Sol y Sombra

Spanish Fans

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

Photographed on July 8, 2018.

 

Alfredo Ríos, "El Conde"

Alfredo Ríos, "El Conde" exults after placing banderillas.

Photographed on April 8, 2018, during El Conde's farewell performance at Tijuana's Plaza Caliente.

El Calita

The bull Don Alberto (ganadería El Vergel) follows the muleta of Ernesto Javier, El Calita.

Photographed on August 11 in Tijuana's Plaza Caliente.

El Calita

Ernesto Javier "El Calita" attracts the attention of his first bull, "Don Alberto" (ganadería El Vergel), during the bullfight on August 11, 2019, in Tijuana's Caliente bullring.

El Calita

Ernesto Javier "El Calita" gestures towards his first bull, "Don Alberto" (ganadería El Vergel), during the bullfight on August 11, 2019, in Tijuana's Caliente bullring.

 

El Calita

Ernesto Javier, "El Calita" warms up with his capote prior to the bullfight in Tijuana on August 11, 2019.

El Calita

The bull Don Alberto (ganadería Xajay) follows the muleta of Ernesto Javier, "El Calita" at Tijuana's Caliente bullring.

Photographed on August 11 of this year.

Jerónimo

The matador Jerónimo looks out onto Tijuana's Caliente bullring. Photographed on August 11 of this year.

Abstract

The bull Cerati (ganadería Xajay), charges the muleta of Fermín Rivera.

Photographed in Tijuana's Caliente bullring on August 11, 2019.

Ernesto Javier "El Calita"

El Calita prepares to dedicate his first bull, Don Alberto (ganadería El Vergel) during the bullfight on August 11, 2019, in Tijuana's Caliente bullring.

Sebastián Castella

Sebastián Castella, performing at the Corrida Goyesca in Tijuana's Caliente bullring on May 6, 2018.

Fermín Espinoza, Armillita IV

Fermín Espinoza lets sand from Tijuana's Caliente bullring run through his hand, showing his affection for Tijuana, after his performance on July 8 of this year.

Armillita will return to Tijuana this Sunday, along with Arturo Saldivar and rejoneador Diego Ventura.

Ignacio Garibay

Ignacio Garibay passes the bull Aguardiente at Tijuana's Caliente bullring. Photographed on September 23 of this year.

Puntillas

Puntillas, (daggers), photographed at Tijuana's Caliente bullring, on April 8, 2018.

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, performing in Tijuana's Caliente bullring on April 8 of this year, before a sellout crowd.

Compared to Tijuana's Plaza Monumental, I am not crazy about the atmosphere in the Caliente portable bullring, and there are many obstructions when taking photos, but the light filtering through the structure in the late afternoon affords some very interesting lighting effects. I'm getting to like it!

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, the most renowned rejoneador in the world, performed in Tijuana on April 8 of this year.

This was the tenth time I have seen Pablo Hermoso, and each time he is electrifying. Here he attracts the attention of the bull.

Alfredo Rios, El Conde

Another photo of Alfredo Rios, El Conde, during his farewell appearance in Tijuana on April 8 of this year.

Cachanilla

The bull, Cachanilla enters the Caliente bullring in Tijuana, to face matador José Mauricio, during the bullfight of July 8, 2018.

Banderillas

Photographed at Tijuana's Caliente bullring on July 8, 2018.

Alfredo Rios, El Conde

This is one of my favorite photos taken so far in Tijuana's Caliente plaza de toros.

Alfredo Rios, El Conde, performs a pass on the bull Chamuco (ganadería Guanamé), during the bullfight on April 8 of this year.

I like the way the matador, bull, muleta (cape), banderillas, and sand are highlighted by the sunlight, surrounded by shadow.

This would be El Conde's last bullfight in Tijuana, part of his farewell tour.

Uriel Moreno, El Zapata

El Zapata, performing in Tijuana's Caliente bullring on August 19 of this year.

Uriel Moreno, El Zapata

Another picture emphasizing light and shadow, of Uriel Moreno, El Zapata.

Photographed at the Caliente bullring in Tijuana on August 19 of this year.

Antonio García, El Chihuahua

There have not been bullfights in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental for at least a year. Fortunately, there have been bullfights at the Caliente portable bullring.

I must say I enjoyed the atmosphere at Plaza Monumental much more than Caliente, it felt like stepping through the portals at Plaza Monumental was stepping into a world apart from the modern one.

One aspect I do appreciate about Caliente's portable bullring, though, is that in the afternoon rays of sunlight filter through openings in the structure to create interesting pockets of light and shadow. I've tried to capture this in my photos, some of which are less about the action and more about the interplay of light and shadow, which I'll be sharing now and in future posts.

Here is a picture of Antonio García, El Chihuahua, during the corrida of August 19, 2018.

Swords

Swords for Arturo Macías, in Tijuana's Plaza Caliente, July 8, 2018.

Espadas para Arturo Macías, en la plaza Caliente, Tijuana, 8 julio, 2018.

Fermín Espinoza "Armillita IV"

Fermin Espinoza is the fourth generation in a family of matadors, thus his nickname, Armillita IV.

Here he stands ready while another matador's bull faces the picador.