Photos and projects intimate to my own life -- currently this gallery features photos of my 2012 visit to villa las nieves, durango, the mexican town where my mother was born. I was there for the last days of the feast of nuestra señora de las nieves.
All images copyright protected; unauthorized use prohibited
Contact me for purchase or licensing.
Photos and projects intimate to my own life -- currently this gallery features photos of my 2012 visit to villa las nieves, durango, the mexican town where my mother was born. I was there for the last days of the feast of nuestra señora de las nieves.
All images copyright protected; unauthorized use prohibited
Contact me for purchase or licensing.
Painting of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves
This painting of Our Lady of the Snows was in my family for decades -- at least one generation -- and was the official icon of the saint for the people of Villa Las Nieves while my family lived there.
Preparing Our Lady for procession
Volunteers prepare the painting of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves for the final procession of the saint's novena.
Procession of Our Lady
Catholics process with the painting of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves on the final day of the saint's novena.
Last leg of the procession
The procession approaches the church, where Our Lady of the Snows will be blessed before being taken inside.
Blessing
The priest blesses Our Lady and her faithful before she is carried into the church.
Marriage sacrament
Children representing the sacrament of marriage take part in the procession of Our Lady of the Snows.
Matachines
Matachines, indigenous dancers, honor Our Lady with dance on the church patio.
Matachin
Some of the matachines are children, as is seen in this photo.
Watching the dancers
From a high window of the church, a boy watches the matachines on the patio.
Latecomers
People arrive for an evening mass on the last evening of Our Lady's novena.
Musician in the shadows
A man plays clarinet during the evening festivities that mark the celebration of Our Lady of the Snows.
Bazaar
As dusk falls over Villa Las Nieves, people stroll among the booths that are set up as part of the celebration of Our lady of the Snows.
El Santísimo
In this procession of the Most Holy -- the Eucharist -- a girl portraying Our Lady of the Snows rides along with the priest.
Leading the way
A women's group walks in front of the Most Holy during the procession of El Santísimo.
Leading the procession
Matachines lead the procession of El Santísimo along the streets of Villa Las Nieves.
Fireworks finale
The end of the celebration of Nuestra Señora de Las Nieves is marked by a fireworks display that is set off in loud and close proximity to feast goers.