About Plutarch’s Lives

Plutarch used to say that every city has a singular character. Even today, we believe cities like NYC or Rome to have their own identity and enchantment; they are living beings. The purpose of this shot was to render tribute to the city of Tlaxcala, Mexico.  

A portrait photographer or any student of the human soul can only portray their subjects in three ways. We can portray people as they are, worse than they are (usually seen in comedy), or nobler than they are (usually seen in epics or tragedies). 

My design attempted to imitate the noble character and spirit of those admired through Homer's or Plutarch's work but in a cultural image that represents the city of Tlaxcala, Mexico. The work of these great poets and students of the human soul gave me my first lessons about the character of virtue in humankind. However, instead of using paintings or sculptures, they delineate their characters' faces and show us their dispositions by means of meter, verse, or prose.

To emulate their work using a photographic medium, I used a large light source camera left and posed my subject to communicate a similar spirit to that of Hector or Pericles.

Since that day, I have always considered how to introduce my subject to the world in a deliberate, premeditated way.

Edited by Gabe Coronado

How I Made the Shot