Sol y Sombra

Irapuato, October 28, 2023: Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Every year I travel somewhere in Mexico to photograph Day of the Dead activities.

If it works out, I try to attend a bullfight before or after Day of the Dead.

This year I traveled to Michoacan for Day of the Dead (see my other blog, www.photoabcs.com in a few days when I begin posting those photos!)

I was able to attend one corrida in Irapuato on October 28, and another in León on November 4.

Each was exceptionally good!

Here are some photos of Pablo Hermoso in Irapuato, one of many stops on his despedida tour.

In the past 15 years I have seen Pablo at least a dozen times. In fact, seeing Pablo Hermoso 15 years ago is the reason I became interested in the Fiesta Brava!

This performance was his best I have seen in years. Though he cut two ears from each bull (ganadería: Montecristo), his performance with his second bull was exceptional. The pirouettes with his horses while riding away from the charging bull were a sight to behold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the next week as I post more photos from Irapuato as well as from León, Guanajuato, of Joselito Adame, Francisco Martinez, Diego Silveti and Andrés Roca Rey.

Diego Silveti

Diego Silveti warms up with his capote, as Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza warms up one of his horses. Photographed in Mexicali on April 11, 2015.

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Rejoneador Pablo Hermoso tosses a spectator's hat back during his "vuelta" around the ring in León, Guanajuato, January 31, 2010.

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."

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.

La Petatera: Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Rejoneador Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza enters La Petatera. Photographed in February of this year.