Jazmin

On the way to Sayulita I spotted this small descanso as we bounced along the road, avoiding potholes and speed bumps, chickens, and children. I wasn’t able to stop so we just made note and I planned to go back.

When I went back I couldn’t find it.

We drove by Jazmin Perez’s memorial twice before the light hit the peak on the “roof” of the structure just enough for me to spot it in the shadows, and I’m glad it did because I really like the light I captured in these shots.

Like so many Mexican descansos, this one has clearly been here for awhile. Cemented into the ground, it’s not going anywhere, but I had the sense that Jazmin’s family has moved on and stopped visiting.

I also had to wonder what caused her death at this particular spot; it’s not a high speed section of road by any stretch, quite the opposite. Between the people and the “traffic calming devices” — which Mexico takes very, very seriously — you’d be hard pressed to go even 15 MPH anywhere on this section of road.

But accidents happen, I guess.

In my final shot you can begin to see why I struggled to find her memorial as it fades into the shadows off the side of the road. I wasn’t trying to get traffic crossing but this motorcycle entered the frame during an exposure and I liked how it turned out.

I hope you do as well.