In my last post I explained to you guys about the Foundry Photojournalism workshop and about arriving in Mexico.

Now I want to show you the first set of images I made while there.
On out forth day in Mexico, Yuda and I made our way to the Zocolo. Mexico city’s main square where social activity is the norm. Every year hundreds of demonstrations, gatherings and shows are held in the Zocolo’s space and on the day we arrived there - we found our selves a photographic gold mine.

Expecting to take some “city square” shots we quietly made our way to the Zocolo.
As we were walking up towards it we we were surprised to discover thousands upon thousands of Punk, Hardcore and Emo kids.
As it turns out a Death Metal concert was being held in the Zocolo and members of many different youth groups and gangs had shown up for the occasion.
Invigorated by this discovery Yuda & I spent the next hour runnig around between these kids, taking photos and enjoying the concert.
At this point I began to spot about a dozen or so other photographers. Judging by behavior and equipment most were hobbyists with the exception of one or two who looked more like they were professionals, but then again you can never really tell.

Towards the end of the concert, a general sense of tension was growing. Glass bottles were being thrown from one side of the crowded Zocolo to the other side. Violence was braking out left and right, and as things got worse police officers moved in.
Within minutes the concert ended and the violence began to grow - more punches, glass bottles and curses were being thrown.
The police, figuring it was time for them to force the kids to disperse otherwise things would get worse.
Well, to tell you the truth- I think they made things worse.
The moment police began to gather and tried to move the kids out of the Zocolo- the violence grew even bigger. But this time, it had a single coherent direction- the police.
Glass shards, rocks and pretty much anything they could get their hands on began making it’s way, air born, towards the police.
At this point, looking around, I realized I was alone with the police. The other photographers, showing their true nature as hobbyists backed away out of danger. I, on the otherhand, chose to stick close to where the action was… otherwise how would I learn?

Over the next half hour I photographed, as well as I could, the rioting.
But I also learned an important lesson… the hard way. Most of my photos from the riot are rubbish. The reasons are thus:

1. I was on the wrong side. Feeling safer next to the police I found my self very limited with what I could actually photograph.How many photos of policemen can you take?
2. I don’t know Spanish. I don’t know Mexico. I’ve never documented a riot before.
   This all means I didn’t have the self confidence needed for this event.
3. I decided it was time to leave when two kids tore a public pay phone out of the pavement right next to me…

Fearing being arrested or hurt I decided after about a half hour it was time to leave.
That was inexperience talking, but it convinced me and I left, just in time to meet a couple of local Mexican news photographers who showed up to do their job…

One thing is for sure though - next time… I will stay till the end.

Here is my series from that day.