Sol y Sombra

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog, Sol y Sombra.

In this blog I share photos of bullfights I have attended over the past fourteen years, in no particular order.

Though I post photos of recent bullfights (as soon as I get to them), this is not a bullfighting news blog. Instead, I wish to emphasize the mood, color, beauty and drama which can only be found in La Fiesta Brava.

Enjoy the photos and share with any of your bullfight aficionado friends. (remember: corridafotos.com)

All photos are available as signed canvas prints, and traditional, signed prints on fine-art paper, please inquire.

¡Que viva la fiesta brava!

Blake

Rafael Ortega, 1970-2023

Tlaxcaltecan matador Rafael Ortega passed away this week at the young age of 53.

I was privileged to see him in the ring twice, once in León, Guanajuato in January, 2010, in a cartel with El Juli and Mario Aguilar (1991-2018), and then the following year in Tijuana, in a cartel with Humberto Flores and Enrique Espinoza "El Cuate."

In León:

 

In Tijuana:

 

Antonio García "El Chihuahua"

El Chihuahua passes the toro Don Renato (ganadería Fernando de la Mora) within a shaft of sunlight.

Photographed at Tijuana's Nuevo Toreo on July 3 of this year.

Gallery Show: Feria San Marcos

I am pleased to announce that 41 photographs from my 14 years of bullfight photography will be featured at the Madama Gallery and Cafe during the 2022 Feria San Marcos.

The exhibition will run from April 19 through May 22, with a reception on Saturday, April 23, from 2-4 p.m.

The gallery is located in the historic center of Aguascalientes on Calle Nieto 403, and is open every day except Sunday.

I hope you can join me!

 

Picador

A picador pics a bull, Carazo (ganadería El Batan), for matador Christian Aparicio.

Photographed at the L.A. Cetto Vineyards in April, 2016.

Christian Aparicio

Matador Christian Aparicio awaits a bullfight a L.A. Cetto Vineyards.

Photographed on April 9, 2016.

Juan Gómez "Dinastía, cont.

More photos of Juan Gómez "Dinastía" at Plaza San Marcos, Aguascalientes, on October 30, 2021:

 

 

Juan Gómez "Dinastía"

The corrida at Plaza San Marcos on October 30, 2021, consisted of six retired matadors, followed by Colombian novillero Juan Gómez "Dinastía."

This novillero displayed a commanding presence and transmitting great emotion to the audience with his novillo Don Laza.

Though he did not succeed with his first attempt with the sword, to me he displayed great ability and promises a great future.

 

 

Caping his novillo:

Preparing to dedicate his faena:

 

 

More of Juan Gómez tomorrow.

Plaza San Marcos: Festival Corrida, October 30, 2021

A few other moments from the Festival Corrida held at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes on October 30, 2021.

Carlos Barbosa warms up with his capote:

 

Carlos Barbosa "El Peque" and the novillo Venadito:

 

Judas Tadeo and the novillo Pinguinito:

 

This boy served as a banderillero, earning applause from the crowd for his fine efforts:

 

A native of Aguascalientes, Jorge Delgado "Evodio" capes his novillo Toto:

 

Ricardo Carmona watches the final moments of his novillo, Gitano.

 

Carlos Montes holds the ear of his novillo, Principe.

 

Paco Campos

Alexander (Paco) Campos, is a matador born in Zacatecas.

He was one of the matadors who faced a novillo (young bull) during a festival-corrida at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, on October 30, 2021.

A visit to the chapel:

Capote and hat:

Saluting the crowd:

Facing the novillo Mi Chavo:

Awarded an ear and enjoying his vuelta around the ring:

Around the Bullring: Plaza San Marcos

On October 30,2021, there was a corrida for retired matadors as well as one novillero from Colombia, which took place in Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, as part of the Festival de las Calaveras.

Here are a few scenes from before and during the corrida.

One of the novillos relaxes in the corrals before the event:

One of the bullring attendants:

I believe that this is the horse ridden by the Alguacilillo during the paseillo (opening procession):

The Alguacilillo would perform double-duty as a picador:

The picador's horse, ready for duty:

A member of the plaza's band heads towards his seat:

Bullring assistants enjoy a light moment:

Banderillas and capotes await the toreros:

Young aficionados:

Escuela de Toreros

Aguascalientes, Mexico, is the birthplace, literally, of scores of matadors.

Many of them begin by studying technique outside of the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes, like these young aspiring matadors.

 

 

Luis David Adame

Luis David performs with his second bull, Teruquin (Begoña), during the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes's Plaza Monumental:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately Luis David did not kill on his first attempt and was only awarded applause.

Luis David Adame

Luis David is one of the Adame brothers in the dynasty of matadors from Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Here he performs in the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes on October 31, 2021.

His first bull, Luminoso (ganadería Begoña):

More photos of Luis David and his second bull tomorrow!

