Morning commute. Motorcycles are a very common way of commuting in Guatemala. I saw many workers commuting into the city early one the morning while out photographing.
Back in November, I had the chance to spend a couple of days wandering the streets of Antigua, Guatemala. (This was part of a longer week in Guatemala, which I’ll share more of in Part 2.)
Antigua is a good reminder of the European influence in our own hemisphere. It’s one of those places where you can walk a single block and feel like you’ve stepped through several different centuries—past colorful colonial buildings, crumbling church facades, and views of volcanoes rising in the distance. Other countries in Central America (Costa Rica and Belize, for example) often get the spotlight, but Guatemala feels like a real hidden gem.
I arrived with a bit of research and plans to meet up with a local photographer, but Antigua quickly made it easy to simply wander. Early mornings meant quiet cobblestone streets and soft light. By afternoon, the city was filled with color and energy during the annual Flower Festival.
This newsletter shares a small selection of photos from the trip—moments from the streets, the architecture, and the people that made Antigua such a rewarding place to photograph.
All photos from November, 2025.
Antigua, Guatemala from Cerro de La Cruz, a lookout over the City and area volcanoes.
The Guatemalan flag flying over San José Cathedral located on the edge of one of the main park squares (Parque Central de Antigua Guatemala).
One of the largest festivals in Guatemala, the Flower Festival in Antigua fills the streets with visitors taking in both the small and large arrangements of flowers.
This gentleman really stood out with his bright umbrellas for sale, and I ran across him several times. Despite the festive colors, he never looked all that excited to be selling them.
Arco de Santa Catalina (The Santa Catalina Arch) is one of the most iconic sights in Antigua. It was built over 300 years ago to connect a convent to a school, to allow the nuns to pass between buildings without going out on the street. I photographed it before sunrise to capture a less chaotic scene than the throngs of tourists in the day.
Morning commute. Motorcycles are a very common way of commuting in Guatemala. I saw many workers commuting into the city early one the morning while out photographing.
Iglesia de la Merced. An iconic church located just a block from the Santa Catalina Arch. This photo was taken in a tower looking out across the roof (you can actually walk out on the roof as a tourist).
Local markets provide some of the best people watching, especially when the market is meant for locals (e.g., often selling staples for daily life) rather than tourists (e.g., selling souvenirs). Porters like this young man do the heavy lifting of moving bulk product.
As a side note, t-shirts often discarded in the States find their way to other countries. His t-shirt is an app company that tried to create a movement around owning your data so you could sell it. “31” refers to the “31st human right,” which is to claim, or own, your own data.
Taking a break near the end of the day at the Central Market.
A young couple hanging out at Tanque La Union, a historic public washing basin in colonial times.
