, mosaics, textiles, pottery, basket-weaving and Alebrijes. Photographing these traditions is a ravishing method to join with the indigenous folks of Mexico, study their tradition and use your pictures to teach others on conventional methods of life.
You may e-book excursions to go to indigenous communities with native guides, it is a nice method to assist and provides again to the indigenous folks. In case you are wanting one thing a bit longer a homestay can be an ideal possibility 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 pictures. Typically I don’t wish to miss the candid second, so I’ll take the picture after which present the person who I took the picture of and ask whether it is okay if I preserve 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 positioned on the Xanil River within the southern Mexican state of Chiapa. These waterfalls are fairly simple 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 finest to {photograph} throughout the dry season (December – April) as that is when the water is brilliant blue in color, however for those who had been to go to within the moist season it’ll nonetheless be price a go to to see the mass of water flowing down these falls. If in case you have a drone, it is a excellent place to fly it and create some insane aerial pictures.
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 observe an analogous 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 submit, as an alternative it’s a set of lovely pictures and moments from her expertise travelling from Mexico Metropolis to Tulum.
Journey and panorama photographer from Australia who is way extra snug in a pair of flippers than heels! Having labored for publications corresponding to Lonely Planet, Wanderlust and the Sunday Occasions, Lisa based The Wandering Lens to share vacation spot guides to the worlds most photogenic locations and outside experiences.
