Category Archives: portrait
Cuban Countryside
I’d fallen in love with Havana before I even arrived in Cuba, but I hadn’t heard much about Cuba’s countryside, a part of the country that I fell in love with at first sight.
Sunrise cycling around Viñales, Cuba
The rich colours of a tobacco farm and farmhouse in Viñales, with a mogote (limestone formation) in the background
Yovel is harvesting his tobacco. He has an agreement with the government in which his rents the land free of charge then sells the dried tobacco to the state. He is free to grow vegetables for his family on this land.
A farmer working the land with oxen, preparing to plant yucca.
Humanitarian Photography in Guatemala
This week I have been shooting photos of women weavers in Guatemala, for an organisation called Vision Guatemala, a grass roots NGO that provides micro finance and support to women around Lake Atitlan and Guatemala.
Above: Cecilia is weaving a table runner in the style typical to San Pedro. She spends a few hours weaving each day in between cleaning and making tortillas which she sells to her neighbours at lunch and dinner time. In Guatemala tortillas sell at 3 for Q1, which is about 13 cents. When she finishes weaving after 3-5 days, the table runner will sell for about $4.50.
Camera Settings: 1/50sec, f/4, ISO 400, 28mm lens
Above: The weaving loom, used by Guatemalan women.
Camera Settings(Above): 1/50sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, 50mm lens
Camera Settings(Above): 1/50sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, 50mm lens
Camera Settings(Above): 1/60sec, f/4, ISO 320, 24mm lens, flash (bounced off wall)
Camera Settings (Above): 1/60sec, f/4, ISO 400, 65mm lens
Take a look around my blog to see more of my NGO & Humanitarian photos. I’ll have a new folio on my new website dedicated to the humanitarian projects I’ve been shooting over here in Central and South America.
Thanks!
Photos of Guatemala
Comalapa, Guatemala
“You have to ask before you take a photo of anyone here. A Japanese woman didn’t ask and she got stoned to death.”
That was my introduction to Comalapa, a small town, unmarked on the Guatemalan tourist map. I usually ask before I take someones photo, but sometimes that ruins the moment and I (respectfully) want to get a shot before they are aware that I even exist. After the above advice though, I got the feeling that the locals here aren’t really into being the subjects of documentary photography, so I’m going to ask everybodies permission before I take photos of them.
This morning my friend Loren needed to do some washing and asked me if I wanted to go to the public laundry with him. A lot of people around here don’t have the water or facilities to wash clothes in their own home so the women come together and wash communally. It’s such a wonderful and unique cultural experience and I’d been attracted to Guatemala’s outdoor laundries since I first saw them.
………
I got chatting to this beautiful lady, Chejina (above), while Loren was washing his clothes. Chejina told me she goes there most days to wash. I asked her three times (just to be sure that the question wasn’t getting lost in translation) if it was okay to take her photo. All the ladies around thought it was really funny that I would want to take a photo of their friend washing clothes. I guess they’re right.
………
This gorgeous little boy has four brothers and sisters. He spends most of his days on his Mums back. She told me that he is very heavy and Thanks to God she is very strong.
A Special Story
Antony Ledezma Mendin
& The Bethlehem Youth Club – A photo shoot for Opportunity Nicaragua
When Antony was eight years old his parents divorced, and his family disintegrated around him. Antony’s mother is Costa Rican, but his farther is Nicaraguan. When the family broke down Antony’s father returned to Nicaragua, forcibly taking Antony with him.
They moved to the Nicaraguan Capital of Managua and shared a house with Antony’s grandmother. Life at home was tough, and the family relationship was strained. Antony rebelled. He fought with his father and grandmother, who also fought with each other. At a young age he began experimenting with drugs, smoking and drinking, by 12 he decided living on the streets was better than at home. He ran away.
Antony lived on the streets with a group of friends. They stuck together and protected each other. To get money they would steel whatever they could, sometimes visiting local farms to rob fruit and then sell it on the street.
