GUELAGUETZA 2024
PHOTOGRAPHY WALK EXPERIENCE
Oaxaca, México / Art § Culture / Street Photography
5 hours - hosted in Spanish and English
Experience hosted by Juan Pablo Barba
What you'll do
I invite you to join the photographic experience in one of the most beautiful and colorful cities in Mexico; Oaxaca. I am going to share with you some of my tips as a photographer, we will walk around the main center and local streets of this beautiful city and create many amazing photos of Oaxaca during the most important event of the year of this beautiful state: La Guelaguetza and its Convites and Parades of Delegations. You will be able to capture with your camera some of what will be the best pictures of Oaxaca.
While you are taking pictures, you will have the option to practice your Spanish. I also speak English and we can have a conversation in the language you feel most comfortable with.
Each photographic experience will have its starting point and there we will begin the tour of approximately 5 hours so I recommend you come with comfortable shoes/tennis and plenty of water so that you are well hydrated although during the tour the participants will give us lots of mezcal and other snacks.
Our goal will be to have fun while taking pictures and at the same time you can learn about photography, culture of the region during one of the most important events of the year not only in Oaxaca, but in all of Mexico where thousands of people gather to witness these parades that go through the main streets of Oaxaca with the sole purpose of showing the pride of the state through their dances, music and colors.
If you are a beginner I will teach you how to use your camera in manual mode or if you are intermediate or advanced I will help you to improve your skills.
It will be a unique experience that you will never forget and that you will be able to capture in the best way with your camera/cell phone in the company of a local and experienced photographer in the field.
What's included
The activity includes a delicious coffee or another drink
at the beginning of the tour.
Meet your Host, Juan Pablo Barba
Juan Pablo Barba is a highly skilled and passionate freelance Mexican photographer and avid traveler who has garnered acclaim for his work with prestigious publications such as National Geographic, Playboy, Maxim, and GQ, as well as Mexico Desconocido, among others.
With a deep appreciation for Mexican culture and its people,
he is traveling throughout the Mexican Republic capturing its most important cultural aspects and traditions for his upcoming photobook.
Currently based in Oaxaca, Juan has been passionate about photography since childhood, undertaking numerous courses to remain up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in photography.
In addition to his photography work, Juan also experiences great joy from teaching photography to both national and international students.
CONVITES GUELAGUETZA
What is the Guelaguetza?
One of the most popular traditions in the state of Oaxaca is the Guelaguetza, whose Zapotec word guendalezaa means offering, present or fulfillment. Also known as “Fiesta de los Lunes del Cerro”, it consists of folkloric, cultural and sports presentations.
The origin of the Guelaguetza
The Guelaguetza is a tradition whose origin dates back to the Mexica conquest in Oaxaca. At that time, the Zapotec culture performed a ritual called Daninayaaloani or “Cerro de bella vista”, an event in honor of the goddess of corn, Centeotl. Thus, every year they held this celebration with dances, rites and banquets, which lasted eight days.
When and where is the Guelaguetza celebrated?
The first celebration of the Guelaguetza took place in 1932; however, for several decades, the Guelaguetza has been celebrated on the two Mondays after July 16, except when it falls on July 18, since it is the anniversary of Benito Juarez's death, it is postponed for a week.
As part of the Guelaguetza activities, the State Government carries out the Convites and Parades of Delegations in the main streets of Oaxaca City, bringing the magic and color of the Guelaguetza to all those who did not have the opportunity to attend the Guelaguetza in the Guelaguetza Auditorium since it is the same presentation of dances and dancers but in parades and convites that go through the streets and this is where we as photographers can have the opportunity to attend and capture the best moments of the event while we talk and talk about photography, culture and life.
What are the Guelaguetza Convites?
The convites are a spectacular cultural display of the state whose purpose is to promote coexistence and brotherhood. The music, folklore and traditions of the 16 ethnic groups and Afro-Mexican people will converge for these great celebrations, the current administration has taken actions to guarantee the public's safety.
