In this 30 second long exposure photograph by José Eugenio Gómez Rodríguez, we see multiple lightning strikes just outside the city limits of Hermosillo, located in the northwestern state of Sonora, Mexico. Hermosillo is the capital and main economic center for the state and region. It contains almost all of the state’s manufacturing and has thirty percent of its population.
The photograph was taken back in October of 2008 with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (30 sec/ƒ 7.1/ISO 200/22 mm).
“Lightning Crashes” is a song by the rock band Live, from their 1994 album, Throwing Copper.
The National Pyrotechnic Festival is an annual event that takes place in Tultepec, Mexico. The festival promotes the country’s tradition of production and use of fireworks in honour of John of God, the patron saint of fireworks makers. Tultepec produces about half of all Mexico’s fireworks.
The main event, a parade of “toritos” or bull-shaped frames with fireworks on them, began in the mid 19th century. The modern national festival began in 1989 and includes various events including fireworks competitions, but the main event remains that of the toritos, with about 250 “running” along the streets of Tultepec in 2013. [Source]
The National Pyrotechnic Festival lasts for nine days and attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the municipality. Although the event started locally, it is now open to all fireworks makers in Mexico. There are three main events along with amusement rides, concerts, dance, release of sky lanterns and regional food.
Castillos: The first of the main events is a contest of “castillos” (lit. castles). Castillos are frames made of wood, reed and paper to which various fireworks are affixed. These fireworks are set off to make images and/or parts of the castillo structure move. The castillos created for this event measure between twenty five and thirty meters, requiring about fifteen days to build. When set off, they take between twenty and thirty minutes to go through all of their features
Pamplonada: The second, oldest and most important event is the “pamplonada.” Named after the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain, these “little bulls” or “toritos” are also fireworks frames. The larger toritos are made by groups of thirty to forty people and can have as many as 4,000 fireworks on them. In the 2013 event, over 250 of these toritos were registered to participate.
Contest: The last of the major event is also a contest. This contest involves performances that combine fireworks and music.
Photographer Thomas Prior attended the festival and took an incredible series of images (19 total) that you can find on his personal website. It shows fireworks being lit in very close proximity to attendees.
Located in the mouth of Banderas Bay are the beautiful Las Marietas Islands, about 22 nautical miles west of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Formed by volcanic activity over thousands of years, the islands are a nationally protected bird sanctuary, also providing shelter for countless marine species.
After years of scientific research and an intensive effort to legally protect this archipelago, first championed by Jacques Cousteau, it was finally pronounced a national park, Parque Nacional Islas Marietas, in 2005. The park spans almost 1,400 hectares.
On one of the islands is Playa de Amor, more commonly known as Hidden Beach. To reach this secluded paradise, visitors need to swim through a short tunnel, opening up into the stunning beach seen here. There are a number of tour operators providing day trips to this ecological marvel.
Below you will find images of Hidden Beach along with a video tour and additional information on Las Marietas Islands.
You can find Playa de Amor aka Hidden Beach on Bing Maps (which on this occasion, strangely offers a better view than Google Maps)
Las Marietas are an important area for nesting, refuge, reproduction and migration of at least 92 species of aquatic and sub-aquatic birds, native and migratory. The islands shelter the biggest colony and breeding ground in Mexico for the white-capped marine swallow (Anöus stolidus) and the band-tailed swallow (Sterna anaethetus), as well as the largest population in the Pacific Ocean of the curious laughing sea gull (Larus atricilla).
It is thought that these islands are home to the largest population in the world of the pájaro bobo café, a penguin species, sula Leucogaster, the latest census estimating them at more than 35,000 individuals. Along with those, you may also enjoy the beautiful blue-footed booby, who also nest in the Galapagos Islands.
According to the last scientific study of the Las Marietas, it was determined that the islands possess the greatest abundance of reef fish, home to 103 of the 159 registered species in Banderas Bay, as well as diverse species of coral. During the winter whales use the islands as a natural refuge from predators and ocean currents.
In this capture by photographer Ivan Andreevich we see the beautiful Tangolunda Bay in Huatulco, Mexico. The photo was taken with Nikon D90 + Tokina 11-16mm at around 6:40 am at sunrise.
Huatulco, centered on the town of La Crucecita, is a tourist development in Mexico. It is located on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca. Huatulco’s tourism industry is centered on its nine bays, Tangolunda being one of the most stunning.
