My proposed work, Montaña Roja, aims to continue and expand upon the themes I’ve explored in my previous projects, focusing on migration, resilience, and empowerment.
For more than 10 years I have been going to the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico, documenting the lives of communities facing economic hardship, limited opportunities, cartel violence, and the collapse of poppy production due to the rise of fentanyl. These conditions have forced many families to migrate, leaving behind their homes in search of a better life. I have photographed their struggles and hopes as they navigate displacement and separation.
For this new chapter, I want to focus on the direct connection between the mountains of Guerrero and the United States, following the journeys of migrants and their families. Many rural households in Guerrero rely on remesas (remittances) sent from relatives in the U.S., which today bring more income to Mexico than sectors like oil or tourism. I will document both the migrants who build new lives in the U.S. and their relatives who remain in Guerrero, exploring how changing U.S. immigration policies, especially under the Trump administration, affect both sides of this migration chain. Recent ICE raids and indiscriminate deportation practices have deepened this crisis, leaving many migrants afraid to leave their homes for work, disrupting not only their livelihoods but also the economic lifeline that supports their families back in Guerrero.
This project will take shape as a photo essay, documentary film, and collaborative process with the families. Their participation will be central: they will help shape the narratives and take part in creating portraits and photographs that reflect their voices and perspectives. By connecting Guerrero with the communities formed abroad, Montaña Roja will highlight the ongoing struggle for survival, dignity, and hope, while honoring the resilience of those who migrate and those who stay.
Author biography
Born in Tepic, Nayarit on 1983.
My photos focus on people and their stories about migration, human rights and climate change. My work has been published on: Time Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, National Geographic, Der Spiegel, The New York Times, El Pais Semanal, El Pais, Le Monde, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The Washington Post, among others.
I directed and filmed 4 personal short films: “Huicholes del Tabaco”, “If Hell Existed”, “Guerrero, Amapola” and “Matamoros, Dreams on Hold”
In 2022, my first photobook was published: “Montaña Roja” which was chosen as one of the top 10 photobooks recommended by the MoMa, NY and as a Finalist at the Paris Photo Aperture Book Prize 2023.
My second book, Hoja Dorada, was a finalist of Arles, Les Rencontres de la photography 2024, Author Book Award and at Paris photo Aperture Award for photobook of the year 2024
Based in Xalisco, México