Each event will delight attendees with music, dances, marmots and mojigangas, in an extensive tour of the Oaxacan capital.
Every year thousands of visitors crowd the streets to enjoy a small sample of the dances and dances of these young representatives of their communities and towns that to the sound of their music and traditional fireworks make the crowd vibrate. It is the possibility to feel the joy and excitement of this splendorous celebration.
It is to live, enjoy and even drink with them the traditional mezcal, sharing and celebrating life, enamoring our senses and admiring the greatness of a people full of culture and tradition.
What are the Guelaguetza Delegation Parades?
It is a spectacular parade, full of color, customs, ethnic groups, music and celebration through the main streets of Oaxaca City, which is led by the Goddess Centeotl accompanied by personalities and representatives of the main cultural agencies and authorities, followed by all the delegations participating in the two Mondays of the Hill.
Every year thousands of visitors throng the streets to enjoy a small sample of the dances of these young representatives of their communities and towns, who make the crowd vibrate to the sound of their music and traditional fireworks. It is the possibility of feeling the joy and excitement of this splendorous celebration.
It is to live, enjoy and even drink with them the traditional mezcal, sharing and celebrating life, enamoring our senses and admiring the greatness of a people full of culture and tradition.
We will have a total of 5 tours with limited space for 5 photographers per event, the distribution of the events will be as follows:
CONVITES DE GUELAGUETZA
01
Saturday July 6th 5 pm (Cruz de Piedra)
We will meet at the Stone Cross at 5 pm for the whole group to meet and
from there we will begin the experience with photographic tips to prepare us
for the first Guelaguetza Convite where we will have the great opportunity to capture with our camera beautiful postcards of the beautiful colors and festivities
of Oaxaca.
DESFILE DE DELEGACIONES
02
Friday July 12th 5 pm (Cruz de Piedra)
We will meet at the Stone Cross at 5 pm for the whole group to meet and
from there we will begin the experience with photographic tips to prepare us
for the second Guelaguetza Convite where we will have the great opportunity to capture with our camera beautiful postcards of the beautiful colors and festivities
of Oaxaca.
03
Saturday July 13th 5 pm (Cruz de Piedra)
We will meet at the Stone Cross at 5 pm for the whole group to meet and
from there we will begin the experience with photographic tips to prepare us
for the third Guelaguetza Convite where we will have the great opportunity to capture with our camera beautiful postcards of the beautiful colors and festivities
of Oaxaca.
04
05
Saturday July 20th 4 pm (Cruz de Piedra)
We will meet at the Stone Cross at 4 pm so that the whole group can meet
and from there we will begin the experience with photographic tips to prepare us for the first Guelaguetza Parade of Delegations where we will have the great opportunity to capture with our camera beautiful postcards of the beautiful colors and festivities of Oaxaca.
Saturday July 27th 4 pm (Cruz de Piedra)
We will meet at the Stone Cross at 4 pm so that the whole group can meet
and from there we will begin the experience with photographic tips to prepare us for the second Guelaguetza Parade of Delegations where we will have the great opportunity to capture with our camera beautiful postcards of the beautiful colors and festivities of Oaxaca.
Where we'll be
We will begin our photo-walk tour on the esplanade of the famous "La Cruz de Piedra" at the Coffee store El Volador.
The experience includes a coffee at El Volador coffee shop located right there, at the Cruz de Piedra esplanade, where we will get to know each other and start with photographic tips to prepare for the important event that we will start planning and organizing at that point and then walk to the beginning of the event.
“I really enjoyed my experience with Juan Pablo. We went through some photography fundamentals and in doing so, we were able to have some fun with some surprise elements! For example, we saw a motorcycle and were able to create a photo shoot catered towards telling its story. Overall it was a great experience and I even had the opportunity to meet his lovely wife and child. Thanks again for a great time. I strongly recommend this experience for anyone in the area looking to sharpen up a few skills and have fun in the process."
Angel Ramos, CA