As he got older, the group of friends developed into a gang; drugs and gang related violence became part of life. Antony looks back on his past drug use with open honesty, recalling “I was crazy, but I liked it (to feel something different)”. The violence on the street was life threatening. At one point in a street gang related attack Antony’s skull was smashed open with a rock, he spent 15 days in hospital and came dangerously close to death.
His life reached crisis point after the sudden death of one of his close friends and soon after Antony was jailed for armed robbery. He spent two months in jail awaiting sentencing. While in jail, a Christian group visited the inmates. Their message resonated with Antony and when still in prison he accepted Jesus as his saviour. Antony was facing at least 10 years in jail and began to pray to for his freedom.
On the day he was to be sentenced an extraordinary string of events occurred. The official escort to court failed to show up. At the end of the day the police officer in charge did not know what to do. He called Antony inside and, astonishingly, gave him his release papers. The charges were dropped and he was free to go. In that moment Antony felt God had answered his prayers and became a committed Christian.
He was free, but with nowhere to go Antony was back on the streets and in danger of returning to his old ways. In his old neighbourhood he met Doña Suzie, who is part of the Bethlehem Youth Club community. The youth club rescued Antony from the streets. They gave him a place to live, food, clothes and support to turn his life around.
Now, the number one change in Antony’s life is a feeling of security. He no longer has to steal in order to eat or wonder where he is going to sleep. The Bethlehem Youth Club gives him a safe, supportive environment, for him to strengthen his resolve to live a new life.
Antony now dreams of being married and having a family, not such a wild dream. He already has a child on the way with his girlfriend, but is honest when he says he is not prepared for marriage. Antony feels inadequate about not finishing school and not having any job skills. He hopes to earn these and be able to support his own family before he asks his girlfriend to marry him. He also dreams of finding his mother who he has not seen since leaving Costa Rica.
Text by James Galletly, Freelance Travel Writer
If you’d like to see more of my NGO photos, please visit my website www.AliciaFoxPhotography.com
Blue Magazine Japan, HOPE Issue
Following the devastation in Japan earlier this year, Blue surf magazine (Japan) asked artists to contribute to a special Hope issue, in an effort to lift the spirits of their readers who were affected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.
I feel honored to have a photo of mine included in the Hope issue.
I took this photo during my six month in Japan in 2009. I feel that this beautiful boy, Aki, is perfect representation of the pure and beautiful people that live in Japan. I hope the people of Japan continue to move forward, despite what they have been faced with, and shine as I know they can.
My Photos in Atmosphere Magazine
When I first read about the Kuna Yala indigenous people in the San Blas Islands, I knew I had to visit the islands to photograph them. In all descripitions, the people and the landscape sounded visually stunning.
The Kuna women hand-sew their vibrant outfits with tropical patterns and elaborate designs. Their arms and legs are adorned with colourful beads in traditional patterns that imitate designs that used to be painted on their skin before missionaries taught them to wear clothes.
The location they call home is over 300 idyllic islands in the Caribbean Sea of Panama, the most picture perfect place I have visited in my life. Many of the inhabitants are nomadic and move from island to island collecting coconuts and selling their clothing, designs and beaded jewelry to tourists.
I shot a series of photos for Atmosphere magazine, an in-flight publication for Canada’s Air Transat. The photos are in the current (July-August) edition.
Volunteer Photographer for Opportunity Nicaragua
Volunteering with Opportunity Nicaragua was an wonderful experience that allowed me a glimpse into the lives of many hardworking artisanas and farmers around Granada, who despite adversity, can go through life with a smile. The experience gave me perspective on how tough life is for so many people throughout the world, and how fortunate I am to live the life I have.
Here are a few of my favorite shots from the experience.
