Practicas del Andar
January 2025, I had the opportunity to visit Oaxaca, Mexico as a part of the Diane and Rod Dammeyer scholarship. Six Columbia College Chicago students, including myself, worked alongside Oaxaca based artists in the photographic project, Practicas del Andar (Walking Practices), documenting the outskirts of Oaxaca City entirely on film.
This two week long project consisted of five straight days of shooting around different neighborhoods. The second week we selected the final images from everyone's film contact sheets and wheatpasted them outside the School of Muralism. Followed by an artist talk and a night of dancing, pozole, and mezcal.
Practicas del Andar opened my eyes to the importance of communication and respect while shooting on the street. Asking people for permission and initiating conversation gave a sense of trust helping my photographic process. People would invite us into their homes and give us food, such as freshly made tlayudas. Photography is a collaborative process between you, the subject and your camera.
Working alongside creatives taught me about perspectives in photography as I watched everyone carry out their working processes. Our collaboration sparked conversations about similarities between gentrification in Chicago and the City of Oaxaca. This inspired us to look at the bigger picture and really show it through our images.
This was not just a two-week study abroad trip for me, it was an opportunity that gave me perspective, growth, and confidence in myself and my work that I will carry with me. Memories that I will cherish forever, and genuine friendships.