Mexico City, 2021-01-19: The central book market has few open places. Due to the pandemic and since the beginning of the week, few have decided to go to work. This gentleman is kind and invites me to photograph as much as I want. He tells me that he has decided to come to work because he could no longer stand home and that by dint of being on the sofa he got back pain. He shows me the Necronomicon and other books that he deals with binding in this very special way. He has requests that even come from Japan and many of his clients are foreigners who are impressed by this way of recovering old books. He tells me about his past while I photograph him, how he started working on the street when he was still a scared kid. Stories of fights between vendors, of rivalries and jealousies for a small portion of space to sell, of how they used to sell on simple rugs laid on the ground. He tells me how he always maintains a positive attitude. There is the history of Mexico City, even the now forgotten one, of living the city that was necessarily different. In browsing the old photographs for sale, I pass from the lucha libre fighters to movie scenes from the golden age of Mexican cinema. Suddenly the desolation of seeing many closed places was erased from the tales and affability of this man who opened the most important book to us, that of his memories.

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Mexico City, 2020-01-19. During the red light imposed by the authorities, it is now possible for restaurant managers to move the tables outside, contributing to give to Mexico City an aspect as Via Veneto at times of Dolce Vita in Rome (Italy). Claudia Sheimbaum, the CDMX governor, stated that outside there is less risk to get infected by the virus SARS COV2. This appears to be a contradiction to the stay at home suggestion and the lockdown and curfew provisions of many countries. Claudia Sheimbaum refuses to answer this question. Yet another question that the representatives of institutions around the world have not been able to answer since this pandemic has been underway.

I am a journalist and I make questions. I have a lot of questions about the pandemic since they started that. I see a lot of contradictions and decisions that do not respond to logic. Not to a logic in order to really saving human lives.

As a photojournalist’s commitment I was asked in the past to share some tips about my approach, expecially when I work in indigenous communities in Oaxaca. Through this post I want to share with my readers my experience. 

DOCUMENT YOURSELF BEFORE YOU GO

Fundamental to avoid making mistakes, which in the best of cases can only make you look ridiculous and in the worst of cases, you can even put your life at risk, is to document the culture, its uses and customs of the people that you want to photograph.

REAL INTEREST AND RESPECT FOR PEOPLE

Many photographers make the mistake of thinking about making photos. What happens is that they are more focused on their cameras, in their shots at a technical level, and for example that can be seen with those who are constantly taking a photo and immediately look at the LCD screen of their camera. To take the best photos you have to really live with interest and respect for people, their way of living, believing and thinking.

GETTING CLOSE, FOR REAL

Many times I see photographers at events who are just taking photos as a collector of everything. Focus on one person or two, for the purpose of telling a story. If you are really interested in the person or a small group, you do not take photos of everyone: a true documentary photographer is always focused on telling a story, including in events such as demonstrations and parades, and is not cataloging everything. Remember we are not at the zoo. Again: respect for the people and true interest in their stories and you will see how your photography will stand out.

INTRODUCE, SHARE, LIVE

Many make the mistake of thinking that photography is a fact of mastering the technique. Certainly, it is important to know at least the basics and master your work tool. However, the best photograph is a revealing moment because it is sincere, genuine, spontaneous, regardless of whether it is a posed portrait or a “stolen” scene. To achieve that you have to really live and share with the people who may perhaps become your subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

When I go to photograph with (and not to)  peoples, I go to eat, drinking, even dancing with them. I like to interact and meet them. This is definitely my secret. Photography comes only later, because only in this way do they truly enter into confidence, until they forget that a lens is looking at their actions. In this way the entire process is absolutely natural and empathetic, turning the photographic experience into a life experience. So many of those I have portrayed are now acquaintances and friends, leaving me with photographs that go beyond the idea of ​​a shot and that’s it.

I hope through this post I clarified what are the 3 fundamental points if you make photos with people. To make it simple they are:

• INTEREST
• RESPECT
• EMPATHY

If there are not these conditions don’t even think to accept an assignment or going to make photos. 

As X-Photographer for Fujifilm Mexico I share my experience and some magazines published my tips:

https://arcadia-mx.com/los-pueblos-indigenas-de-mexico-desde-la-mirada-de-los-x-photographers-de-fujifilm/

https://www.mninoticias.com/tecnologia-mni/captura-la-esencia-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-con-estos-increibles-consejos-fotograficos-dia-internacional-de-los-pueblos-indigenas/

https://www.aventurasnerd.com/2020/08/10/fujifilm-captura-la-esencia-de-los-pueblos-indigenas-con-estos-increibles-consejos/

https://style.shockvisual.net/aprende-a-capturar-la-riqueza-de-nuestros-pueblos-indigenas-con-estos-increibles-consejos/

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HO DECISO DI RENDERE DISPONIBILE QUESTO LIBRETTO DI 23 PAGINE

Il costo è irrisorio e arriverà direttamente a casa vostra. Si tratta del primo libro pubblicato quest’anno, che rappresenta una dichiarazione di intenti di pubblicare ancora di più dell’anno appena trascorso. 

note sulla fotografia di reportage

CLICCA QUI PER ACQUISTARLO

The health emergency causes the closure of the Basilica and a large police deployment prevents the arrival of millions of people near the temple. 

The pandemic emergency interrupted the traditional annual visit to pay tribute to the Virgin.

