"Home is Where the Heart Is !" by photosbytony

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Home is Where the Heart Is !

Wall Art

Canvas Print
Photographic Print
Art Print
Framed Print
Metal Print

Home Decor

Throw Pillow

Accessories

Tote Bag

Stationery

Greeting Card

Artist's Description

Featured in “Days Gone By” 5/8/11

In the late 60’s through the 70’s Mexico City was growing at a rate of 24000 people a month. Most of these people were from rural areas and were subsistence farmers. Many were not familiar with indoor plumbing, the only electricity they knew was a bare bulb sometimes hanging outside their palm thatched huts. They came for work and were unprepared for the city. Many settled in Shanty Towns, called Lost Cities in Mexico, on the outskirts of the city. Cardboard, plastic, corrugated metal and scrap wood homes huddled closely together with open sewers running between them. They were constantly harrassed by the police and told me at night bulldozers would sometimes collapse the walls of the exterior huts. The government wanted them to move saying they would build housing but the residents didn’t trust them and had nowhere to go. The leader of this settklement of 5000 people was a school teacher who lived in the center of the maze with uzzi carrying security at different checkpoints as you were led through the maze. I spent a day inside the one of these settlements in the early 70’s getting to know the people and photographing them. This is a fairly typical one room dwelling although they had a pretty big bed compared to others.

152 views as of 7/2/11

Tri-X Scanned Film, Nikkormat Camera with either a 50 or 35 mm lens.

All Products Tags

black and white mexico shantytowns street photography photojournalism candid people

Artwork Comments

Ursa Vogel almost 12 years ago

they are poor and look happier than the richest. life is clearly not all about money.
great documentary capture, tony.
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thank You Ursa! Your comment echos my thought as I took this photo. Living in a shantytown, outside the doorway to their home with so very little but happy smiles all around, so genuine and real. tony
infiniteme almost 12 years ago

A great capture of happiness through adversity and the wealth of the human spirit.

Without knowing the timeline of this capture, a naive eye could presume the lady on the left was texting, such is her concentration on her hands. Great work Tony :-)
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thank you for the great comment Zoe! Wish I had named it “Wealth of the Human Spirit”. I’ll steal that one for another photo hopefully! :) I’ll give you full credit! tony
RickGeorge almost 12 years ago

This epotmizes the love of life no matter what the condition…very nice shot!
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thanks Richard, that is how I felt, you express it better than I can with words.
tony
juznobsrvr almost 12 years ago

reminds me of my home… poignant… great capture, tony
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thanks, I’ll be waiting for the self portrait at the entry to your home! :) tony
infiniteme almost 12 years ago

<quietly blushes>…. happy to assist :-))
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

:))))) tony
F.A. Moore almost 12 years ago

These woman are sharing in the fun-loving hearts of the children. And their children are all the richer for it. The heart holds the most valuable treasures of all.
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thank You Frannie for such a wonderful comment! tony
zdepe almost 12 years ago

nice shot
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thank You Zdepe! tony
Adnane Mouhyi almost 12 years ago

Very meaningful photography and title. Great shot!
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

Thank You Adnane! tony
oulgundog almost 12 years ago
photosbytony almost 12 years ago

The Trifecta!!!! I don’t live far from the track, maybe this is a sign to pay a visit! LOL Thanks tony
papayas over 11 years ago

° schön gezeichnet!
photosbytony over 11 years ago

Thank You ! tony