There have been two dominant influences in my photography: social documentary photography and the rich photographic tradition of Mexican photographers. I discovered the first when I met Beuford Smith at a photo-printing workshop in Brooklyn. Beuford, an editor of The Black Photographers Annual, was known for his street photography.

From Beuford I learned about tone and contrast and how to evaluate the print in the darkroom. The second influence came from traveling in Mexico. There I visited the museums and sites of Mexico City and saw the works of the great artists and photographers.

In 2003 I moved to Oaxaca and renewed my interest in photography. I traveled the countryside, often with other photographers and artists. I am forever grateful for their generosity in sharing their culture.

– Enos Ignacio Cozier