Festival Time in San Miguel de Allende

Join renowned travel photographer Nevada Wier in San Miguel de Allende, a vibrant colonial town over 400 years old and one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. The streets are rich with colors, aromas, and sounds, and the endless drama of Mexican life is evident around every corner. 

The workshop is designed to coincide with one of the most important traditions, from colonial times to the present—the 100+ year celebration of the patron saint San Miguel Arcángel (St. Michael). It is a three-day festival starting on Friday, October 2nd, that begins around 2:30 am with a long parade of enormous stars made of colorful paper around the main plaza. Afterwards, the most important event is La Alborada (roughly translated “to attack the dawn, a pyrotechnic spectacle that represents the fight of Archangel San Miguel against Lucifer. It begins at the cathedral around 4 am and lasts about an hour. So be prepared for an all-nighter and seriously loud, fiery fireworks that are happening all around you. It is a fierce battle of good against evil! It is intense and great fun.

The festival continues through the weekend with events such as “the blessing of the horses”; hundreds of riders amass at the Parroquía to receive a blessing from the high priest. Later in the day is the “Entrance of the Xúchiles,” a unique parade where the concheros (traditional Aztec dancers) show their native dances to offer xuchiles (beautiful offerings). 

The first two days of the workshop are intensive lectures by Nevada to fire up your creative photographic juices and prepare you for working in low light and quick action during the three days of the festival. Nevada discusses technical, practical, and creative techniques in order to make an image that elevates itself above the usual clichés. We will discuss ways to approach and photograph people, working in all lighting and environmental conditions, using natural light as well as fill-flash. During the week, there will be group and individual critiques and great fun in the field.

The emphasis is on elevating your creative vision and expanding your photographic technique, all while remaining fleet-footed and agile. It is important that you are in good shape and willing to work late nights on your own in crowds. 

This workshop is not for inactive people. It requires a very early morning event that is not for the faint of heart, as the fireworks are intense. There is no way to photograph this event without being in the middle of it! The days are long, but there are amazing photo opportunities! A perfect event for photographers who revel in a robust festival!