An important element of photographing while traveling in other countries is the ability to take what comes. Last Saturday I carefully penciled out my shooting schedule for the next three weeks in and around Guanajuato, Mexico. That night I came down with some sort of stomach ailment that confined me to bed until Wednesday. While feeling much better a week later, I’m still regaining my strength and can’t wander too far from a bathroom. As a result I didn’t get nearly as much photography done as I hoped and now I need to adjust my plans. But that’s OK. There are some things you can’t control when in another country.
As my condition improved through the week I went out to take photos as I was able. The weather has remained mostly cloudy and a bit drab, but there have been moments of the brilliant light that that Guanajuato is known for.
The unusually cold and wet conditions reminded me of some tips for making the best of urban photography at times when the weather is less than ideal. First, since cities provide their own light, twilight and night photography are opportunities for great light even when the weather is poor. There are two periods each day, around sunrise and sunset, when cities come alive with their own light, even on overcast days. During twilight a dull gray sky will appear blue while city lights glow in a variety of colors. A second tip is to be prepared to move quickly during weather breaks. I was able to quickly jump into action a couple of times when sun broke through the clouds for brief periods. The photo ops didn’t last long, but the light was particularly dramatic.
The images in this post are of city vistas and of some of the notable landmarks around Gunajuato. I took them either in twilight or night time lighting conditions, or during a few breaks in the cloudy weather. I hope you enjoy.
