I came full circle photographing Zamas hotel in Tulum over the course of spring. A dream fulfilled. Sending infinite gratitude to Zamas family for inspiration and friendship, and sharing here some of my favorite shots from the experience of Tulum hotel life while working together on the project.
Some fashion stories I photographed in beautiful Nomade Tulum hotel for The Seventh Style.
Honored to photograph my beautiful friend Cristina Quiros from Ibiza, a talented DJ and creative director of Ibiza Sonica Radio.
Location: Coco Tulum Hotel and Beachclub
Images of new additions to the beautiful Jashita Hotel in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.
Images from my lifestyle campaign photo-shoot at Coco Tulum Hotel in November, right before high season hit. Very fun and intense couple of weeks of production to showcase the hotel’s new cabañas, beach club and common areas, plus existing restaurant and the team.
This was an intense little production… Daniele Negrete directing new music video for Micca’s single ‘Blind.’ Me volunteering to shoot second camera. Only two days to plan. Location – stark and stunning volcano crater in the Sierra de Nevado mountains outside of Mexico City. Our day began with a 5am drive to the location and had to finish by 4:30pm because presumably that’s when the daily hailstorm over the mountain would hit. By then we had to get all the shots and hike back up the mountain from the crater to our car. With all our gear… No problem! We did everything so smoothly, we called ourselves ‘Team Blind’ just to stay humble. Here are some portraits and behind the scenes from the shoot. Video coming soon!
Let all your senses be delightfully triggered at the new ARCA Tulum restaurant.
In March-April, 2015, we traveled to Manú National Park biosphere reserve in Peru to begin filming a documentary about isolated indigenous communities of Machiguenga (Matsiguenga) people living in the Amazon rainforest along Manú and Madre de Dios rivers. Guided by two local shamans, we visited several native communities and spoke to their elders about ongoing conflicts they face with petroleum and mining companies who continuously impose illegal takeovers of their land. The deeper we traveled into the rainforest, the more we could appreciate the indigenous tribe members’ intricate connection with nature and their tremendous knowledge of Amazon rainforest medicine plants. Sadly, we also understood that this ancient legacy of knowledge is under unprecedented threat of being wiped out from human consciousness and we hope that by making our film we can raise awareness and together find solutions to help prevent this loss. As we work on editing the first trailer of our film, here’s a little photo-glimpse into the journey.
Few things are better than photographing advanced acro-yoga play practice in a favorite hidden spot.
Models: Rebecca Jo and Kun
Leggings: Wear It To Heart (WITH) - www.wearittoheart.com
Location: Tulum, Mexico
Tulum Art Project is a street art initiative organized by my dear friends in Tulum-based art residency called Residencia Gorila in collaboration with World Art Destinations and with support of local government. Sponsored by many businesses in the area, the aim of Tulum Art Project was to invite muralists from around the world to express their take on Mayan culture and its interconnectedness with the cosmos and local eco-system. My contribution to the project was to photograph the artists and their painting progress in various locations around Tulum. As the festival ran its course, the painters’ unique styles were revealed on the walls through many patient days of Caribbean heat and sweat. Everyone’s unique approach and discipline were fun and impressive to watch, while I simply loved getting to know each character and how their personalities translated into the finished work. In the end it was gratifying to receive so much support from everyone who came across the project and to be part of creating an alternative consciousness-raising activity for tourists and visitors to Tulum and Riviera Maya.
Huge thanks and much love to all the artists – Jorge Tellaeche, Giorgio Casu, Emma Rubens, Spaik, Dherzu Uzala, Jesus Benitez, Liz Rashell, Senkoe, Pelucas, Acuarela Sabol, FLX CLLD, Jessica Ivy, Ariel Resendiz, Ink2Tulum.
Congratulations to my dear friend Micca with release of her first album Looking Up. I’m doubly proud not only because I love the work, but also because shooting album cover art was our first mutual collaboration together in studio. With so much gratitude for our friendship and creative partnership, I’m happy to present below photos documenting the year’s artistic journey from Tulum to Mexico City. Please share and support Micca’s music on iTunes, Spotify or all other digital platforms.
I spent most of September, 2014, traveling in Cusco Region of Southern Peru. Following an old personal dream to explore and photograph various parts of this region, I stepped way outside my own comfort zone and into another mysterious world as the ancient perspective of Inca unfolded before my senses. From Cusco to Pisac, Calca, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu and beyond, the days spent hiking and driving up and down stark Andes mountains challenged my physical endurance and mental strength until complete exhaustion, which I mean in the most positive sense of the word possible. And while it was exciting to see the enormous rewards brought into my life by daily discipline of cycling and yoga practice I began two years ago, the ultimate endurance test came during second part of my trip when friends at Paititi Institute invited me to visit and photograph their newly acquired 4,000 acres of pristine and unexplored mountain land called Larapata, located in the midst of the Mapacho River Valley in the Andes bordering Manu National Park. Spending time with Paititi Institute organization members and learning about their challenging permaculture projects, healing work and indigenous conservation efforts taught me the true meaning of humility and total respect for Nature… Please join me below as I take you along my colorful journey through Southern highlands of Peru.
Ollantaytambo, Urubamba Province
Hiking through Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes
Machu Picchu
Pisac, Calca Province
Ancient Pre-Inca rock paintings and sacred coca leaf offerings in Chawaytiri
The long road to Hualla, Paucartambo Province
Larapata mountain and Rio Mapacho
My recent production in Tulum, Mexico, was a dreamworld scenario – I had to stay at Casa Maya Ka’an for a few days and photograph the house and the wonderful Mayan family of staff who take care of the property. Best part – Casa Maya Ka’an is located on my favorite stretch of Mexican Caribbean coast in Sian Ka’an Biosphere and my shot list basically included all the local Tulum lifestyle highlights my friends and I are addicted to – the beautiful nature of Sian Ka’an Biosphere, exploring hidden Mayan ruins and lagoons, kitesurfing, yoga, massages, food, friends and fun. As a result – this is how your typical day looks when you stay in Casa Maya Ka’an.
Images from my shoot for Fall/Winter 2014 GlamRocks Jewelry lookbook in Chicago.
Credits:
Jewelry: www.glamrocksjewelry.com
Model: Kate Gordin
Make-up: Lesia Babych
Mural paintings: Chadwick C. Plays
Always a pleasure to work and play with one of my favorite clients JOSA Tulum.
Links:
JOSA Tulum: www.josatulum.com
Images from my shoot with Coco Tulum showcasing the hotel’s personal training classes, spa services and a very special temazcal ceremony (Mayan sweat lodge) with local shamans.
Links:
Location: Coco Tulum Hotel - www.cocotulum.com
Some fashion stories I photographed in beautiful Nomade Tulum hotel for The Seventh Style.…
I came full circle photographing Zamas hotel in Tulum over the course of spring. A dream fulfilled. …
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