A person stands in a park garden, framed by tall green plants and trees. They face the camera with a calm, confident expression, wearing round glasses, a black T-shirt featuring The Scream artwork, a red choker, fishnet tights, and mismatched lace-up boots. A plaid shirt is tied around their waist, and a cream crossbody bag rests at their hip. The background is softly blurred, drawing focus to their stance and style.

Everyone is interesting, but some express it fearlessly and uniquely. Encountering such folks is among the most rewarding experience when exploring the streets of Mexico City. #photography #cdmx #street_portrait #streetphotography

It’s Not ART! Stop It! I can’t believe that I am even writing this. In many ways there is no reason to. Its a pointless argument and a worthless discussion. However, I will give it a go. In my opinion the word &#82…

NEW unitednationsofphotography.com/2025/11/12/i...

Thank you!

Random moments collected from the streets of Mexico City. #photography #cdmx #mexico

Watch SCOTUS grant a stay.

Luis's review of The Creative Act 5/5: I came across many reviews of this book—some filled with disdain, others echoing that disdain without much reflection. A common thread? Many expected a step-by-step guide to creativity. When they...

www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Statute of Liberty brandishing an assault gun during Day of the Dead parade circa 2013.

From a Día de Muertos parade here in #cdmx some years back. It seems Mexico will forever better understand its ‘neighbor’ to the north better than some of us Americans ever will. #photography

PODCAST: A Photographic Life, Episode 369: The Conversation with Bill Shapiro ‘What Is Urban Landscape Photography?’ In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with editor, writer and curator of photography Bill Shapiro. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Bill comment on the photogr…

unitednationsofphotography.com/2025/06/04/p... this week's photography for the ears...

Great conversation as always. So much comes down to intent, interpretation, and what’s in the frame or not that language often fails to capture. I found myself agreeing and disagreeing w/both, but my take doesn’t matter. No hills to die on—just grateful there’s always more to explore in the medium.

This public brawl was expected by the pundits but to see it play out? Priceless. That echo from the mic drop is ever reverberating in my ears.

Wild.

Luis Arcadio de Jesús on Substack Pulling a few from the archive of life here in Mexico City.

substack.com/@toughgadfly... #photography #cdmx

PODCAST: A Photographic Life, Episode 367: See/Saw with Fiona Hayes ‘Power and Glory, Gabriel Moses and Photo London’ In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the phot…

unitednationsofphotography.com/2025/05/21/p... your weekend listening sorted...

Noooorm! The barstool philosopher. Loved that show.

Windy, cloudy afternoon at the Zocalo. Couple fiddling with a phone as they explore selfie angles.

Dancing at the Zocalo, Mexico City.

Crowds along Eje Central, Mexico City.

People walking into the light along Eje Central, Mexico City.

Some randomness from the streets of Mexico City. #street #photography #mexico

I too have found a lot of inspiration in Walker Evans. I didn’t know he began with writing, but it makes sense—word and image both aim to convey feeling. As Henry Miller wrote In Tropic of Cancer, “The essential thing is to want to sing.” Photography, at its best, sings too.

PODCAST: A Photographic Life, Episode 364: ‘Walker Evans is the GOAT, Being Liked and AI Prompts’ In episode 364 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his garage reflecting on the small and big things that impact on the everyday engagement we all have with photography. Image: Walker Ev…

unitednationsofphotography.com/2025/04/30/p... not your average photo podcast #photography

Women Don’t Look Like That! This post is illustrated with a selection of images of women featured on photographic magazine covers, none of which have any relation to reality. They are illustrations, perceived ideals of perfec…

unitednationsofphotography.com/2022/05/12/w...

PODCAST: A Photographic Life, Episode 363: See/Saw with Fiona Hayes ‘Resistance, Sony WPO Awards and Eileen Perrier’ In this monthly conversation series Grant Scott speaks with art director, lecturer and creative director Fiona Hayes. In an informal conversation each month Grant and Fiona comment on the phot…

unitednationsofphotography.com/2025/04/23/p... this week's photography for the ears... #photography

A society reaches a troubling low when its leaders and institutions begin to cast doing good as weakness. 2/2

The war on empathy is now a doctrine in some churches and Christian books. Lack of empathy is a human failing, not a partisan one—and many fall into the trap of dehumanizing even those they see as dehumanizers. 1/2

Another great conversation. I couldn’t shake the image of being caught between the deep blue sea and the Devil—drowning in lost opportunities, debt, or selling your soul for success. I kept asking: where would I draw the line? Is it about morals or just having the luxury to say no? #photography

To be fair, I think it depends on jurisdiction. Substack may only be able to operate within the U.S. for those physically present in the U.S. That said, the fact that we now have to live in such fear of our own government feels surreal—yet here we are.

Subject is All or Photography Made Simple! Why do so many people constantly try to make photography as complicated as possible? Let me rephrase that, why do so many people involved with photography try to make it seem so complex? Is there a…

unitednationsofphotography.com/2022/07/17/s... #photography

A person of color will never be assimilated enough for certain people. Does not matter if you were born in the USA and speak perfect standard American English. One learns to live with it hoping people will one day embrace demographic shifts instead of fearing them. Seems we are devolving instead.

I was uncomfortable traveling during Trump 1.0, but now, with 2.0, I’m even more nervous to go home. The uncertainty of how US Customs will treat me is something I never stop thinking about. 2/2

I’m a U.S. citizen, but since the ’90s, traveling to Mexico has meant nerve-wracking encounters with customs officials. I did nothing wrong, yet I dreaded being questioned, knowing how authorities treat people of color. 1/2

Glad to hear. Kind gentleman who owns a parking lot downtown. Was walking by one evening and saw him sitting under this lamp and struck up a conversation with him and his daughter. Was flattered that I wanted to take a portrait of him. Very interesting face.

No words. This is madness.

An elderly gentleman working at a parking who kindly allowed me to photograph him one Saturday evening during a usual walk downtown. Centro Historico, Mexico City.

Candid street moment of two young ladies viewing a mobile phone in Mexico City's downtown area (Centro Historico) on a very sunny summer day.

A fellow artist and friend of the cholo community in Mexico City hanging and reading a magazine.

Members of Mexico City's Cholo community during a meetup at the Monument to the Mexican Revolution in Mexico City.

Sharing a few favorites from recent walks and gatherings in Mexico City. As I shift from Squarespace to Substack, I’m organizing my Lightroom catalog and tackling a months-long editing backlog 😱. Hoping to start posting soon! . #Photography #Portraiture #streetphotography