‘Todo en El Dedo,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photo by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR.
*Scanned copies of prints are featured in this blog. Prints are made from the original black and white negative.
Nothing is simple on the Journey in Photography, as much as one is documenting another, the photographer will find their work is somewhat a document of themselves.
Its in this spirit that I am sharing some images from my Danzon Series taken in 1993 in Mexico City at Salon Los Angeles. (For more of the Danzon Series, see below).
Photography has shaped me as a person, and, my time living and creating in Mexico played a tremendous role in my creative development.
For more reasons than time, I will simply say, I owe more to that time and experience in Mexico than words or images can convey.
When I returned to the United States in 2001, I was surprised by the tensions that had developed after that Fall, when tensions regarding immigration had engulfed collaborations of cultural and social nature, sidelined in the now sudden need to take up immigration.
So, suddenly collaboration in the NAFTA era was ‘suspect’ and considered part of a cultural scandal, to be used to judge and classify.
- ‘Gracia, Grace,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photo by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR
Looking back on the Danzon portfolio, I think about the spirit of those times in 1993.
Enough people were ringing warning bells about NAFTA that ‘cultural’ and ‘social’ were thrown in to soften and inspire NAFTA passage.
As NAFTA moved forward, spurring increasing cultural and social exchange – as a side, to the main attraction of economic exchange, yes – I was inspired by a sense of being free of being required to ‘chose’ – like a child – between cultures. Instead, it seemed, I was walking into the real world which, does, in fact, require a great deal of collaboration and understanding, when combining together so many different cultures, beliefs and opinions around the world.
When I mention how documentary photography reflects oneself as much as what one documents, I share this from experience.
As travel and living outside one’s country inevitably brings a readjustment of perspective, I had to open myself up to admitting not knowing something, and cultivate a willingness to learn. Often, I failed and I had to try again.
I learned so much about Mexico, its history and culture and people, and, there was a lot about myself I’d uncover too on the journey.
My personal projects at the time developed from my artistic process, at that time, turning the camera as I did on others, on to myself. Much of my personal photography projects focus on notions of ‘home,’ identity and belonging, topics I was exploring within my own family, community and self.
Of course, the learning never stops, and today, I can look back on my earlier work, documentation and see its brightness, and as well as recognize how I’ve grown, and what I still have to learn.
I carry that enthusiasm into each new assignment even today, and embrace the journey of wonder, excitement, and learning to capture and create bold, compelling visual statements that serves the assignment better than even the client expected.
‘Asi! es como bailar juntos, 1993,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR.
In the end, I am left with the idea that what I once saw as Globalization – the connecting of people by common – represents a flow of energy, a circle of connection between people. That connection can be used to inspire collaboration, understanding and greater friendship, or, it can used to spread fear.
The world has witnessed both approaches over the last twenty years.
‘O.K. Si, toma la foto!,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR. *Please Note: Scanned copies of prints are featured in this blog. All prints ordered will be printed from the original black and white negative.
Looking back on my intention with my work, and how that shaped my professional career, I wanted to cover subjects that were beyond what seemed like the repetitive stories on Mexico – the Big 3 acceptable subjects: immigration, violence and corruption.
It was traumatic returning back the United States to find that the cultural and social exchange had been axed in favor of fear, and suddenly, any interest in Mexico was suspect of some larger play in a theater of never ending drama.
Looking back on 20 years since 1993, and these photos of Salon Los Angeles, I really wanted to highlight the gratitude I feel in having lived and documented for seven years in Mexico, when the door was still swinging in the direction of what was visioned as collaboration, greater understanding and benefiting all.
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Salon Los Angeles, Mexico City, 1993.
Danzon Series.
‘Bajando el Calor, Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photograph by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR
Let’s just say that ‘Real Women have Curves’ spoke for a lot of Latinas when making such a bold body statement as – ‘yeah, I got curves, and so what!’
‘Movimiento Dulzuro, Flow, Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR.
Back in 1993, a few years yet before the magazine ‘Latina’ was launched, I arrived in Mexico City with a serious complex about my own curves.
Maybe it was growing up in fashion and movie star influenced Brentwood, where my type were rarely seen, and often never heard.
Now, more mature (say I!), I realize those misconceptions about my body were most needing change within to learn to accept my body.
‘Es todo en la pie, 1993,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR.
Salon Los Angeles cured me then and there! The joy and happiness – regardless of the size – was a turning point in my journey of learning about Mexican culture, in learning more about body acceptance, and freed me to learn more over the last 20 years about the mind-body-spirit connection.
‘Alegre Pura,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR..jpg
I visited Salon Los Angeles several times over the course of a few months after arriving in Mexico City in 1993, inspired by my teacher at the Escuela de Arte Esmeralda, who took me out of the classroom, and into the street, helping me find confidence as a photojournalist student.
‘Mano con incendador, 1993,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR
That it took me moving to another country to explore further my love for photography is another story for another time.
When my photography teacher at the Esmeralda Escuela de Arte asked me what I was, asked me if I was an artist, if I was a photographer, I looked back at him and many others to tell me where I was.
Did someone hire me for an assignment? Did someone ask to my CV? To exhibit my work? Ask to purchase and hang my art in their home?
‘El Soul del Noche,’ Danzon Series, Salon Los Angeles, 1993, photography by Catherine Herrera, Flor de Miel Fotos, Intl CR..jpg
I was surprised at my weakness not knowing from within, which set me down a path of discovery in photography, and, as a person and artist, a journey in photography that extends to today.
I am deeply grateful 20 years later, and this blog is written to share with the millions of people around the world who have access now to cameras and exploring their own passion in life!
I don’t want to sound like photography can cure a disease or anything, yet, my enthusiasm rests in knowing that when I faced a serious health condition, right along side me was the love of photography, helping spur my spirit towards regenerating my mind and body.
A Journey in Photography is written with the answer now in my heart, and always Open to learn, grow and share with the larger photography loving community!
As a professional photographer, those key questions above are important questions to answer, and business planning and preparing is essential to people working in creative fields, in right balance with the inner strength and knowing – the hope of every artist is their art will resonate and impact clients, commissioning patrons and customers.
Pass Along If You Like It!
Catherine Herrera 