san miguel Photography Articles

Looking for a Photographer's Paradise? Try San Miguel de Allende

san miguel de allende

I've been to a lot of places around the world and had an opportunity to photograph many breathtaking scenes, friendly people, gorgeous architecture, and so forth.

But there are a few places I have yet to see and photograph that are high on my bucket list.

These photography paradises are widely varied and in every corner of the globe - Iceland, Namibia, and Thailand, to name a few.

But there's another place that's a must-visit for photographers, and it's not that far for those of us in the U.S.

That place is San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

San Miguel de Allende is the Reigning "Best City in the World"

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The quality of the light in San Miguel de Allende is so special... so magical ... that it lends itself to great photography. - James Wilson

In 2017, Travel and Leisure named San Miguel de Allende as the best city in the world.

That's quite the honor - a first for this city - considering there are so many wonderful cities around the globe.

San Miguel de Allende beat out the likes of Kyoto, Florence, and Cape Town.

On top of that, San Miguel de Allende is one of the safest cities in Mexico. In fact, according toLonely Planet, the city ranks "very high" in terms of safety and enjoyment.

That means you can enjoy a world-class experience in safety and comfort. What's not to like about that?

The Entire City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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In 2008, UNESCO named San Miguel de Allende a World Heritage Site.

This designation was earned, in part, because the area is a melting pot of cultures - among them, Spanish, Creole, and American Indian influences.

The mixture of cultures led to the development of interesting and unique architecture, food, traditions, and customs that visitors can experience in the city as well as the adjoining countryside.

For photographers, that means opportunities to capture the detail and beauty of 17th-century cathedrals, brightly colored residences, incredible botanic gardens, and, of course, the many artisan shops that line the city streets.

You Can Hone Your Photography Skills in Many Areas

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One of the primary reasons why I want to visit San Miguel de Allende is because there are so many different opportunities to take so many different types of photos.

As noted above, you can spend hours and hours (days, really...) exploring the city and photographing cityscapes and architecture.

One of the most gorgeous examples of architecture in the city is Parroquia de San Miguel Archangel, a 17th-century neo-Gothic church that looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.

san miguel photo workshops

There is also a liveliness and vibrancy about this place that's expressed in the gorgeous colors of the city's buildings.

Typical city streets are lined with beautiful buildings awash in bright, saturated colors that make for breathtaking architectural photos.

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You can also develop an eye for street photography while in San Miguel de Allende.

The rich cultures and traditions there are fodder for beautiful portraits.

And with the incredible architecture to serve as the background, you have a winning combination for portraits that tell a story.

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With many festivals in the city throughout the year, there are also many opportunities for photographers to capture the colors, textures, sights, and sounds of the city's unique celebrations.

Of course, you can also photograph typical, daily life scenes in the city's many parks, plazas, and other gathering places. Sometimes simplicity is the key to success!

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Find Your Way With a Top-Notch Photography Workshop

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I was doing a little research recently on the best photography workshops, and San Miguel Photography Workshops kept popping up.

After doing a little digging, I discovered what a gem that San Miguel de Allende really is, and this article is the result of those investigations.

One thing that I appreciate about San Miguel Photography Workshops is that they don't bog you down with a week of heavily scheduled classroom time.

Instead, group leaders James Wilson and Mark Hemmings take the group to different parts of the city and countryside to get real-world experience taking different kinds of photos.

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Another benefit of exploring this incredible city as part of a photography tour is that you get to have close instruction with an expert photographer.

James and Mark are both pro's pros, and since they've been leading tours in San Miguel de Allende for eleven years, they know all the best spots to take their students for the ultimate photography experiences.

Speaking of students, these tours are limited to just 12 people, so you get plenty of one-on-one time with the instructors and you get to know other photography enthusiasts at the same time.

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A final word about this workshop - it's packed to the brim with extras that you often don't get with photography tours.

You get accommodations at a private villa, all in-country transportation, and all dinners are provided as well.

You also get all the teaching materials that Mark and James present, that way you can keep learning and developing your skills long after you leave.

I know I'm gushing here, but that's just because I'm so blown away by the beauty of this area and the possibilities of photographing all the beauty.

If you want to explore one of the best photography paradises in the world, follow my lead over to San Miguel Photo Workshops.

Images in this article are by James Wilson and Mark Hemmings, and are used with permission.



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These Photos Show Why Every Photographer Needs to Go to San Miguel de Allende

san miguel photography workshopsPhoto by James L. Wilson

There are hundreds - if not thousands - of locations around the world that are ideal for photographers to capture breathtaking photos.

