My last quarter of the year was difficult. Too many job responsibilities ended up creating a burnout effect, and this little project called FILM RICK took the hit.
However, after getting some rest, I’m getting some energy back and am ready with another article to finish the year properly.
I truly believe this has been my best year as a photography enthusiast (I’ve never felt comfortable with the term “photographer,” as I do this as a hobby, not in a professional or full-time manner).
I was reviewing my 62 rolls shot this year (around ~1600 images), and I’ve picked 20 of my favorite ones. I’m not sure if they are the “best”; I just pick them because I like them. I’ll be sharing a few lines for each one and why they made it into this top.
Picks of 2025
I will enumerate them, but they are in no particular order, it is just to give some progress feedback to the reader (you).
20 - Aztec Girl
I clearly remember this one. It was around March. I remember it because it was one of the few occasions where I asked if I could get a picture. It wasn’t that hard because those urban artists are there for people to ask them for pictures. However, it was a first for me, and I’m glad I did it. Fun Fact: this was my first developing and scanning ever (I got better at it later).
19 - Abandoned Car
Those close to me know I’m a sucker for apocalyptic stories, especially if they have zombies in them. As soon as I saw this car, I knew I had an end-of-world scene. I can imagine zombies roaming behind the car in a snowy ambiance.
18 - Fer & Mo
An abandoned small boat. Fer & Mo which might stand for Fernando and Monica. Are they still together? Where are they now? Did love flourish or evaporate? It’s a cute love story that will remain a mystery.
17 - Sorting things out
I took this one quick. The old man was sorting out a bunch of nails or screws. He seemed really focused, and I would rather not disturb him. I don’t think he noticed I took the picture. I love when I’m able to capture the essence of someone caring for his craft.
16 - Virgin will take care of us
There’s a small park near where I live. In it, there’s an area dedicated to the garbage collectors. This is where they keep their collection cart—a couple of drums, a twig broom, and bags for sorting trash. The area is usually closed in the afternoons. One day, I walked by and peered through the gap in the gate. It struck me as an interesting sight: the carts waiting for the next morning to get back to work. What I found even more compelling was a small altar to the Virgin Mary. Mexicans tend to venerate her almost everywhere, and here was yet another proof of that devotion.
15 - Rick shot first
I use Uber to get to work, and I normally have my small Olympus XA3 ready to grab a street scene. This time, I was around the Reforma Avenue area, and I noticed this person getting ready to shoot. As if it were the Wild West, I drew first and shot him.
14 - Mega City
Big cities have a charm that is difficult to explain. If we talk about Mexico City, make that 2X. This city is architecturally wonderful. I try to grab as many urban landscapes as I can. This is one of my favorites, as I feel it has a pretty good layering. I took this one from the very roof of my work office. Some days I feel CDMX will become Mega-City One, from Dredd’s world.
13 - Rick Wick
I was walking around the neighborhood, and I saw this doggy friend. He looked dangerous, but he’s a cute, loving one. I got closer to get a picture of him, and suddenly, he posed for me. The Audi in the back made the picture even cooler, as if he’s the guardian. When I developed this picture, I thought it had vibes from John Wick. As you can see by now, I’m such a nerd with movies, books, and photography.
12 - Life Wanderer
In one of my usual visits to Mexico City (CDMX) downtown, I was looking around, and I saw this scene. At first, I hesitated: “what if she sees me and gets mad?”. However, she was completely lost in her thoughts, so I took the frame as quickly as I could. Was she wondering about life? Choices she made? Dreams she might have?
11 - Good bye flag
In the very center of Mexico City’s Zocalo, a big Mexican flag waves proudly during the day. In the afternoon, the military takes it down. I took this one in the final moments of the “event.” Does it seem a bit cinematic? Not sure, but I think it captures the moment.
10 - Dramatic Sky
It was getting dark, and I was getting out of my favorite bookstore. Wind was getting chill, and the rain was menacing. I looked up, and I noticed this scene, with the tower and a dramatic sky. No other thing left to do than get my camera and capture the mood of the scene.
9 - Lost in music
I was attending a classical music concert in the Castillo de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Castle). It was beautiful: piano and violin. Luckily, I had my Yashica LM with me, super quiet. I framed the best I could, as I didn’t want to disturb anyone, and I made the picture. I love the final result. The violin player is a bit blurry, but the silhouette captures the essence. However, the person in front of me improves the frame, as he seems focused and truly enjoying the spectacle.
8 - Castle Tower
I love castles so much that sometimes I think I belong to the medieval era. Sun was beautiful in the Chapultepec Castle, so taking advantage of the fact that no one was getting in my pictures, I took my time and captured the side of the tower. I’d love to live there.
7 - Call my name and save me from the dark
Sometimes, if you’re aware of your surroundings and have your camera ready, life will gift you a pretty nice scene. I was in the Basilica de Guadalupe when suddenly, I noticed that hallway. That day was packed (as usual). I was thinking, “I’m pretty sure several people will start crossing the hallway, but I need just one!”. Then, out of nowhere, this woman started walking to it, and I was like, “Yes!” I wasn’t sure it was going to turn out well, as the light was really dim; however, my Olympus XA2 managed it like a champion. One of my favorites of this year.
6 - Infinite City I
I don’t like heights. I have plenty of vertigo. However, I knew someday I had to make it. It was a Saturday when I decided to go to the observation deck of the Torre Latinoamericana, the once tallest building of Latin America. It is so high that it feels unreal. Obviously, I took my pictures as fast as I could and then got back to the ground.
5 - Infinite City II
This is another view of Mexico City from the heights. I love the river of cars. They seem to come from infinity. I’m thinking that later, I will return with a medium format camera to get more details. Not sure when.
4 - Out of nowhere
I was getting out of Café Centrina and ready to return home. As usual, before asking for an Uber, I was checking the surroundings to see if anything was worth a picture. Then I saw the chair. Honestly, it looked like a dark figure sitting there, with some sort of rotten arm. It reminded me a bit of the Dark Riders of Lord of the Rings. I got on one knee and I was about to press the shutter when out of nowhere, those two love birds jumped into the frame in a passionate kiss. I pressed the shutter, got back standing and asked for my Uber. From darkness to love in less than a second.
3 - The Tower is the center of all things
The Torre Latinoamericana provides awesome urban landscapes from almost any area of downtown. Every time I see it, it reminds me of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. I love it. This is one of the subjects I photograph the most. I like to think that all these people are doing the same as Roland: looking for the tower.
2 - The shoulders of the giants
In Reforma avenue, you can find several skyscrapers. I happened to be right next to two of them. The winter sun was beautiful and soft, so I pointed up and grabbed this one.
1 - Stairway to heaven
Would you climb this post and dance on the top of it? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t do it even if the prize was any amount of money you asked for. Well, this is what the Voladores de Papantla (let’s translate as Papantla Flyers) do. Five of them climb the post, they tie a rope to their waist, and while one of them starts a pre-Hispanic dance on the very top, the others descend upside down while rotating. It’s a super spectacle. Google “voladores de papantla” to see what I’m talking about.
This is my favorite picture of the year, as it gives you the view they have when climbing. I am not sure if you have to be crazy or believe so much in your gods to do it. It gives me the chills just to think about it.
This is the real stairway to heaven.
Good year for FILM RICK
This year marked my return to analog photography. I believe I got some cool pictures, and I’m excited about what’s next.
Meanwhile, I’d like to thank you for being here, with me, talking photography.
I hope you have a happy new year and celebrate, because we only have one life, and we need to make the most of it every single day.
Cheers, amigos.
