LHSA Announces the 2021 Photo Grant Recipient: Claudia Guadarrama
LHSA – The International Leica Society is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2021 LHSA Photography Grant in the amount of $5000.
This year, we received 50 entries. LHSA wishes to thank our preliminary judges and this year’s group of finalist judges, Maggie Steber, Craig Semetko, Sara Terry, and Peter Turnley.
Congratulations to Claudia Guadarrama!
Claudia Guadarrama is a documentary photographer based in Mexico, her work focuses on social, human rights and gender issues in Latin America; with more than eighteen years of experience working among photojournalism and her documentary projects.
About her project: Outside of Paradise documents what lies beyond Cancun, Mexico, considered a paradise by its visitors. No one questions what lies beyond its tourist area and its beaches. Mass tourism has been an economic boost and at the same time a trigger for social and environmental problems that have had a negative impact on the quality of life of its inhabitants who work in the tourist sector for low wages in an environment of luxury and opulence while living in conditions of poverty and marginalization. The real life of the inhabitants of this city is unknown and nobody talks about it; for this reason, two years ago Guadarrama started documenting the life of the inhabitants as part of her long-term project, “Outside of Paradise.” It explores the impact of the mass-tourism model upon the lives of the local population of Cancun, one of the most visited tourist regions in the world. “I want to extend my project to other towns in the Riviera Maya where ecotourism, as an alternative to mass tourism, has become the most important economic activity that has privatized natural resources in numerous communities.”
With the help of LHSA’s Grant she will work a new chapter in Holbox by sharing Brenda’s Jimenez story the only fisherwoman on the island, she belongs to the last generation of original inhabitants who are now facing their disappearance due to tourism. Brenda, 47, lives in an environment of inequality, marginalization, and gender violence. She represents strength, adaptation, and the fishers' struggle and she will give me access to share her story and life. “Through this story, I hope to make a small contribution to a discussion that may lead to reflection and awareness about the high environmental and social cost impact of the tourism industry on local and native people beyond their economic benefit.
