Sol y Sombra

Rafael Ortega (1970-2023)

I recently reviewed all of my photos of Rafael Ortega, whom I saw twice, once in Leon, Guanajuato in 2010, and once in Tijuana in 2011.

I posted a few of them last year, shortly after his passing.

I will post more now, over the next few posts.

Tijuana, Plaza Monumental, August 7, 2011:

 

 

 

Petatera 2023

Over the next few days I'll be posting images from the corrida of February 21, 2023 at La Petatera, the beautiful bullring in La Villa de Alvarez in Colima, Mexico.

Despite her repeating her name a number of times, I could not understand it! This lovely Alguacil (ceremonial bullring official on horseback) has performed her duties here over many years, and I've taken her photo many times!

An assistant to one of the matadors:

Paco Campos

Alexander (Paco) Campos, is a matador born in Zacatecas.

He was one of the matadors who faced a novillo (young bull) during a festival-corrida at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, on October 30, 2021.

A visit to the chapel:

Capote and hat:

Saluting the crowd:

Facing the novillo Mi Chavo:

Awarded an ear and enjoying his vuelta around the ring:

Around the Bullring: Plaza San Marcos

On October 30,2021, there was a corrida for retired matadors as well as one novillero from Colombia, which took place in Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, as part of the Festival de las Calaveras.

Here are a few scenes from before and during the corrida.

One of the novillos relaxes in the corrals before the event:

One of the bullring attendants:

I believe that this is the horse ridden by the Alguacilillo during the paseillo (opening procession):

The Alguacilillo would perform double-duty as a picador:

The picador's horse, ready for duty:

A member of the plaza's band heads towards his seat:

Bullring assistants enjoy a light moment:

Banderillas and capotes await the toreros:

Young aficionados:

Escuela de Toreros

Aguascalientes, Mexico, is the birthplace, literally, of scores of matadors.

Many of them begin by studying technique outside of the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes, like these young aspiring matadors.

 

 

Around the Bullring

Photos from Plaza Monumental de Aguascalientes, photographed on October 31 of last year:

Dancers dressed for Día de los Muertos:

An aficionada greets her friends at the bullfight:

Souvenir miniature chaquetilla:

Souvenir matador keychain:

Chaquetillas

Souvenir miniature chaquetillas, and montera keychains, for sale outside the Tlaxcala bullring.

Photographed in November 2016.

Spanish Fans

An array of souvenir Spanish fans, for sale outside Tijuana's Caliente bullring.

Photographed on July 8, 2018.

 

Banderillas

One of the monosabios (assistants) at Plaza Mexico brings banderillas to a member of the cuadrilla of Ernesto Javier "Calita." Photographed on November 10 of this year.

Monosabios

Two monosabios (bullring assistants), await their entrance into Plaza Mexico.

The sign on the left is legalese, releasing Plaza Mexico from liability for injuries to those entering the callejón without permission! (I had permission).

Photographed on December 10, 2019.

Capote Earrings

A lovely girl displays her capote (bullfight cape) earrings.

Photographed at Plaza Mexico on November 10 of this year.

Arturo Macias

Arturo Macias holds a rose thrown by a fan after his faena with his first bull of the afternoon.

Photographed at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on August 11, 2013.

Cotton Candy

A vendor selling algodón dulce, walks through the deserted upper section of Sól (sunny side).

Photographed in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on October 7, 2007 (my first bullfight!)

Conference

The alguacíl of Tijuana's Plaza Monumental lends an ear to an associate in the callejón.

Photographed on November 2, 2013.

Chaquetillas

Souvenir chaquetillas, outside the bullring in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Photographed on November 19, 2016.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores takes a spare moment to practice his passes in the bullring chapel in Xico, Veracruz.

Photographed on July 23, 2017.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores, in the bullring chapel in Xico, Veracruz, shortly before the bullfight on July 23, 2017.

Taquilla

An abstract photograph formed by the ticket windows (taquilla) and three posters advertising the bullfight (featuring Jose Mauricio).

Photographed on August 9, 2008, in Tecate, Baja California.

Ronda

Groundskeepers rake the sand in the lovely bullring in Ronda, Spain. Photographed on September 11, 2016.

Carnation

A young lady holds a carnation during the bullfight of November 21, 2015, thinking about tossing it to Andrés Roca Rey.

Cigar

A fan enjoys a cigar at the bullfights. Photographed at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on November 8, 2015.

Chaquetilla

Souvenir chaquetillas, or matador's jackets, on sale at La Petatera, in 2016.

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Though I have seen Pablo Hermoso perform ten times in plazas throughout Mexico, this photo of him warming up his horse at the LA Cetto winery in the Valle de Guadalupe is my favorite.

He owns at least thirty horses which he performs with, each specializes in either the opening of the corrida, the middle, or the end. I could not find a photo of this horse on his website, so I don't know its name.

Pablo's connection to his horses is essential to his success, and his pride in his horses is obvious.  He states on his website:

"Mi obra son los caballos que yo he fabricado, creado. Es mi mayor satisfacción."

"My work is the horses I have created, it is my greatest satisfaction."

Dancers

A dance troupe from Tijuana performs at Plaza Monumental in August of 2016.

Enrique Espinoza, El Cuate

Enrique Espinoza takes a drink out of the traditional matador's silver cup during his faena at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental. Photographed on August 7, 2011.