OTHER AMERICAS

ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL: PHOTOGRAPHY, ART, AND CULTURE

Other Americas is a unique program combining workshops in photography and art, along with guided travel into some of the most exotic and beautiful parts of Mexico. It all began over twenty years ago, when I began to discover and photograph Mexico myself. After ten years of photographing my home state of Texas, I decided to travel south of the border and have a look at Mexico. What has followed has become an ongoing adventure for me, a chance to work alongside some of the best photographers in the world, and an opportunity to teach photography to small groups in a highly stimulating environment. My first travels in Mexico stirred my imagination and ignited my curiosity about the country and its culture. I began to read every guidebook and every travel article on Mexico that I could find, then I found myself absorbed in the fantastic history of its ancient cultures. At every possible opportunity, I would pull out the maps and chart my next venture down the highways and into the villages and countryside of Mexico. Half a dozen times each year, guided by my curiosity to know the entire country, its people, and their centuries-old customs, I would travel new roads to new places in Mexico. In the process, Other Americas was formed out of two realizations. First, I had come to know Mexico as few people do. In addition to the history I learned from my readings, I knew the roads, the landscape, the festivals, and the customs. I knew them as a photographer. I knew where to go to find terrific photographs, and I knew the best times to go and how to get there. I had met and befriended people and families in villages all over the country. Second, I discovered that I enjoyed the camaraderie of traveling with other adventurous people, particularly photographers and artists, sharing my ongoing discoveries with them. Other Americas is the coming together of small groups of people, mostly photographers, at all levels of skill, to travel and discover Mexico. In the process, we work alongside each other, share our knowledge and enthusiasm, critique each other's photographs, and come back with a new insights.

Whether you want to begin to learn photography this summer, are already accomplished in the medium, or want to draw or paint as we travel, I hope you'll read about our 2005 workshops and perhaps decide to join us for this, our twenty-sixth summer in Mexico.