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Michael and Darian

Darian Day and Michael Fitzpatrick have been traveling and doing photography for decades. Their journeys have taken them through much of East and North Africa, most of Europe, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, and much of South America.

With an unquenchable interest in other cultures, Darian and Michael — both of whom have anthropology degrees as well as education in the fine arts — now make their home in Mexico. With a camera never far from hand, it was inevitable that Darian and Michael began to develop an extensive portfolio of imagery from throughout Mexico. The color of this fascinating country, the natural and ever-present warmth of the people, the traditional architecture: all are inspirations for their photography.

The imagery of Darian and Michael begins with photography. Their experience in fine arts comes into play as they transform the photographic image into a painterly and colorful tribute to olden Mexico. As youngsters, Darian and Michael began with Polaroids and progressed to traditional SLR systems. Now, they work with digital cameras, and thoroughly enjoy the almost unlimited creative freedom that comes with the careful choice and application of contemporary tools.

Some of the nicest moments of their work are those times when they can connect with the people who sometimes appear in their images. Jokes are shared, smiles are exchanged, and the image is enjoyed on the camera's screen. The serenity of architectural balance is particularly appealing to Darian while Michael’s eye often gravitates to the odd angle and the abstract. Later, as they work together on each individual image, Darian and Michael love to see the image come alive with selective cropping, texture, contrast and, of course, lots of color.

In Mexico, inspiration surrounds them on a daily basis. Stepping out with cameras in hand, Darian and Michael often arrive home after a busy day of shooting with hundreds of images. A particularly incredible experience came at the lucha libre wrestling matches in Guadalajara as Darian and Michael joined the chanting crowds and spent an evening photographing the wrestlers in their glorious sequined masks and capes.

The creative life of Darian and Michael is extensive. In addition to photography, Michael is a satirical cartoonist and Darian, also a professional writer, has painted for years, with her work represented in the U.S. and Canada.

Photography, though, remains their first love, and they pursue it with renewed alacrity in their home in Mexico. In the coming years, Michael and Darian plan to continue their travels through Mexico and add to their growing image portfolio of this captivating country.