At the end of September 2023, José María Mellado had the pleasure of being part of the first edition of the CAMINA Project, held in Almeria, his homeland, in collaboration with the Junta de Andalucía and the City Council of Almería. This project was carried out as a true catalyst of activity and creativity in Almeria, thanks to the work of the Indalo Foto Group, headed, in this case, by its honorary member José María Mellado and developing a series of activities that not only energized the city, but also highlighted the beauty and uniqueness of its most emblematic neighborhoods.

One of the most outstanding initiatives of the project was the training in the use of the mobile phone as a photographic tool, with all its potential and artistic implications. Over several weekends, meetings, practical outings and master classes were organized to explore the creative possibilities of photography with this type of device. Among them, the presentation given by José María Mellado on September 22, 2023 at the Andalusian Center of Photography (CAF), an introductory meeting on mobile photography that attracted a large audience, both experienced photographers and neophytes interested in entering this exciting field, stood out.

 

 

In addition to the presentation, there were a series of other activities within the same CAMINA Project, such as workshops, a photography contest held among the participants and an exhibition entitled “CAMINANDO”, at the Carlos Pérez Siquier School of Art and Design, which included a selection of 20 works from the contest and 20 others by José María Mellado. All the pieces were made with mobile devices and exclusively reflected images captured in the neighborhoods of La Chanca-Pescadería, Almedina-Casco Histórico and Centro Ciudad. The exhibition thus offered a unique vision of the life and culture of these communities, with special emphasis on the popular and traditional manifestations that make them unique.

 

 

In this way, until February 2, 2024, Almeria residents and tourists had the opportunity to enjoy the images captured by both amateurs and José María Mellado himself, which reflected the diversity and charm of its historic neighborhoods.

 

 

CAMINA is an initiative that also seeks to connect cultural, social and neighbourhood agents with cultural promoters (project partners) for the creation of cultural projects and the enhancement of Almeria’s cultural diversity and heritage, defining a cultural axis around three neighbourhoods of the city, the Historic Centre-Almedina, the City Centre and the Chanca-Pescadería. It is carried out through three reference spaces in the city: the Mesón Gitano, the Doña Pakyta Museum and the old Katiuska Cinema. The different facets of the project had the support of the Junta de Andalucía, the Indalo Foto Group and the European Union, seeking, with “CAMINA”, to build a more inclusive and attractive cultural narrative for the city.