Oaxaca draws me back, time after time. Since 2005 I have visited this city of half a million inhabitants many times. Like most visitors to this city in southern Mexico, I stay in the historic district, which like the historic districts of many former Spanish colonial cities, is home to beautiful churches, Spanish colonial architecture, and cobble-stone streets. Yet, these features alone do not convey … Continue reading Two Walks in Oaxaca
Over the past ten years I have visited Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico about forty times. During that period, I visited the city at least three times per year, and some years more. Understandably, my impressions of the city and the state of Oaxaca have evolved over the years. When I first arrived in Oaxaca, I delighted in the Spanish colonial architecture, the cobblestone streets, the city square, … Continue reading Reflections on Oaxaca
Every year during the annual celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico, La Calavera Catrina resumes her celebrity status. This is especially so in the state of Oaxaca, where the cultural significance of the Day of the Dead is especially strong. Usually referred to simply as La Catrina, “La Calavera Catrina” translates into English as the “elegant or dapper skeleton.” She began life … Continue reading Everyone Loves La Catrina
I like photographs that tell us something about social reality, that provide insights about the human condition, or that tell a story. The Internet is full of beautiful photographs of sunsets, sunrises, children, pets, mountain landscapes, seashore landscapes, desert landscapes, and bad weather landscapes. I admire all of these, especially when well done. But there are not so many of the kind that show us … Continue reading Thoughts on Photographs that Reflect Social Reality
Since 2009 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater artists have visited the city of Oaxaca in Mexico to participate in art related activities. Last week UW-Whitewater faculty again conducted art workshops for students and professional artists in Oaxaca. Professors Michael Flanagan and Max White completed a week of workshops on January 13, 2014 hosted by the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO). Professor Flanagan’s workshop in museum … Continue reading University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Artists Conduct Workshops in Oaxaca
The Day of the Dead celebrations in Oaxaca include elaborate attention by family and friends to the grave sites of the departed. And while the traditions in each cemetery are similar and have the same purpose, the customs in each cemetery may differ from community to community. In this album three cemeteries from the state of Oaxaca are represented: the main cemetery in the city … Continue reading Day of the Dead – Three Cemeteries
I was in the city of Oaxaca, Mexico for a couple weeks in May. Here are a few snapshots of flowers that I took while there. I have tried to identify the flowers, but had no luck with two of them. Any help or corrections with the identifications is much appreciated. I hope you like them. Estuve en la ciudad de Oaxaca, México por dos … Continue reading A Gallery of Flowers from Oaxaca / Una galería de flores de Oaxaca
Several years ago I was driving in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin with a young friend who was newly arrived from China. It was her first time to the United States and she had been in the country for about a week. As we drove past a city park, which was empty, she turned to me and asked, “Professor Cottle, where are all the people? I don’t … Continue reading “Where are all the people?” — On The Use of Public Space
Starbucks charges about $1.85 for a single medium sized (Grande) cup of coffee. That price is at least 600 times the amount received by the person who picked the coffee used to make that cup. It is about 50 times the amount received by the coffee grower who hired the worker to pick it. Between the coffee retailer and the coffee grower there is a … Continue reading How Much Does a Cup of Coffee Really Cost?
Following the rules of photographic composition usually renders idealized versions of reality. Anyone learning to produce pleasant looking photographs will consider the “rule of thirds,” the importance of lighting, the importance of the foreground and background, the elimination of clutter, and so forth. Yet, as beautiful as many of the resulting photographs might be, they fall short of a more representational view of reality. Compare, … Continue reading Tourism Photography vs. Other Realities / Fotografía del turismo contra otras realidades
(English version follows below) Aquí se encuentra una galería de más de cien fotos dedicada a los participantes de la calenda de guelaguetza que sucedió en la ciudad de Oaxaca el día 28 de julio, 2012. Todas las fotos se pueden copiar libremente para uso personal. Para cualquier otro uso, que me contacten por favor. Espero que les gusten. Para más sobre la guelaguetza se … Continue reading Guelaguetza en Oaxaca 2012 – calenda 28 de julio
Aquí se encuentra una galería de fotos dedicada a los participantes que marcharon en la calenda de guelaguetza en la ciudad de Oaxaca el día 21 de julio de 2012. La galería contiene más de cien fotos, la mayoría de las cuales son retratos individuales. Hay varias que no son perfectamente sacadas, pero las incluí de todas maneras. Espero que les gusten. Ultima actualización – … Continue reading Guelaguetza en Oaxaca 2012 – calenda 21 de julio
Snapshots 