Rubén Salgado Escudero

From the archives…. A child in Beninese Kaléta. The word “Kaléta” refers to a tradition invented in Benin by Afro-Brazilians returned to Ouidah during the nineteenth century. It is a unique mix of Brazilian carnival, American Halloween, and Beninese mask tradition.

Sisterhood ✨ From the archives…

A couple of weeks ago #solarportraits was exhibited in the church of Großlöbichau- a small town of a population of around 800 laying deep within the hills of Eastern Germany. It was fun and at first nerve-racking to give a talk in German about the work, my trajectory and my experience having lived in Berlin for ten years before dropping my life there, moving to Myanmar and focusing solely on photography. Thanks to Dorothee Hoerstgen, Chrismon’s photo-editor and Gundela Irmertmueller for contacting me and fighting hard to make this all happen. ✨ #natgeo #insidenatgeo @insidenatgeo #church #exhibition

My project ‘A Song of Hope’ which delves into the lives of Mexico City’s Mariachi musicians during the pandemic has just been screened at this year’s official @visapourlimage festival. The Mariachi are a globally recognized cultural icon whose music is representative of Mexican history and people. They are informal workers relying on daily customers to earn a wage. COVID-19 has stretched them and their families to the absolute limit so they are still out on the streets everyday putting their lives at risk because that, in reality, is the only option.  Within the project, and with the support of @insidenatgeo we created an online service where people across the world could order personalized songs to gift to their loved ones. Using photographs and 360 videos we brought this heartfelt music right to people’s homes while at the same time providing economic support to more than 400 mariachi families. Now that exhibition spaces are starting to open up again, I’m excited to show this work as an interactive exhibition. More info on upcoming shows to come soon 🎶 ✨ #songofhope #natgeo #natgeointhefield #mariachi #covid #covid-19 #corona #mexico #mexicocity #salvemosalmariachi

Workers use solar lamps to collect newly baked bricks at a brick factory in Saipur, India. Roughly 759 million people in the world live without access to electricity, and close to a quarter of them are in India. #solarportraits

This memory will forever evoke joy within me. Missing Benin and it’s beautiful humans.

On this Father’s Day weekend, I thought a lot about all of the fatherless Rohingya children who are forced to grow up in refugee camps because of a senseless war that they have had no choice to partake in. Even in the hardest of situations, there will always be children who shine love, beauty and joy to any place. It’s been 4 years already since I took this images, and I wonder how they are doing today. Much light and strength to you all ✨

Morning Sorcery ✨ #phonephotography

Mercurious waters…

This last year has been filled with challenges and uncertainties for most if not everyone while it has also brought many positive things. The pandemic ‘forced’ you to stay in Mexico when you were just visiting. Now, one year later we live in the same country, the first time since I left home at the tender age of 17. It fills my heart to have you so near again, have a day to day like when I was growing up. I feel more than blessed. Feliz dia de la Madre, gracias por todo tu amor y constante aprendizaje Mamá ✨

Pankisi Gorge, Georgia. 2015