Though some locations might have a bigger name as a photography hotspot, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico proves to be well worth the title of a photographer's paradise.

There's something special in this city that goes beyond its inherent beauty. The colors, the culture, and the history combine to give photographers fodder for photographs of all kinds - portraits, landscapes, street scenes, and everything in between.

Here is a sampling of what you might find touring San Miguel de Allende with your camera.

Vibrant Street Scenes

san miguel street 1Photo by James L. Wilson

San Miguel de Allende is full of interesting vignettes like the one shown above.

These whimsical murals make for wonderful images that reflect the fun vibe one finds in the city.

san miguel street 2Photo by Mark Hemmings

The colors you find as you stroll the city streets are absolutely incredible as well.

Scenes like the one in the image above, in which buildings are painted with rich, saturated, and bright colors abound throughout the city.

san miguel street 3Photo by Mark Hemmings

As you can see here, even the cars in San Miguel de Allende have bright and vibrant colors that help you create images that pop.

Street scenes like this are all around town, so everywhere you turn with your camera is a chance to work with gorgeous colors.

Beautiful Architecture

san miguel architecture 1Photo by Mark Hemmings

One of the calling cards of San Miguel de Allende is its incredible architecture.

Its crown jewel is the neo-Gothic Parroquia de San Miguel Archangel Church shown above.

As you can see, its soaring towers and intricate details make for a beautiful photography subject.

san miguel architecturePhoto by Mark Hemmings

The light in San Miguel de Allende isn't bad, either.

Here, the combination of the golden light filtering through the archway of the church makes for an eye-catching architectural photo.

Notice how this shot has beautiful architectural details throughout - in the columns on the church, the brickwork on the wall on the left side of the shot, and even in the cobblestone street in the foreground.

san miguel architecture 3Photo by Mark Hemmings

As you can see here, even simple scenes of small architectural details jump off the screen.

The combination of the contrasting bright yellow and deep orange colors as well as the interplay between the soft curves of the wall in the foreground and the angles and lines of the walls and windows in the background make for a beautiful shot.

Wonderful, Friendly People

san miguel people 3Photo by Mark Hemmings

One of the challenges with street photography is building up the nerve to approach perfect strangers to take their photo.

But the people in San Miguel de Allende are wonderfully friendly and approachable, making it easier for photographers to capture gorgeous portraits like the one shown above.

san miguel people 4Photo by Mark Hemmings

Of course, even regular street portraits in San Miguel de Allende offer you the opportunity to get stunning results.

That's because the aforementioned vibrant colors found all over the city make for excellent backdrops.

In this case, the timing of this portrait to frame the passing woman in front of the intersection of colors is simply perfect.

san miguel people 2Photo by Mark Hemmings

There's also plenty of chances to utilize the gorgeous light found in San Miguel de Allende to your advantage for more dramatic portraits.

In the example above, the setting sun provides dramatic shadows cast by the buildings to the left.

The darkness of the lower portion of the image and the brightness of the upper portion of the shot make for a compelling and interesting street portrait.

The Only Way to Experience San Miguel de Allende

san miguel photo workshops 1Photo by James L. Wilson

If you're a photographer, the only way to experience San Miguel de Allende is on a photography tour.

And not just any photography tour, either...

San Miguel Photo Workshops specializes in photography tours of this area, and they do it better than anyone else.

Photographers James L. Wilson and Mark Hemmings have been leading photography tours here for 11 years, so they're familiar with all the best locations for you to experience the beauty of the area and hone your photography skills at the same time.

san miguel photo workshops 2Photo by James L. Wilson

In addition to having experienced, professional photographers with intimate knowledge of the area, San Miguel Photo Tours limits tours to just 12 people.

That means that you won't get lost in the crowd or have to worry about not getting much one-on-one time with the workshop leaders.

Instead, you get a personalized tour experience that allows you to develop the skills you have even further while learning new skills at the same time.

san miguel photo toursPhoto by James L. Wilson

As if that's not enough, San Miguel Photo Tours is a truly luxurious experience.

You can stay in a private villa where all dinners are provided. All transportation in and around San Miguel de Allende is provided as well.

And, at the end of the workshop, you get all the teaching and learning materials that Mark and James use, that way you can keep on learning long after you've left the beauty of San Miguel de Allende behind.

Not only is this a stunningly beautiful place, but with a top-flight photo workshop to help you along, it's a perfect location to get your photography game on!



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