Mexican Border Towns

In a couple of weeks I hope to spend a few days photographing

Juarez, Mexico. I will be travelling alone and will spend my nights

in El Paso right across the border. I have travelled here twice

before, most recently about 10 years ago, but I was with friends and

we stuck close to the border and mainly shopped and had a few

drinks. This time I would like to do some people/documentary type

photography and venture further into the city.

 

Any tips or personal experiences you would like to share?

 

Thanks!

I would advise not visiting the area alone. Amnesty International estimates that over 370 women have been murdered or abducted over the last decade in the cities of JuᲥz and Chihuahua.

I will sound repetitive but by no means go alone, its a harsh environment were you can be at risk. Take a friend or a relative for the sake of security, any camera you take let it be the most discrete as posible.

Thank you both for your comments. That is actually the primary reason I want to go. They will be holding Day of the Dead vigils for the young women and I really want to document that. I have family in SE New Mexico and they don't want me to go alone either, but so far I have not found anyone willing to accompany me. The area has a rather dangerous reputation which is one reason I posted this as I was curious if anyone has been there recently.

Jenna:

 

1. I'm sure you'll get more precise information if you contact the U.S. Consulate in Juarez:

 

http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/mx2/wwwhacs.html

 

2. If there's going to be an event to honor the women who've been killed, I suspect other Americans will be attending. You might contact Amnesty International, NOW or other activist groups to see if they'll have groups attending the event that you could join or tag along with.

 

Regards, E

Excellent ideas Eric. I just found a group that will be travelling to Juarez (and further inland) for this event and I will contact them. I'm not a professional photographer but do have an interest in photojournalism and documentary work and have followed this story over the years.