Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Your clients needs come first.

I work with Diego Huerta all the time.
Diego was asked to do something simple, easy and WHITE.
If you've seen Diego's work, you can notice that there are a lot of shadows in it. But, most importantly, there is a style that is yet defined. However, what happens when the client's needs are not exactly what you are known for?
Do what the client needs. Their needs come first.
So, even if you do stuff that is not ordinary and very different to you. Do it.

Here are two pictures were you compare our style from one and another.



The first we were going for an ancient, renaissance look...Check.
The second was (as I said before) required to be white....Check. I must say I was very honored to do this shot. I found that there are other types of light that are more commercial and of course, that the client was 100% satisfied.

Lesson learned: When shooting a commercial project, you have to achieve their objectives.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Re-thinking and texting your shot

Last week we were at a photoshoot and the client asked us to leave space for text.
The Art Director was very precise about this and I think that this is something that must producers must consider for their photographers. As a producer, one of your jobs is to consider what the client wants so, here are a list of things that you should consider for text:
- Know how much text will be included; this helps you to know if the text would be on top and on bottom.
- Do not re-think too much; models tend to get a little bit uncomfortable if you insist on getting technical.
- Allow suggestions from the Art Director and from the photographer; they have the creative eye, so consider what they think would look better. If it fits with your clients requirements, you are good to go.
- Keep in mind, maybe the picture will look weird at first without the text. But with the text and the right graphic people it would look as it should.

An example of such re-thinking and thinking of the text could be this:



So now you know, consider space and leave it for art. It is necessary. :D

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Published by El Norte

A Abraham Vázquez, mis más sincera felicitación, no deja de sorprenderme con sus artículos.
A El Norte, gracias por darnos sus espacios como fotógrafos y profesionales.
A Diego gracias por ser inspiración de mi trabajo. De aquí al mundo entero.
Sobre todo, gracias a DJNR y familia, Luisana y David, Lilián Huerta, las empresas que nos apoyaron y a nuestras familias por creer en nosotros y confiar en nuestro trabajo.


Van héroes regios a La Gran Manzana
A partir del 15 de septiembre, una selección de 35 imágenes de este proyecto colgarán del espacio neoyorquino

Por Abraham Vázquez
Monterrey, México (11 julio 2009).-

Lo primero que les llamó la atención es que no eran —otra vez— las fotos de los chicos con abdómenes de lavadero posando entre mangueras y equipos contra incendio.
"Éstos no parecen modelos, parecen héroes", dijeron en el New York City Fire Museum cuando conocieron "Fénix. 100 Años de Bomberos de Nuevo León".El paso siguiente, decidieron montarla.
Ahora, a partir del 15 de septiembre, una selección de 35 imágenes de este proyecto colgarán de las galerías del espacio neoyorquino."Fénix..." se estrenó en la Fototeca de Nuevo León en septiembre del año pasado para conmemorar el Centenario de los Bomberos y obtener fondos para su mantenimiento.Ésta será la primera expo no estadounidense que se presenta en este museo localizado en Soho, donde los libros de fotografías de los tragafuegos son estilo calendarios."Les llamó la atención ver el mundo de diferencia entre el cuerpo de bomberos mexicanos con el gringo. Les gustó que fueran fotos de héroes. Y es un doble orgullo llevar esta expo, porque eso fue lo que tratamos de captar", dijo Diego Huerta, fotógrafo y autor de la obra.
La selección de fotografías tomó como base imágenes de la acción conceptuales, no tanto al retrato de personajes.
"Desde al año pasado hicimos el contacto. Cuando vieron las primeras imágenes las presentaron a un comité y autorizaron la exposición" dijo Huerta.
La muestra se exhibirá en el mes más importante para los mexicoamericanos (por el 16 de septiembre, Día de la Independencia de México) y para los neoyorquinos (por la tragedia del 9/11), dijo Daniela Gutiérrez, productora de las imágenes.
"Si las ves, más que modelos atléticos, son bomberos", apuntó.
El New York City Fire Museum es uno de los museos más importantes en materia de la historia de los bomberos de Estados Unidos.
Entre su colección de piezas se cuentan con artículos que utilizaron los tragafuegos desde el siglo 18. La exposición mexicana estará en exhibición un mes.

