My photo of matador Andrés Roca Rey, taken this summer in Algeciras, Spain, was included in Lenswork Magazine's recent publication Light, Glorious Light, which just arrived in my mailbox a few days ago.
Images chosen for this book were meant to capture a special quality of light.
There are pictures by many prominent photographers in this publication, and it is an honor to be chosen for inclusion in a Lenswork publication.
I have just launched a new blog!
The new blog, titled Sol y Sombra, is dedicated to bullfight photography.
I will be posting photographs from recent bullfights, as well as bullfights I have attended over the past nine years. As I have so many photos, a new blog was necessary to share them all.
The website's address is www.corridaphotos.com
If you enjoy my version of bullfight photography, please visit the blog. If it is not your cup-of-tea, then please keep reading this one!
During the next week, I will be sharing photos from a recent bloodless bullfight which took place in Artesia, California on August 1, 2016. There I was fortunate to meet Lupita Lopez, certainly Mexico's prettiest matador, as well as Cesar Castañeda, a very popular matador from the San Diego/Tijuana region.
After that, I will share photos from my recent trip to Spain, and then more bullfights from the past, present and future!
I was in Ronda, Spain, during the 2016 Feria de Pedro Romero. This festival is unique in Spain in that it is not dedicated to a Catholic saint, but rather to Pedro Romero, an 18th Century matador who is credited with inventing the modern form of bullfighting.
During the festival, many of the local woman dress in flamenco outfits as might have been worn in the 18th Century, and there is a corrida Goyesca, (in the style of Goya) which celebrates this tradition.
Rodolfo Rodriguez, "El Pana" passed away yesterday.
On May 1, 2016, El Pana was tossed into the air by a bull in Ciudad Lerdo, a small town in the northern state of Durango, Mexico. He landed with a broken neck, a quadriplegic. After a month in the hospital, he died, at age 64.
I saw El Pana in Tijuana in 2013.
In the traditional procession, El Pana entered the ring with his customary swagger, cigar, and glint in his eye.
As the senior matador, he fought the first bull of the afternoon. He could do little right. The crowd filled the arena with catcalls, hisses and whistles, with shouts that he should retire already.
After Joselito Adame and Uriel Moreno "El Zapata" fought their first bulls, El Pana entered the ring for his second bull, still being whistled. Completely unperturbed, he caped the bull with the capote, observed the picadors and banderilleros, and walked across the ring to the sunny seats to dedicate the bull.
Instead of dedicating the bull to a dignitary in the audience, or to the presiding judge of the bullring, he dedicated the bull and tossed his montera (hat) to a group of scantily clad girls in the front row there to advertise a certain Tijuana "gentleman's club."
He then proceeded to fight the bull, Cisne Blanco (White Swan), with the muleta. This time, he could do nothing wrong! Cisne Blanco, being a brave bull, charged his cape over and over, and El Pana never wavered. He dominated the bull. The crowd now loved him, and demanded the judge award two ears for his performance.
The fans threw flowers and bread to him. He then took the flowers and presented them to Hong Kong Club girls.
Apparently this was not the first time El Pana made such a gesture. At age 54, in what was supposed to be his last appearance in Plaza Mexico in Mexico City, he dedicated a bull to all of the prostitutes who comforted him in "his loneliest moments."
El Pana grew up poor and was given his nickname because as a young bullfighter he eked out a living by baking and selling bread. His career was checkered, and he battled alcoholism. He said he thought a bull might end his life, and unfortunately, one did.
The rose below is for El Pana, whose heart was as big as his swagger.
El Pana fighting Cisne Blanco.
Hong Kong girls catching the montera.
Club Hong Kong girls with El Pana's roses.
This rose was, and is, for El Pana.
Here is Ismael Gómez, "El Mayito," also at last Saturday's bullfight at Rancho Santa Veronica. Here he approaches the bull with his muleta (small cape).
Here is José Rodriguez "Pepehillo," also performing at last Saturday's bullfight at Rancho Santa Veronica.
And another photo of El Zotoluco from last Saturday's bullfight.
There was a benefit bullfight last Saturday at Rancho Santa Veronica, east of Tecate, Baja California. Santa Veronica is a former bull breeding ranch established by a former Tijuana matador, which is now a rustic resort, but maintains the beautiful stone bullring south of the resort. The proceeds benefited the Tecate DIF- which provides medical care for the poor.
Here is matador Eulalio López, "El Zotoluco," executing a graceful pass, as an assistant matador (left) and Ismael Gomez, "El Mayito" (right) look on behind the barrera.
