Sol y Sombra

Joselito Adame

Joselito Adame places banderillas.

Photographed on January 31, 2010 in León, Guanajuato's Plaza de Toros La Luz.

Gerardo Sánchez

Gerardo Sánchez, then a novillero (now a matador de toros), faces the novillo Tepipiani from the ganadería Tenexac.

Photographed in Tlaxcala on November 20, 2016.

Sebastián Castella

French matador Sebastián Castella adjusts his montera while Juan del Álamo warms up with his capote.

Photographed on September 3, 2016, in Palencia, Spain.

This bullfight was notable for an indulto of a bull (ganadería Montalvo) by Miguel Ángel Perera.

I believe that the bulls presented at this bullfight were, as a group, the finest six bulls I have witnessed in the ring. The bulls charged as if on rails, and never stopped charging.

An excellent video of this bullfight can be found here.

El Calita

The bull Don Alberto (ganadería El Vergel) follows the muleta of Ernesto Javier, El Calita.

Photographed on August 11 in Tijuana's Plaza Caliente.

Rafa Serna

Spanish novillero (now matador de toros) Rafa Serna warms up with his capote in Tlaxcala, Mexico, during the bullfight of November 20, 2016.

El Juli

El Juli, photographed in Leon, Guanajuato, on January 30, 2010.

Alejandro Talavante

Alejandro Talavante, performing in Valladolid on Sept. 4, 2016, in the bullfight honoring Victor Barrio.

I'll be taking a weeklong break from posting on this blog, come back next week and there will be more photos from Spain and Mexico, photos of El Juli, Sebastián Castella, El Zotoluco, and many, many more!

José Tomás

José Tomás, performing in Valladolid on September 4, 2016, in Valladolid, Spain, in a bullfight in honor of matador Victor Barrio.

This was the first, and so far, only time I have seen José Tomás perform. The word purity is what came to mind while watching him. The supreme seriousness and purity of his actions in the ring are unparalleled in modern bullfighting. Though his appearances are limited I hope to see him again soon!

Los Aficionados de Los Angeles

It was my great pleasure to present a slide show "My Journey Into Bullfight Photography" to Los Aficionados de Los Angeles last night. It was great being able to share my journey and my pictures with a group of like-minded individuals and friends. I apologize that my projector did not seem to be properly calibrated to display shadows well, but most of the photos from the show are either on this blog already or will be posted in the coming weeks or months, keep checking back and you'll see the photos the way they were meant to appear! I'll also be posting lots of pictures I had to exclude for time considerations.

Thanks to Jimmie and Honey for the invitation, and I hope to see all of you during the upcoming temporada in Tijuana!

Here's a photo of Sebastián Castella, preparing for the corrida in Guadalajara on February 25, 2018.

 

Julian Lopez, El Juli

I have seen El Juli perform quite a few times in Mexico, but have never seen him perform with the conviction he showed in Valladolid, Spain, on September 4, 2016, during the bullfight honoring Victor Barrio (see post from two days ago).

Alejandro Talavante

Performing in Valladolid, Spain, on September 4, 2016, in a bullfight in homage to Victor Barrio. (see the previous post)

Alejandro Talavante

On September 4, 2016, a bullfight was held in Valladolid, Spain, in homage to Victor Barrio, a matador killed in a Spanish bullring in July 2016. Six of Spain's top matadors performed, facing one bull each. The event was sold out, and each matador paid tribute to his widow who was present.

The mood was tremendously respectful, each bull came from a different breeder, and each matador gave an inspired performance.

One of the matadors was Alejandro Talavante, pictured below.

Enrique Ponce

Enrique Ponce is perhaps the most elegant of all matadors.

Here he performs in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on November 1, 2009, facing a bull from the ganadería Teofilo Gomez.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores performs in Xico, Veracruz, on July 23, 2017.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores takes a spare moment to practice his passes in the bullring chapel in Xico, Veracruz.

Photographed on July 23, 2017.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores, in the bullring chapel in Xico, Veracruz, shortly before the bullfight on July 23, 2017.

Juan José Padilla

Spanish matador Juan José Padilla warms up with his capote.

Photographed in Mexicali on November 7, 2015.

Alejandro Martinez Vértiz

Alejandro Martinez Vértiz salutes the crowd and the presidente of the bullring after his faena. Photographed in Mexicali on April 11, 2015.

Diego Silveti

Diego Silveti warms up with his capote, as Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza warms up one of his horses. Photographed in Mexicali on April 11, 2015.

Diego Silveti

Diego Silveti, photographed in Mexicali on April 11, 2015.

Mexicali Beauty

A lovely young lady, dressed with a Spanish mantilla, flowers, and a traditional Spanish dress.

I took this photograph in Mexicali's Plaza Calafia in 2008, and it remains one of my favorite photographs.

Ginés Marín

Ginés Marín is an up and coming Spanish matador.

Here he performs in San Benito, Spain, on September 8, 2016.

Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Rejoneador Pablo Hermoso tosses a spectator's hat back during his "vuelta" around the ring in León, Guanajuato, January 31, 2010.

Muchas Vidas

The bull, Muchas Vidas, (ganadería La Estancia), stumbles upon entering the bullring to face El Zotoluco. Photographed at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on May 12, 2013.

 

Eulalio López, El Zotoluco

El Zotoluco was one of Mexico's most beloved and admired matadors until his retirement last year.

Here he performs in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on August 23, 2009.