Leo Valadez

Leo Valadez, one of Mexico's young and talented matadors, from Aguascalientes, performing in Aguascalientes at the Festival de las Calaveras on October 31, 2021.

Caping his first bull, Vivaracho (Perky) (Ganadería Begoña):

Ready to place banderilas:

After a series of passes with Vivaracho:

Citing for the kill. Leo would be awarded one ear:

Leo's second bull, Bien Querido, distracted while Leo makes his dedication before the faena:

With Bien Querido (Begoña):

Emilio de Justo, cont.

More photos from Emilio de Justo's second bull, Siempre Alegre, on October 31, 2021, in Aguascalientes, Mexico:

Exulting after a successful series of passes with the muleta:

Celebrating a successful kill:

Dos orejas:

Emilio de Justo, cont.

More photos of Emilio de Justo from the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes, on October 31,  2021.

Emilio's second bull of the day, Siempre Alegre (Begoña), enters the ring with enthusiasm, as its name would suggest!

More photos tomorrow!

Emilio de Justo

38 year-old Spanish matador Emilio de Justo has taken the New World by storm during his campaign during the last few months.

Here he is during the corrida on October 31, 2021, in Plaza Monumental de Aguascalientes, during the Festival de las Calaveras.

With his first bull, Devoto (ganadería Begoña):

More photos of Emilio and his second bull tomorrow.

Around the Bullring

Photos from Plaza Monumental de Aguascalientes, photographed on October 31 of last year:

Dancers dressed for Día de los Muertos:

An aficionada greets her friends at the bullfight:

Souvenir miniature chaquetilla:

Souvenir matador keychain:

Festival de las Calaveras, Aguascalientes, Novillada: Picadors and Banderilleros

With the novillo Antepasado (ganadería San Martín), for Alejandro Adame:

A Banderillero with Campo Santo, for Emiliano Robledo:

Festival de las Calaveras, Aguascalientes, Novillada: Emiliano Robledo

Another novillero from Aguascalientes, Emiliano Robledo, performing at the Festival de las Calaveras novillada at Plaza San Marcos on October 29, 2021.

His first novillo, Buen Recuerdo (ganadería San Martín):

With his second novillo, Campo Santo:

He had a difficult faena with Campo Santo, being upended more than once, but fortunately was not injured:

His award:

Festival de las Calaveras, Aguascalientes, Novillada: Miguel Aguilar

Another Aguascalientes novillero, Miguel Aguilar, performing in Plaza San Marcos on October 29, 2021.

Caping his first novillo, Místico (ganadería San Martín):

A rodillas:

Miguel asked to fight the reserve novillo, Espiritú (ganadería San Martín).

Finishing his capework with a flourish:

Miguel was awarded two ears for his performance with Espíritu. He looks upward, likely dedicating the award to his brother Mario.

Festival de las Calaveras, Aguascalientes, Novillada: Alejandro Adame

Alejandro Adame, performing on October 29, 2021, at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Entering the bullring:

With his first bull, Antepasado (ganadería San Martín):

With his second bull, Pan de Muerto:

Alejandro would win only applause during this novillada.

Festival de las Calaveras, Aguascalientes: Novillada

I attended the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in the week surrounding Day of the Dead.

For photos of the town and its festivities, please see my other blog, www.photoabcs.com and scroll down to the posts, or click here.

There was one novillada (event for aspiring matadors, or novilleros) on October 29 at Plaza San Marcos, one corrida on October 31 at Plaza Monumental, and two other events for aficionados practicos (amateurs) at Plaza San Marcos.

I'll begin with photos from the novillada, featuring Miguel Aguilar, Alejandro Adame and  Emiliano Robledo, all aspiring novilleros from Aguascalientes.

Before the paseíllo (entrance of the matadors), there was a performance of dancers dressed for Day of the Dead:

Entrance of the novilleros, preceded by the alguacilillo (ceremonial horseman who opens the corrida).  From left to right: Miguel Aguilar, Emiliano Robledo, and Alejandro Adame:

Alejandro Adame, latest of the Aguascalientes family of toreros:

Miguel Aguilar:

A salute to the crowd:

More photos to follow!

Chaquetillas

Souvenir miniature chaquetillas, and montera keychains, for sale outside the Tlaxcala bullring.

Photographed in November 2016.

Leonardo Benitez

I have seen Leonardo Benitez perform three times in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental, but the last time was in 2011!

So it was my pleasure to see him perform last Saturday in a festival in honor of Eloy Cavazos at Rancho Santa Alicia, a private ranch southeast of Tijuana.

This was my second time at the lovely Rancho Santa Alicia, the last time being in 2013.

Leonardo's bull, Maestro, from Rancho Santa Alicia's ganadería Cervantes Limón.

Benitez caping the handsome Maestro:

The first series of passes ends inauspiciously:

He quickly regained composure and control over Maestro:

More photos from Rancho Santa Alicia will be coming in a few days!