Author: Mauricio Alas

Fine Print a photo by Mauricio Alas.

A while ago, a few friends and I decided to get together to have a Posada™ which is a very popular Mexican tradition. Which also means that it is a very Christian tradition in some Latin countries meant to represent and/or recreate Maria and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem just before the arrival of Jesus into the world.

In the old country, their search is formalized by a “celebration consisting of a procession with candles, sometimes with individuals selected to play the parts of Mary and Joseph, or sometimes images of them are carried in their stead.” Think of it as a large scale diorama!

“…The procession will make its way to a particular home, where a special song is sung. In this song those outside the house sing the part of Joseph asking for shelter and the family inside responds singing the part of the innkeeper saying that there is no room. The song switches back and forth a few times until finally the innkeeper decides to let them in. The door is opened and everyone goes inside.”

It is quite the spectacle to behold…
And of course we did nothing of that sort. What we did was the getting together part. Yes, that part we got right.

Got a ton of food and with the help of three authentic-yet-legal-Mexicans friends we got to cooking authentic empanadas, tacos and quesadillas. Plus we drank a lot of wine, which I think goes with the spirit of the Holidays, right? In the end it was a very enjoyable feast along with the company of some very (legal) good friends.

Now, this capture was taken while one of my non-Mexican friends and possibly an illegal Bulgarian was reading a tiny Bible we found at our host’s house. He looked hilarious and a bit on the adorable side so I took my camera out and clicked away.

This photo was taken using a D700 and a 50mm lens.

A Storm Is A Comin’ a photo by Mauricio Alas.

As you know, weather has been peculiar interesting in Toronto this Summer. With intense, dramatic thunderstorms the like we are more likely to see in movies than in our fair, humble metropolis. Personally, these news make me very happy, for you see, although you will get drenched from head to toe, storms, like many other meteorological instances are but the playground of photographers. What better way to dramatically capture mother nature in what she does best?

Earlier in the Summer, in the first of one of these major storms, I worked my way to the 28th floor in my building to capture this omnious storm front approaching. It was magnificent. To feel the wind pressure change against you, the droplets hitting hard on your skin, the cacophany of thunder and the overwhelming, humbling feeling that in the end, we are at the mercy of nature. Better than any Wonderland ride I have even been to.

This photo was captured with a Nikon 700D, 17-35 at f4. Near Yonge and Bloor, downtown Toronto.

Ironing Lonely a photo by Mauricio Alas.

As I walked through the back alleys of downtown Toronto, this image suddenly presented itself to me. A little peculiar and definitely not something I see everyday.

Because of the large hotel and the vast number of empty windows, this singular figure carried a lot more weight than at first glance.

It made me focus on the proverbial loneliness of the traveler and the dissociative tendencies & mode operandi of most hotels. He is doing what he needs to do near a window, as if looking out into the world passing him by while he does one of the most mundane of shores. Maybe trying to cheer himself up and getting ready for the rat race to come the following day. Since the view of that suite would not have been much to look at… There are two large buildings just south of this hotel thus blocking the view of most of downtown, but better than looking at a wall.

This photo was taken using a Nikon D700 and 50mm, 1.8 lenses.

Ironing Lonely a photo by Mauricio Alas.

As I walked through the back alleys of downtown Toronto, this image suddenly presented itself to me. A little peculiar and definitely not something I see everyday.

Because of the large hotel and the vast number of empty windows, this singular figure carried a lot more weight than at first glance.

It made me focus on the proverbial loneliness of the traveler and the dissociative tendencies & mode operandi of most hotels. He is doing what he needs to do near a window, as if looking out into the world passing him by while he does one of the most mundane of shores. Maybe trying to cheer himself up and getting ready for the rat race to come the following day. Since the view of that suite would not have been much to look at… There are two large buildings just south of this hotel thus blocking the view of most of downtown, but better than looking at a wall.

This photo was taken using a Nikon D700 and 50mm, 1.8 lenses.