Historical Photographs by Eadweard Muybridge

I've recently added a new gallery containing a selection of archival photographs by English photographer Eadweard Muybridge, who was also known as Edward Muybridge (1830-1904), to my stock photography website. These historically valuable images were the product of Muybridge's 1875 photographic expedition through Central America and Mexico. Most were commissioned by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, which had extensive trade and passenger routes in the region. Muybridge sailed from San Francisco on one of their ships and spent almost nine months in Central America and Mexico documenting towns, landscapes, and coffee plantations among other subjects. Click here or on the image below of the frontispiece to Eadweard Muybridge's Central America and Mexico Album published in 1877 to view the gallery. It is also possible to order prints by clicking on the shopping cart "Buy" icon.

Fall Colors

Fall is my favourite season for photography. Mother nature puts on her spectacular show of brilliant colours, and the light takes on a special quality as the sun sinks lower in the sky. Every year when autumn arrives, I look forward to adding fresh images to my Fall Colors gallery.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican Masks

My Mexican masks gallery contains images of colourful masks from various parts of Mexico. They range from ceremonial masks worn during traditional dances such as the famous Dance of the Old Men (Danza de los Viejitos) performed in the state of Michoacán to more decorative ones depicting frightening devils, sacred animals, and bearded Spanish conquistadors. These fanciful works of art reflect Mexico's diverse cultures and bring to life its fascinating mythology and history.

Click on the collage below to view images from my Mexican Masks gallery

Spanish Colonial Forts

During my travels in Latin America, I've always been drawn to the region's many Spanish colonial forts. Not only do they make excellent photographic subjects because of their bold architecture and spectacular locations, but they also endure as powerful symbols of the turbulent history of the Spanish conquest of the Americas. 

Click on the collage below to view images from my Spanish Colonial Forts gallery. 

 

Mexico's World Heritage Sites

Mexico is blessed with 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including twenty-seven cultural sites, six natural sites and two mixed sites. This is more than any other country in the Americas, and it means that Mexico ranks seventh in the world by total number of Heritage sites. I've been fortunate to visit 28 of these fascinating and beautiful places, which means that I still have a few left to discover. Please Click on the collage below to view images of the ones that I've explored so far.

Mexican Ghost Towns

Among my favourite places to visit in Mexico are its atmospheric ghost towns. Many of them date back centuries and harbour the remains of handsome Spanish colonial architecture along with abandoned gold and silver mines on their outskirts. Some have now become popular with adventurous travellers, prompting hotels and restaurants to open up on their narrow cobblestone streets. However, there is still a sense of timelessness and mystery about these crumbling old mountain towns. My Mexican Ghost Towns collection contains images captured on visits to four of Mexico's best known ghost towns. Click on the titles below to view individual photo galleries.

1. Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí

2. Mineral de Pozos, Guanajuato

3. Cerro San Pedro, San Luis Potosí

4. San Juan Parangaricutiro, Michoacán

Signs of the Times

During the past few months, I've been photographing homemade signs related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that have appeared in my Vancouver neighbourhood. Some were drawn on the sidewalk by children. Others have been taped to apartment windows or even hung from hedges and trees. These colourful signs usually offer advice on staying healthy or thank essential workers and healthcare professionals for their efforts to keep us safe and combat the devastating effects of the coronavirus. Here are some examples that can be found in my COVID-19 Pandemic 2020 gallery.

All images © John Mitchell 2020
All Rights Reserved