It's a sobering reminder of just how much we all take for granted in the U.K. Many would say that the families had nothing, but in contrast, I'd say they have everything - nothing is wanted for and above all they have the one most important thing... happiness. The children were a delight, and I was able to casually take pictures as they played outside with a football.

Many will have heard of Chichen Itza, the famous home of various Mayan temples and pyramids in Mexico. Coba, is somewhat smaller, but still posesses a great deal of Mayan architecture and perhaps on a slightly less commercial scale. The walk to the main temples is all uphill and consequently there are always bikes for hire. Alternatively you can take an easier mode of transport - one of the numerous tricyles with seating for an easier, yet still bumpy ride. These bikes are everywhere in Mexico - usually in bright orange or yellow. I became obsessed with trying to shoot them... constantly trying to pan and create movement with slow shutter speeds.

 

As we reached the summit of the land, we were able to see the temple, and just how tall it was. We both wanted to climb to the top - it just has to be done, despite the fact that I might be able to shoot cracking images from the top... If you ever climb these temples and pyramids - be warned! On this one there were no barriers at the edge. This basically means a slip near the edge and you might just fall a hundred feet down. Still, they did provide ropes in the middle, so at least there was something to hold on to. The steps were incredibly narrow, and I have to think that if these steps were wet, it just wouldn't be worth it - I know how dangerous it can be walking on wet limestone in the Yorkshire Dales, and you don't usually have a straight drop to the side of you. Nevertheless, we reached the top safely, and then we were able to take in the miles and miles of surroundings - we could even see Chichen Itza as it just popped up above the distant horizon.

 

 

grocery store, shot with fill-flash to brighten up shadows - the sheer colour in shops like this was a delight

to sum up the colour and energy of this street, I used a slow shutter speed and panned the camera as this boy rode by

 

After bagging some general shots of the island, I went to the lake area where the frigate birds could be found in mass. Here, they wheeled around on huge outstretched wings, filling the sky with their massive size and raucous cries. There was barely a second went by without at least one bird being close enough to photograph. The shoot was exhilarating, and I had soon shot about 50 images onto my memory card. As well as using the highest shutter speed possible I also experimented with flash, trying to light the underside of the birds as they flew overhead.

 

 

 

Overlooking the sea on the far side of the island, I could see these pelicans approaching in the distance. I switched to a fast shutter speed and took a series of images as the birds flew past. Using a fairly wide angle lens I was able to include the background clouds which made the shot more of a scene rather than a simple wildife shot

Once I was happy with this composition, I waited for the sun to break to illuminate the scene. The image has everything - beach, surf and cloud - all in strong sunshine.

As the cloud took over, I realised that far from ruining the shot, it could create a moodier image, and one that might work quite well. The result is a more serene image, with cooler tones, yet still a striking sky.

I really hope to go back to Mexico - there is just tons to see, from the pyramids and temples to the underground rivers and the stunning off-shore islands. The wildlife too is pretty impressive - I witnessed an osprey on numerous occasions by the beach, as well as terns fishing. Great egrets were plentiful too, and many lizards and iguanas. Definitely worth a return visit and some more exploration!

 

Paul Miguel