Right before us stands the Busto de Cándido Mayo. Who was Cándido Mayo? Cándido Mayo was no ordinary man. He was a giant in Mexican photojournalism. Let’s delve into the life of this remarkable figure.
Cándido Mayo was born Cándido Souza Fernández in La Coruña Spain. He was born in 1922. He arrived in Mexico in 1939. He came with his brothers Francisco and Faustino. They were political refugees.
He began working at the newspaper El Popular. He worked with Lombardo Toledano a socialist leader. Later he and his brothers founded the agency Servicios México. Cándido Mayo later won the National Journalism Prize of Mexico. He along with Francisco and Faustino revolutionized Mexican photojournalism.
The Mayo brothers documented Mexican life. They captured political events. They also captured everyday scenes. Their subjects included markets and crafts. They also covered bullfights and football. They photographed Mexican indigenous people.
Cándido’s brother Paco founded Foto Hermanos Mayo. It became the second most important graphic information agency in Mexico. The first was Gustavo Casasola’s. Cándido showed a colleague his impressive collection of cameras. There were about a dozen Nikkormats. He had a range of lenses. They ranged from a 7.5 mm fisheye to a 500 mm telephoto.
Cándido’s agency held five million negatives. Julio Mayo sold them to the General Archive of the Nation in 1994. Cándido’s personal archive was also donated to the AGN. It included press credentials and his first Leica camera.
Cándido taught aspiring photographers. He said get the photo no matter what. It did not matter if the camera broke or the film jammed. He wanted no excuses.
Cándido’s philosophy extended beyond photography. He taught professionalism and responsibility. He believed in fulfilling one’s duty without excuses. He said one eats peacefully when one fulfills their duty.
Cándido Mayo died of a heart attack in Mexico City. He died on November 11 1984. He left behind a legacy of photographic excellence and unwavering commitment. The Busto de Cándido Mayo is a fitting tribute. It honors a man who captured Mexico’s soul through his lens. It reminds us of his dedication to his craft and his adopted country.