Photo essay: The everyday in San Miguel de Allende

I grew up in my father’s darkroom, which is where I learned the process of black and white photography. Since then, the camera has become my eyes. Taking photos is my way of connecting, communicating; I’m attempting to document life in front of me through my lens. Rather than using words to describe life, I photograph it.

For me, it’s always been about the human face — not just as a subject, but as a way to tap into our shared humanness. I use my lens to document a genuine reality rather than a polished version of it, looking for the quiet truths found in everyday, unscripted moments.

I’m drawn to these moments because they are things most people wouldn’t stop to look at or pay much attention to. I find “truth” in quiet, unscripted moments in time. People living and going about their days feels spontaneous and genuine. They are unstaged and real. These photos are a few of many from my time living and traveling in and around San Miguel, where I’m just trying to connect and capture people,  life, as it truly is.

Sherry Rubel is an international photographer who cares about documentary storytelling and the ways people connect. After several trips to San Miguel, she’s found a deep rhythm in the local culture, capturing life exactly as it happens. She is drawn to the way Mexico feels so raw and real. 

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