Nuevo proyecto


Cada año, el pueblo huichol peregrina hasta La Huasteca, en Santa Catarina, para tener una de sus ceremonias religiosas. A pesar de la cercanía, en la Ciudad era difícil apreciar su cultura.
Con la idea de cambiar esto y dar visibilidad a este pueblo indígena, Huerta tomó la cámara y, en mancuerna con Gutiérrez como productora, se lanzó a vivir durante casi un mes con los huicholes. El resultado fue "Kiekaritsie Hai Yuruxetriett" (El Pueblo de las Nubes, en español).
Esta serie fotográfica, integrada por 60 retratos de la comunidad San Andrés Cohamiata, enclavada en la Sierra Madre Occidental, la serie se proyectan exhibir en octubre el Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), de Austin, Texas.
"La idea era un trabajo que plasmara la esencia wirrarika. Siempre son fotos de sus rituales, pero nunca un proyecto fotográfico. El objetivo es promover su cultura", dijo Huerta.
Aunque los wirrarikas o huicholes son un pueblo que difícilmente se deja fotografiar, a través de las fotos les hicieron entender de la importancia de divulgar su cultura, apuntó el fotógrafo.
Las fotos se tomaron con cámara y un sistema denominado speed light, un flash portátil montado sobre un brazo de aluminio.
"Lo importante es que cada fotografía surgió en el momento. A ninguno lo pusimos a posar", dijo Huerta.
Las fotos tienen un trabajo de retoque mínimo. Sólo un 10 ó 15 por ciento de la foto es retoque digital posterior, indicó Huerta.
Como parte del proyecto, que espera el aval de la UNESCO, se contempla su exhibición en la Ciudad, Guadalajara y también en Noruega durante el 2010.

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Thanks to Abraham Vázquez who keeps surprising me with his words.
Thanks to El Norte for recognizing our work as photographers and professionals.
Thanks to Diego for being an inspiration in my work. To infinity and beyond.
And most importantly, thanks to DJNR and family, Luisana and David, Lilián Huerta, the companies who believed in us and for trusting blindly in our work.


Local heroes go to the Big Apple.
On September 15, a selection of 35 pictures of this project will be exhibited in a newyorker space.

By Abraham Vázquez
Monterrey, México (July 11, 2009).-

The first thing that caught their eye is that they weren't - again - the pictures of the 6-pack abs posing with hoses and fire equipment.
"They do not look like firefighters, they look like heroes" staff from the New York Fire Museum said when they met "Fénix. 100 Años de Bomberos de Nuevo León". The next step, to have them on their museum.
Now, from September 15, a selection of 35 photos of this project will be hanged in the galleries of the newyorker museum. "Fénix..." was first exhibited at the Fototeca of Nuevo León on september last year to conmemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Firefighters in order to collect funds for their manteinance. This will be the first non-American exhibition in the located SOHO Museum were the books of firefighters are similar to their calendars. "What caught their attention is that there is a world of difference between the Mexican firefighters and the American firefighters. They liked that the pictures were of heroes. And it is a double reason to be proud to have our exhibit in United States" said Diego Huerta, photographer and author of this masterpiece. The selection of the pictures was made on the conceptual images, not the headshots of them. "We made contact last year. They had to discuss it by the Board and they authorized such exhibition" said Huerta.
The exhibit will be held on the most important month for the Hispanics (remembering Mexico Independence Day on September 16) and a very important month for the Newyorkers (remembering 9/11) said Daniela Gutierrez, producer of the images.
"If you see it, more than models, they are just fighting fire" she said.
The New York Fire Museum is one of the most important museum regarding the history of the firefighters in United States considering they have important and historic heritage including equipment since the 18th century.
The exhibit will be shown a month.

New Project

Every year, the Huichol culture walks to La Huasteca, in Santa Catarina, Nuevo León to hold their religious ceremonies. In spite of their closeness to them, it is difficult to appreciate their culture.
With only one thing on his mind, Diego Huerta took his camera and in company of Gutierrez as a producer they went to live with the Huicholes for almost a month. The result is "Kiekaritsie Hai Yuruxetriett" (The Cloud Town in English).
This photographic series will be composed of 60 portraits of the community of San Andrés Cohamiata located at the Sierra Madre Occidental, which will be exhibited in October at the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) in Austin, Texas.
"The idea of this work was to capture the Wirrarika essence. There are pictures of their rituals but never a photographic project. The objective is to promote their culture" said Huerta.
Even if the Wirrarikas or Huicholes are a difficult culture to photograph, Diego and Daniela made them understand that they needed to go public, said the photographer.
The photos were taken with a camera and a speedlight system mounted on aluminum arms.
"What is important is that each photography was captured in their own spaces. No one posed" said Huerta.
The photos have a minimum digital retouch. From 10 to 15 percent, said Huerta.
As part of this project, they are waiting to have the support of UNESCO, and contemplate to have their exhibit in Guadalajara, Jalisco and Norway in 2010.

Monday, July 6, 2009

San Andrés de Cohamiata, Jalisco | Expedition

A few kids in the main plaza (this is downtown).

Eladia and me at her grandparent's home. The day we left.

Chabelo and me. Last Tuesday at dusk.

Visitors. Our door was a blanket.

Martha Susana and me. We are in front of her Dad and uncle Vicente. In front of us is the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Lovely view!

Meal time. I am just waiting for Chayo to finish so we can go back to town.

Saturday morning.


This video took us a long time to make. At least a week of traveling and living among the most amazing people. Some may say that they lack of a lot of things: including electricity and water. But I say they do not lack of anything, they have it all.

Kiekari tsie hai yuruxetriett | The Journey from Diego Huerta on Vimeo.