A Darker Angle to Beach Photography

What is TSA in Cancun Airport like?

Requesting for hand inspection of roll film was a little intimidating especially when keep trying to sell cavity searches in line. Just kidding. The only challenge I faced was the language barrier when asking for hand inspection. Once I got the hint, I just placed my freezer sized ziploc bag of film in the bin and handed it to security. He briefly looked at it and placed it at the end of the conveyor belt for me to pick up. That was it. They are mostly concerned about goods departing the country. Like, if you purchased a roll of film there in Mexico they would need you to pay the import tax.

Challenges of Photographing the Mayan Ruins

With the ruins being a tourist attraction the opening hours are not until 8am. By that time the best light is gone. As ominous as the Mayan ruins are in person I actually don’t prefer to photograph in mid-day sunlight. By using black and white, hard shadows can work in the camera’s favor. Just attach a red lens filter and the sky can almost appear black. Same goes for the green foliage, which Mexico, there is a lot of that.

There’s 3 main sources of lighting techniques in mid day: direct, bounce, or silhouette. For the most drama, use a full silhouette just by finding a subject in the dark shade that has a bright background. This isn’t always ideal so if there is a spot of light bouncing from a white wall somewhere it can accommodate for the Fill.

One more thing to mention, is the heat. This might be a no-brainer for some, but not only is Mexico super hot, but it’s also bright. I picked up a ND 7 stop filter just for this trip. It made my life tremendously easier so I could still shoot wide open. The red filter accounts for a the first initial 3 stops but that was sometimes not enough.

3 essentials for Mid day sun light:

• Lighting – You can diffuse light by placing your subject next to a broad white surface that is reflecting light.
• Red Lens Filter – A blue sky or green foliage can be darkened in order to increase contrast.
• Visual Balance – Use Rule of Thirds or the Golden Ratio to create visual composition.

FYI: some places don’t allow professional cameras. To avoid leaving it in the car there may be someone that can hold it for you but I was carrying a silver canon AE-1 and no one bothered me about it while touring the ruins. The Cenote (sinkholes) and scuba diving locations that some people go to afterward will not have a place for the camera.

Capturing Yukatan’s Darker Side: Creative Process

The mainstream image of Cancun or Tulum is this misconception of tropical environments that look like a vacation paradise. Granted, there are plenty of pampering resorts in Cancun but I wanted to create a different style of tropical landscape photography. There are two parts of Cancun: there’s the 15 mile Hotel Zone and then there is the Downtown City Center. I am the type that prefers the urban decay of the ladder. I had a free day with nothing scheduled so I made sure to grab my stuff and head out the door early enough to catch a cab into downtown before sunup.

I asked the driver to drop me at Market 28. It is a touristy area but I was the only person out and about that early. The area is chock-full of interesting decrepit backdrops of entropy. Anything related to urban architecture, landscaping, storefronts, etc. would seem run-down to a lot of visitors but I saw it differently. I had an idea to explore with my SLR’s and spend a couple hours searching for the most interesting visuals I could find for creating abstract landscape photography. Mexico has a gritty “colorfulness” – a makeshift atmospheric vibe that makes for interesting content, in my opinion.

I only covered a few blocks looking for something I could use. When I have a camera with me it’s common for a 2 minute walk to turn into a couple hours. I walked in search for any angle I could find to capture the eccentric character of the landscape. In preparation of wanting to get decent photos, I try to write up a list of objects, ideas, and photo techniques am looking to use or shoot for. For this I wanted to capture mystery, dark shadows, merger lines, industrial textiles, symbolism, and rhythmic patterns. To keep the theme consistent I included dead tropical vegetation in the shot if it was convenient.

“Dead in the Water”

Location — Downtown Cancun
Intersection: Tauch and Suynyaxchen

Black and White Photography Tulum Ruins

My accommodation was located in Cancun and Tulum is 2.5 hours of a drive away. My public transportation options were either the ADO City Bus line or to book a guided tour to drive me. Since, I only had 1 day of free time to get down to Tulum and back I ended up going with the guided tour method. It was probably half the price. I don’t normally seek out guided tours but for this I didn’t have to worry about any navigation complications with language barriers or missing my ride.

I had 2 hours to spend at the ruins. It was morning but already I knew the heat was going to be taxing on staying hydrated. I will say I enjoyed learning about the ruins and photographing them next to the seaside cliff and beach but in hind site, I would have scheduled more time for photographing. The area inside the walled fortress is a decent size and there’s plenty of structures to go in and out of. Some were closed off, such as the main castle pyramid.

Inside the
Walled City

• Canon AE-1 50mm 1.8
• Red Filter 25
• Handheld Subtle Kaleidescope Filter
• Variable Neutral Density Filter
• Promist 1/4
• v600 Epson Scanned

Camera Body & Lens

• Canon AE-1 Silver
• Canon AE-1 Black
• Canon 50mm f1.8 [x2]
• Vivitar 80mm barrel ext.
• Sekonic L-308 lightmeter

Optics

• Tiffen Red 25a 55mm
• Tiffen Pro Mist 1/4
• Tiffen Pro Mis 1
• Warming Filter 85c 55mm
• Subtle Handheld Kaleidoscope
• Triangle Prism Filter
• Handheld Split Halo

Developing

• ilford microphen developer
• ilford rapid fixer
• cinestill developer
• Epson v600 flatbed
• Digitaliza film mask

Bag

• ThinkTank Sling
• Nixon Stash (for filters and film)

Film Stock

• Cinestill 800t
• Cinestill 400d
• Cinestill BWxx 250
• Illford HP5+
• Kodak Tmax