see CB see: Mayan Riveria 2013

This past summer I participated in a Google+ Artistic Photographic Mentorship program. We (tried to) learn how to use the great masters (VanGogh, Picasso, etc) as inspiration for photography. I think it was the second week that we were challenged to photograph something we don't normally like to shoot. For me, that would have to be people.
Now, three months later, I have a blog post that is almost entirely of people. A few of the people I know but most are strangers. Some knew I was photographing them, some didn't and some I'm sure pretended not to know. I thank them all.

This year I had to travel to Mexico for a series of meetings. Our first night there was the hotel's Mexican Fiesta night. This chef watched my camera all the time I had it in my hands. He loved having his photo taken. BTW, the food, especially the mole was fabulous. After dinner the floor show was bright, colourful and active. Great testing grounds for my still new to me NEX 6.

Mid week, 12 accountants decided that we'd had enough indoor meetings. We hired a mini bus to take us to see the real Cancun. After a brief stop at a trinket market, we convinced our driver Emilio (first image below) to take us to a real market. That was great.

Emilio

Best dollar I spent all week. Not only did I get the shot I wanted she maintained her dignity and earned some cash to feed her baby (who was sleeping inside her orange sash).

Every morning I woke up as the sun rose - yes I really did. Every other morning I went back to sleep. Not this day. I got up and got out. Unfortunately this morning as I left the room, the thermostat read 67. Instantly, upon leaving our room, my glasses fogged up. My heart sank. I made it to the beach and sat on a lounge chair for what seemed like an eternity. The sun hadn't risen yet. I though that I might be able to catch it still. No way. New lightweight camera or not, it could not clear the fog from its lens quickly enough. The lens did clear shortly after sunrise for this little guy to pose for me.

On Friday, six of us went on an all day excursion. In the morning we went to a Mayan village for a quick rappel down into a cenote, followed by a couple of zip lines through the jungle and across another cenote. Kayaking back to yet another cenote for a swim after a Mayan cleansing prayer and shower. Lunch was fabulous.

Part of our group, a newlywed couple from LA. They asked me to take their photo. I was amazed at how naturally they posed for this quick shot.

The real purpose of the tour for me was to see the Mayan ruins of Coba and to try to climb its"pyramid". This is the last remaining ruin open to the public for climbing and it is to be closed to climbing by the end of this year.
We got to the sight at about 3:30 pm. The heat of the day was gone but it was still quite hot and very humid. The sun was starting to drop low in the sky. There's a rope up the middle of the stairs that are so irregular you quickly learn that no two are the same. The only consistency is that they are higher and narrower than normal steps at home. Below, Andrea seems to be looking at me as if to say, "Come on. Get climbing." I bet the climb took only about ten minutes. Yes I did it.