16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Mamey

"Edible Immigrants - the Fruits and Vegetables of Mexico" is my portrait series honoring the culture that travels into our borders. It is my hope that someday we may welcome the people of Mexico like we do the produce. But I wanted to do more than revel in the chromatic spectrum. With "Edible Immigrants," I turned my lens to a symbolic setting. I wanted these images to be a metaphor of the current controversy about immigration. This series is similar to others I have done in that it relates to Latino culture. But I also want to share what I have learned about the origins of the vegetables and fruits that we enjoy. The gardens of Mexico have given us many flavors that have adapted to international cuisine. But there are many tastes that are relatively unknown outside of Mexico.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2018
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Camera: ILCA-77M2
Copyright: © Al Rendon