Knowing Where You’ve Come From – Rodolfo Michel

In 1973, Rodolfo Michel was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. The city stretches over 100 miles, however, the hub of its civilization is only within a square mile. Guadalajara’s people are known for their food and music and the area is often appreciated by locals and tourists alike for its spring-like, mild weather.

Rodolfo Michel recalls the importance of the city’s history while growing up. Since Guadalajara is within the Atemajac Valley with relics dating back to ancient times, the people are very in-tune with past inhabitants and the lifestyles that once encompassed the area.

Because of this strong relationship with the past, Rodolfo Michel has always believed in the idea that where you’re going is based a lot in part of knowing where you’re coming from. Even as his own career takes him to countries around the world and introduces him to people and places he would never have come in contact with had he stayed home, Rodolfo Michel keeps the lessons of honesty and love that his family and close-knit community taught him.

To this day, Rodolfo Michel can remember stealing bread from his mother’s kitchen counter and the long talk with her that proceeded afterwards. He has since respected the hard work of others and never tried to short others’ out of their efforts. Just like some lessons learned as an adult, Rodolfo Michel says that not everything can be learned the easy way.

Love of life and each other was always an ongoing anthem of Rodolfo Michel’s family growing up and since then he has tried to incorporate love into every photograph he has taken. Without passion, an image is just a picture, argues Rodolfo Michel, but with passion? With passion, an image is a story waiting to be read by anyone willing to see it for what it is