A Glimpse Into My Life
Playa Gigante, Nicaragua
This morning when I was on the front porch three men with very big guns walked past me, trailed by some very excited dogs. They returned this afternoon with a bunch of iguana for dinner, Saturday night special. My little friend took one of the iguanas from her Dad and started parading the catch around the main street (Yes, this is the main street pictured).
The Market : Granada
I spent a week living in a hotel in the middle of the pulsing heart of Granada – The Market. I would wake up each day at 5:30am (the heat was insane even at that hour), walk out the door and grab some fruit, veges and fresh tortillas for breakfast, each time returning home with almost the same amount of money.
It stinks and its probably a bit dangerous at night, but I definitely recommend staying in the middle of a Central American market if you get the chance. You’ll feel like you are getting to know the real people and the real country, and it’s much easier to photograph at golden hour when you only have to step out the front door.
I bought cheese from these two all the time. It was delicious.
Resort Photographer in Nicaragua
I had an fantastic time photographing and staying at the luxurious Aqua Wellness Resort in Nicaragua. Located near Playa Gigante, the resort is a world of luxury in a secluded bay with gorgeous white sand and perfect sunsets every afternoon.
Here are some photos from our sunset shoot.
No matter how many monkeys I have seen on my trip around Latin America, I can never get enough of watching them and photographing them. I shot the silhouette image above then turned around to capture his friend in another tree in completely different light.
Here are a few early morning shots of the beachside restaurant and the beautiful yoga instructor, Sunshine. 
Arriving in Nicaragua
After 3 amazing months in Costa Rica I have arrived in Nicaragua. I felt the difference between the neighbouring countries immediately.
Nicaragua suffers a lot more poverty, but the people are just as welcoming and friendly as the Ticos in Costa Rica. I have had the privilege of being welcomed into the homes of many Nicaraguans, through work I am doing with a fantastic non-profit organisation, Opportunity Nicaragua. Here is one of my favourite shots from last weeks shoot. I will post more photos soon.
This dog takes a rest from the sweltering heat of dry season in a village outside of Granada, Nicaragua
A Costa Rican Wedding
Costa Rica Wedding Photographer
I had the pleasure of shooting the wedding photos for the lovely Anne and Eugene from New York. The celebrations took place at at Verdenergia, a beautiful eco retreat in Costa Rica which holds special memories for the couple.
When the sunny morning turned to a rainy afternoon just before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, Anne and Eugene kept their cool and after chatting to their Sharman, Raven, decided to reschedule the ceremony to the next morning (however, this didn’t stop the reception party from continuing on time, as scheduled).
Here are some shots of Anne and Eugene getting ready for the first time.
Eugene and Anne enjoying the party
Walking to the ceremony site the next morning
A Portrait of Panama
I was looking through some of the photos I have taken during my 5 months in Panama, and when I saw this one it brought a smile to my face as I remembered the fun I had hanging out with my little friend in the village of Malena.
Dancing by the beach. Malena, Panama 2010
Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena is a beautiful, colonial town in the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. We arrived at night to the sounds of Cuban-infused jazz drifting through the warm, heavy air. There were kids playing football in the street, vendors selling maize bread and friendly men offering us water, marijuana, cocaine…
Inside the walls sits an elegant city centre, where we wandered the quiet streets and took in the Cartagena in all her beauty.
Beautiful negra women sell fruit in the traditional dress of the area.
The climate makes for a slow lifestyle with a lot of sitting around and sleeping in the shade of the city streets or gardens.
One of the entrances to the walled city, this archway is about 5 metres thick.
The traditional mixed with the modern. You can buy anything from local handicrafts from the artisanas on the footpath, to the latest fashions in air conditioned boutiques.
Surfing World Magazine
James and I have an article in this month’s issue of Surfing World magazine (Australia). The issue is ‘The Design Issue’. Our article is about an inspired and talented surf board shaper in Japan, who has a dream to grow his own surfboard.
Ono is working with hemp fibres for a unique and environmentally friendly alternative to the highly synthetic boards that currently dominate the market.
