Photographer Joaquin Trujillo took this portrait of his nephew Mel in 2006. It's part of his "Los Ninos" series, which re-creates the family portraits he remembers from his childhood in Mexico.
Courtesy of De Soto Gallery
Trujillo took the portraits over a 15-year span. His subjects were his young relatives, including Maritza and Laritza, seen here in 2003.
Courtesy of De Soto Gallery
Pedro in 2005. "I did all my sets," Trujillo said. "I went into fabric stores and spent hours looking at textiles and thinking about how light is going to reflect on them."
Courtesy of De Soto Gallery
Jenni in 2009. The photos resemble the family portraits from Trujillo's youth, when everyone would dress up for the occasion and take great pride in looking their best.
Courtesy of De Soto Gallery
Misael in 2009.
Courtesy of De Soto Gallery
Brenda in 2004.
Courtesy of De Soto Gallery
Diana in 2004. Family, Trujillo said, is what unites Mexico's intricate social fabric -- a fabric now challenged by the drug wars attracting youths to the cartels and destroying families through intimidation and brutality. "I hope with these portraits, the kids can see themselves with pride and dignity ... that they can see that they can do with themselves whatever they want," he said.