The street closures in all the surroundings of the Tepeyac hill. There is silence, interrupted only by some sirens. There is motorized police and vans, checkpoints and foot patrols everywhere. There are not pilgrims, and only journalists are allowed to access the area immediately next to the atrium that remains completely closed and chaired by the control of the police force, helping to make the atmosphere even more surreal.  The Guadalupe street (Calzada de Guadalupe), where millions of people parade every year, is deserted. 

Some shops selling religious items are open, although it doesn’t make much sense since the streets are forbidden to people. Also the plaza of Artesanias is open but it will be useful to the security personnel and no one else. 

The silence pervades Calzada de Guadalupe on a day that in all other years was impossible to hear. A silence that contributes to the full weight and suffering of a year that has been extremely difficult for Mexico as well.

If you have a question or requests regarding a photo journalistic coverage, purchasing/licensing images, or you are an editor or publisher and this is a time-sensitive request, please drop me an email to: alex@alexcoghe.com If you are inquiring about booking me for a lecture, conference, interview general inquiries or other public engagement, please use the same email.  Unless I have requested that you call me, email is the best way of getting in touch.

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The traditional bicycle lined with blue plastic, filled with small cubes of beans, potatoes, pork rinds, adobo, accompanied by green sauce, a real delicacy

Using a basket and a bicycle to transport his merchandise started one of the most characteristic traditions of the central zone of the Mexican Republic.

Basket cleats are unique and their shape sets them apart from the rest. They generally have 4 flavors: beans, potatoes, pork rinds and adobado. There are also those who offer green mole or picadillo but do not think that everyone has them.

The marinade is one of the secrets of the tacos because it will be in charge of sweating them in the basket.

The accommodation in the basket is essential: inside a plastic bag and with a rag or cloth, follow a strict order. A layer of tacos, another of onion and bathed in marinade. Another layer of tacos, more onion and again marinate like this until everything is full.

Yesterday as you can see I have eaten them in a barrio. My favourite in this case are those with potatoes. But this changes, depending who is the vendor.  In another place I prefer the chicharron tacos. 

PEECHO PUBLISHED THIS INTERVIEW TO ME

Alex Coghe: photojournalism and “gonzography” between two continents

YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE BIKE WORKSHOP IN PROGRESO NACIONAL AND I MADE 2 PORTRAITS

The mechanic is the man on the right. I needed the modification of my MTB: by removing the gearbox the bike gains in lightness. Here in the city there are not go up and in any case I prefer a single speed bicycle. I do the rest pedaling. The mechanic is reliable, honest and cheap: I am happy to have found him. I recommend you if you live in the north side of Mexico City. 

El mecánico es el hombre de la derecha. Necesitaba la modificación de mi MTB: al quitar la caja de cambios, la bicicleta gana en ligereza. Aquí en la ciudad no hay muchas subidas y en cualquier caso prefiero una bicicleta de una sola velocidad. Yo hago el resto pedaleando. El mecánico es confiable, honesto y barato: estoy feliz de haberlo encontrado. Se los recomiendo si viven en el lado norte de la Ciudad de México.

SOME SHOTS MADE DURING A FREESTYLE RAP BATTLE IN MEXICO CITY

PRIMA PARTE

SECONDA PARTE

L’appuntamento è alla settimana prossima. Vi ricordo che potete seguire il mio canale youtube dove troverete tutte le dirette de SULLA FOTOGRAFIA.

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El fotoperiodista italiano con sede en México Alex Coghe le propone un taller de fotografía compartiendo sus técnicas de fotografía documental.
La inmersión, la empatía y la observación son claves en el enfoque de Alex. Este taller es una introducción para aquellos dispuestos a aprender sobre documental y fotoperiodismo. Siempre enfocado en capturar las mejores fotos, icónicas y útiles para comprender el lugar y el tema a través de la paciencia y la persistencia. Alex lo llevará paso a paso a través de sus fotos y su experiencia como fotógrafo de documentales sociales y noticias de última hora, y le enseñará cómo contar una historia a través de fotografías. Esta clase es ideal para aspirantes a reporteros gráficos y fotógrafos documentales que buscan inspiración, y para todos los que buscan consejos esenciales y hábitos zen para documentar el mundo que los rodea.

SI SE INSCRIBEN A LOS DOS TALLERES PAGAN 1800 PESOS EN LUGAR DE 2000 PESOS

Mexico – COVID19: La gente compra su comida en el mercado de Progreso Nacional en el dia que Hugo López-Gatell, Subsegretario de Salud, informó sobre el inicio de la Fase 3 por coronavirus en México. Esto significa que habrá una progresión acelerada de contagios. / People filling the local market in Progreso Nacional during COVID19 © Alessio Coghe

If you have a question or requests regarding a photo journalistic coverage, purchasing/licensing images, or you are an editor or publisher and this is a time-sensitive request, please drop me an email to: alex@alexcoghe.com If you are inquiring about booking me for a lecture, conference, interview general inquiries or other public engagement, please use the same email.  Unless I have requested that you call me, email is the best way of getting in touch.

Are you representing a NGO and you are interested to talk about a collaboration opportunity? Do you have some story that you would like to be shared internationally? Please, contact me.

THIS IS A DIFFICULT PERIOD FOR ALL. BUT IT IS ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. I PROPOSE YOU THIS COURSE.