Gran Museo del Mundo Maya de Mérida

   

I took the image above recently at the new Gran Museo del Mundo Maya or Grand Museum of the Mayan World that opened in September 2012 in the city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. This spectacular venue celebrates the history, cultures, spirituality, and geography of the Mayab,  the land of the ancient and contemporary Maya. Depicted in the photo is a statue of a Maya man using a traditional conch shell horn to summon visitors to the museum. The innovative museum building in the background is modeled after a giant Ceiba tree, which was sacred to the ancient Maya and a symbol of their complex cosmology. The Ceiba tree's roots reach deep into the nine levels of the Mayan Underworld, and its branches extend into the realms of the gods.You will find this image and numerous others of the museum and its exhibits in my Gran Museo del Mundo Maya gallery.

Stanley Theatre, Vancouver

The Stanley Theatre on Granville Street is one of the few remaining community theatres in the city of Vancouver, British Columbia. This handsome Moorish style art deco building first opened as a movie house in December 1930 and screened films for over sixty years before financial problems forced it to close its doors in 1991. Fortunately, the Stanley escaped commercial redevelopment, and it was renovated as a stage theatre in 1997–1998. The theatre was subsequently designated a protected heritage building, and it now hosts musicals and classical productions from around the globe.

You will find this image in my Vancouver Heritage Buildings gallery. This collection is a work in progress. During the coming months, I plan to photograph more of Vancouver's heritage and other historical buildings, many of which are being threatened by the city's real estate boom and uncaring developers.

Beautiful British Columbia

I consider myself lucky to live on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I was on a moving ferry when I took this photo of a sunlit sailboat with the the snow-laced (even in July) peaks of the Coast Mountains towering in the background. Composing the picture proved to be a bit tricky because once all the elements — boat, island, and mountains — in the scene lined up, I had only a couple of seconds to push the shutter. Fortunately, things worked out just the way I had hoped. You will find this image in my Vancouver gallery.

Ancient Cities of Mexico

I have just published Ancient Cities of Mexico, a print-on-demand book containing some of my favorite black and white infrared-style photos of pre-Hispanic ruins. These images span a period of about 25 years during which I have made more trips to Mexico than I can count. If you decide to watch the book preview below, make sure to click on the "Fullscreen View" icon (bottom right of screen) for optimum viewing.

Ancient Cities of Mexico by John S. Mitchell | Make Your Own Book

You will also find these images and many more like them in my Pre-Hispanic Ruins in Black and White gallery.

Eagle and Totem Pole

I was strolling through Vanier Park in the Vancouver neighborhood of Kitsilano one afternoon when I looked up to see a bald eagle perched on top of  the 100-foot-tall Centennial Totem pole that towers over the park. This scene struck me as a potent symbol of British Columbia's native peoples, the rightful owners of the land that the magnificent carving now stands upon. This totem pole is one of two created by Chief Mungo Martin of the Kwakiutl Nation to mark British Columbia's Centennial in 1958. Its twin, which was a gift to Queen Elizabeth II, now graces Windsor Great Park in London, England. You will find this image in my Vancouver gallery.

Huichol Art and Handicrafts

Mexico's Huichol Indians or Wixáritari produce some of the most vibrant and unusual art and handicrafts in Mexico. They embed multicolored beads in beeswax to decorate bowls, masks, and figurines with symbols reflecting their shamanistic beliefs and traditional way of life. Common motifs include deer, snakes, eagles, and scorpions, as well as ears of sacred corn and peyote buttons. Huichol artisans also fashion intricate yarn paintings depicting psychedelic visions and myths. I came across the fanciful beaded sun pictured above in an Acapulco market and was struck by its brilliant colors and positive energy. You will find this image in my Huichol Indian Art and Handicrafts gallery.

Latin American Children Gallery

For me, one of the greatest joys of traveling in Latin America is meeting the children. They are bright lights in a region that is too often plagued by hardship and violence. I came across the young Maya girl above in Cobán, an old Spanish colonial town in the misty highlands of Guatemala. She was helping her mother cook and sell tortillas in the doorway of a house. When I asked this shy girl in Spanish if I could take her picture, she folded her arms and looked at me with a quizzical expression, making me realize that my life was as mysterious to her as her life was to me. You can find this image in my Latin American Children gallery.