A little more than one year after escaping Yucatán just as the world was locking down, I finally made it back to México to visit a number of historic haciendas in the state of Hidalgo. Organized by my friend Humberto who helped coordinate the UTadventure Yucatán tours, I had the opportunity to see six estates that were in their heyday when production of the beverage pulque brought vast riches to this region north and east of México City as well as some ancient Aztec pyramids from a distance. We stayed in the ranch hacienda of Humberto’s friend Mimi, Hacienda San Francisco Ocotepec, which had been in her husband Jorge’s family for many generations. They were great hosts and provided wonderful hospitality while we were there. Through Mimi’s connections, we were able to gain access to locations and have unique photographic opportunities not afforded the general public. Part of the agreement to gain access to some locations was for us to do some architectural shots for the owners, so in addition to shooting at will, we also did some documentation shots along the way. This was a photography intensive tour that included 15 different shoots at 7 different primary locations. Our group had four photographers and were joined on the tour by three models, Sara Scarlet from Belgium, Cassidy Johnston from the US, and Natalie Carvayo from Mexico. The tour highlighted culture and history from this region of México including
- Hacienda San Francisco Ocotepec (Apan)
- Teotihuacán Aztec Pyramids (from an elevated balloon)
- Hacienda De Soapayuca (Axapusco)
- Hacienda San Diego Tlalayote (Apan)
- Hacienda Zotoluca (Apan)
- Hacienda San Antonio Ometusco (Axapusco)
- Hacienda Chimalpa (Chimalpa)
I flew into Mexico City the day before the tour officially initiated and stayed by the airport. We all began to gather at the airport the next day and then we headed out to our home base in Apan, Hildago at Hacienda Ocotepec. México City sits at roughly 7300′ and Hacienda Ocotepec was at 8200′. I didn’t initially realize this, and this high altitude added to some fatigue and lethargy while moving around, but overall the trip was great. The ranch has horses and cows, and Jorge is a horse enthusiast. We were treated to some amazing horsemanship, seeing them manage the horses in daily activity as well as with some special demonstrations by the charos in traditional costumes. Our first day was spent photographing a variety of wonderful scenes around the hacienda including animals, architecture, landscape, fashion, and models.
Horses at Sunrise
Our first full day was long and varied, and it began with a photoshoot at sunrise as they let the horses out to exercise in the fields. The land was covered in a morning fog and was beautifully backlit by the rising sun. Some of the horses had a mind of their own and it was interesting to watch the charro deftly herd them out in the right direction and through the gates. After the horses had their turn, some of the cows were let out as well.
Shooting Fashion Around the Hacienda Grounds
The beautiful hacienda had so many interesting sights, and after some breakfast, we did some roaming around and had our first opportunity to shoot with our models. The models were dressed primarily in fashion-style dresses.
Again after lunch and after a charro demonstration, we again shot around the hacienda. We then went over by the quarry that provided the stone for the hacienda, and on the frame structure of a building under construction, we shot the models in very long fashion dresses.
Charro Demonstrations and Traditional Mexican Costumesn, Passage, Bowing/Kneeling, Laying Down
Jorge and a few of his associates, in traditional charro costumes, put on some amazing horse riding demonstrations including quick stopping, riding in circles, and roping. Our models were also in traditional Mexican-style dresses, and this made for some beautiful photographic opportunities.
Again, near sunset, one of the charros brought out a couple of horses to a cactus field outside the hacienda gates, and provided an impressive demonstration of horse handling skills. He performed passage gait with the horse, having him basically prance in place. He made the horse kneel and bow down, and even go to laying down. He sat on him while he was down and then the horse got up with the rider on him. Really very impressive.
After a very long and varied day, we went back and had a delicious dinner at the hacienda.