The Argentine photographer Diego Ortiz Mugica captures the world of Patagonia with his breathtakingly poignant black, white and grey images.

On June 8, 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Secretariat of Tourism of Argentina hosted the opening reception of "Images of Patagonia in Black & White & Grey" an exhibition by Diego Ortiz Mugica at the New York Mercantile Exchange, which ran until June 29, 2006. The Department of Cultural Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, International Commerce and Workshop, Secretariat of Tourism of Argentina, Argentina National Parks, American Airlines and Salentein Winery sponsored this stimulating exhibition.

Deputy Consul of Argentina Ciro Ciliberto Infante, Diego, and Ines Segarra

Ocean Beach Line

The talented Mr. Ortiz Mugica was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1962, and by 1976 he had already begun his professional career as a photographer. His intensive education also included studies in the United States with John Sexton, an Ansel Adams protégé who created the Zonal System. Mr. Ortiz Mugica now holds seminars to teach others the Zonal system and Fine Art Printing. When I spoke with Mr. Ortiz Mugica about how photography has changed throughout the years from a film to a digital market, he replied, "In 5 years, very few people will know how to print photographs." Through his Patagonia Phototravel Workshops, he is helping to teach people the art of printing. For his professional photography, he uses a 38-megapixel professional digital camera for sports photography and he uses film for expression. With the use of both mediums, he is able to create visually stunning photography.

Snow

This engaging artist grabs life and visually commands you to look at the small details in his exquisite black, white and grey photographs, which capture the heart and pulse of the Patagonian region. His photographs of water rushing over rocks in a stream, waterfalls cascading down the rocks, glaciers, tree roots, trees sticking out of snow, moss growing on the side of trees, and two fly-fishermen caught with their lines poised and crossed in the air like cowboys with lassoes, encourage you to delve a little deeper and solve the secret of each of his photographs. Diego Ortiz Mugica is a passionate artist and also a passionate fly-fisherman. His latest project is a book about fly-fishing in Patagonia that he is working on with the famous fisherman Mel Krieger, and combines two of his great passions. Mr. Ortiz Mugica has had photographic exhibitions around the world, and the audience's reaction at the opening reception to his exhibition of 20 photographs was one of reverence at seeing the work of a master photographer.

When he spoke about his photograph entitled "La pesca, la herencia," which features his 6-year old son fly-fishing, you could feel the emotion and pride when he described his son, his life and his family. Diego Ortiz Mugica replied, "I'm a lucky man; I have a wonderful family and a job I love." He is indeed a lucky man, and I felt quite lucky myself to experience his captivating work and discuss his photography with him.