AntiguaDailyPhoto.Com

Jeanfer is Free and Happy

2009-07-08T23:01:20-07:00

I am glad to report the good news that Jean Ramses Anleu Fernández, better known as @jeanfer is free and happy since the case against him was found to be without merits. Some of you may recall that back on May 14th I brought you the sad news that Jeanfer was being arrested and fined Q50,000/$6250 over a single tweet update of indignation.

Back in 2007, I posted about the Six Degrees of Separation I had experienced through the AntiguaDailyPhoto. More recently, Ivan Mendoza mentioned that here in Guatemala only Three Degrees Separation applies since you don’t need too many links to get to know everyone. How true that turned out to be since after the infamous incident with Jeanfer, I actually got to know him personally and was lucky enough to take some photos of him in two separate occasions; one of them right here in La Antigua Guatemala.

Last Saturday, 4th of July, Independence Day weekend, I recognized Jean Ramses Anleu Fernández, the mild-mannered, book-loving, code-writing geek as Xeni Jardin calls him, reading a couple of books on one of the benches in the Parque Central of La Antigua Guatemala. Below, two of the series of photographs I took of Jeanfer while we talk about politics, democracy, freedom of speech and the realty in Guatemala.

I am in a very good mood to know he’s free and the charges have been dropped because the lack merits. I am also delighted that I have been so lucky to have captured him with a big smile on his face.

What do you think of these portraits of Jeanfer?

Café Barista Panino and Freedom of Speech For those
Six Degrees of Separation at La Fuente Restaurant Just five
Close-up View of Guatemalan Textiles This is a

Framing the Volcanoes

2009-07-07T23:01:54-07:00

Believe it or not, I like framing. It is one of things I like to do most while taking photographs around La Antigua Guatemala. I began very humbly; framing little things like shadows. Then I framed a monk and a complete tower of a church. Soon I continued framing whole groups of people. Eventually I said to myself, oh what the heck, let’s try to frame a entire street. Once that’s been done, framing the moon seems quite possible. After the moon, framing a moving bicycle or a kid running doesn’t seem like a challenge anymore .

So, framing fuming volcanoes appears to be quite simple nowadays.

Can you tell me where was the photograph above taken and what was used as a frame?

Framed Moon in Antigua Guatemala Greed and
Framed Street from Antigua Guatemala It is dif
Ice-capped Volcanoes in La Antigua Guatemala Sometimes

Antigua Abstracted

2009-07-06T23:01:15-07:00

text and photos by Michele Woodey.

The City of La Antigua Guatemala is, for me, completely coloured by my experience of life as an artist. Often out of all the photographs I take, the ones that end up “speaking” back to me with the most intensity are those expressed abstractly through the language of line, colour, movement, form, surface and texture. In this image of a night Procession during Holy Week, the literal, representational image is almost completely dissolved by movement and light. What remains are traces of light distilled into line, a ghostly record of time passing and the impermanence of things. The Italian “Futurists” were particularly interested in finding ways to depict movement and speed through the use of repetitious painterly marks on the canvas.

In other images from Antigua perhaps it is the intensity of a colour combination, the beauty of a chance arrangement, or the quality of line which first attracts the eye. The whole history of Art can be found in Antigua and for me a creative energy resides and resonates there as a powerful living force, just waiting to be expressed into being. Maybe this a part of what draws so many people to Guatemala, this vital life energy, which is palpable in the streets, in the air itself, and manifested so strongly in its rituals, customs and people.

About Guest Contributor: Michele Woodey is an artist and painter living in Toronto. She is also “half” of a creative collaboration” known as “Fiona Hoop”. Michele is art editor, writer and contributor to Loudestgirl.com out of Miami, Florida. Fiona Hoop intends to set up studio in Antigua in the near future.

Repairing the Spanish-tile Roofs With the
Joyería del Ángel Corner in La Antigua Guatemala Obviously
The Tiny Story of Discrimination, Arrogance and Patronizing in La Antigua Guatemala ACT 1: So

Cuddling Couple at the Cross

2009-07-05T23:01:19-07:00

text and photo by Laura McNamara.

If you are a tourist just passing through for a couple days you are probably not one to find time to discover and appreciate the stunning view from Cerro de la Cruz. But, locals, ex-pats, Spanish students and the traveler who kicks off his shoes and stays awhile eventually find themselves huffing up the winding road to Cerro Santo Domingo. I wonder if the lookout point has been dubbed “make-out point.” This couple is certainly enjoying the ambience of the hilltop vista. Can’t say I blame them…

Guest Contributor: Laura McNamara.

Masked Man of Mystery text an
Calle del Arco Street Performers text an
Mayan Child of Maturity text and

Masked Man of Mystery

2009-07-04T23:01:49-07:00

text and photo by Laura McNamara.

The total amount of time I’ve spent within La Antigua Guatemala so far isn’t much, just several months. But, from what I can tell, it’s not too common to spot masked men cruising around on big, shiny choppers in the old, Spanish-styled colonial city. The skeleton mask caught my eye from across Parque Central. Who is this masked man? Is he an antigüeño or is he just a mysterious visitor passing through? Perhaps his chopper and mask are well-known throughout town. Can anyone identify the masked biker?

Guest Contributor: Laura McNamara.

Cuddling Couple at the Cross text an
Calle del Arco Street Performers text an
Mayan Women with Poise text an

Mayan Women with Poise

2009-07-03T23:01:39-07:00

text and photos by Laura McNamara.

I can’t count the number of times my mother chastised me for slouching throughout my childhood. A few times she even succeeded in convincing me to practice walking with a book on my head so that I might “improve my posture.” Many times, she threatened to send me to “charm school.” Perhaps she should have just considered a nice family getaway to La Antigua Guatemala instead. The Mayan women and the colorful, traditional dress unfailingly catch the “Western eye.” I’m certain as a child I would have been just as mesmerized by their indigenous beauty as I am now. And to think, if my little eyes had spied these women walking around with their wide, brimming baskets of fruits and goods balanced atop of their heads… I imagine my mother would not have been able to keep me from practicing such “poise” when I arrived back at home. I probably would have passed it on to the neighborhood kids as a fun, childhood game – one that would have come with a cultural lesson. So that settles it: when the time comes for me to teach my daughter “posture and poise,” I’m bringing her to observe La Antigua’s Mayan women.

Guest Contributor: Laura McNamara.

Mayan Child of Maturity text and
Calle del Arco Street Performers text an
Masked Man of Mystery text an

Calle del Arco Street Performers

2009-07-02T23:01:20-07:00

text and photos by Laura McNamara.

During these last few days I’ve spied two different mimes performing on the Calle del Arco. The only way I can really tell the difference between the painted faces is the height of the two characters: one is tall and the other is quite short. Both seem to be a hit with onlookers: adults and kids alike. The two seem to have similar tricks as well, which include shaping colorful animals from tubular balloons, asking someone from the audience to slingshot what seems to be a giant yoyo, and teeter-tottering on a small unicycle. In all honesty, the acts aren’t overly impressive – especially when you’ve encountered them on a number of occasions. Nonetheless, each time I see one in action, I stop to watch. I’m not just watching “Coqueto y Cortito”, as I have fondly named them. I’m also watching the people. Whether it’s Coqueto o Cortito, each invariably bring smiles to the faces of passersby and that’s something I’ll never tire of appreciating. Try as I might to engage these two in conversation, I can never get a peep out of them. Not to say that I’m surprised a mime won’t talk…

Guest Contributor: Laura McNamara.