Alejandro Cartagena’s Insightful Photo Series Explores the Carpooling Phenomena In Mexico

<a href="http://alejandrocartagena.com/" target="_blank">Alejandro Cartagena</a>'s <a href="http://alejandrocartagena.com/car-poolers/" target="_blank">'Car Poolers'</a> is a brilliant series of photographs examining the community practice of car-sharing by workers in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" target="_blank">Mexico</a>. Shot from above, Cartagena's photos provide a rare insight into the practice that enables workers to save money and time. Although their main motivation is not environmental -- but rather to preserve personal resources -- by carpooling, they are still contributing to an ecological cause.

The Mexico-based photographer primarily focuses his work on social issues through landscape and portraits.

He explores themes such as suburban sprawl in Mexican cities and the realities of poor working conditions.

These images in particular demonstrate how the rapid growth of cities have caused longer commutes and thus a greater carbon emmissions.

Cartagena also uses this theme to present the need for better public transportation in Mexico.

He hoped to portray the mindset of the workers he photographed.

He reflected a moment in their lives as well as their social position in an era of crisis.

The award-winning photographer won the Critical Mass Book Award in 2009, and was named one of PDN´s 30 emerging photographers.

He has exhibited internationally and is currently teaching in the faculty of Visual Arts of the University of Nuevo Leon.