Marshall Foster

02/08/2026

It's not often that I get to be in front of the camera. A big thanks to my friends Carmen and Len Reese for making that happen at their recent CLR Sales Group event. I don't think you'll meet two kinder people. www.TheCLRSalesGroup.com

06/22/2025

Free me from these bridles
I so gladly keep
These trusted trails, now jails,
Have worn me weary and weak
And if I should fall into the waters deep,
At least I was free to make the leap.

The energy in this image makes me feel like the horses are about to burst off the page. I catch myself thinking, “Ah, I want that.” And then the question comes:

What bridles do I live with? What bridles do we all live with that keep us from that feeling?

Some we’ve inherited. Others, we’ve fastened and tightened ourselves.
Routines, roles, expectations, so many things that start out helpful can quietly become fences.

What does freedom look like for you? Maybe it’s saying yes. Maybe it’s saying no.
Maybe it’s running. Or staying, but choosing to see it all differently.

Maybe it’s just the windows rolled down with your favorite song turned up to 11.

For me, it’s that leap. Even when I can’t see the bottom, and yes, it's scary, every time.

www.MarshallFoster.com/Camargue/

06/19/2025

My friend, my friend.
Your strength has carried us to another day’s end.
Our fathers, proud, revel with the stars at night,
harking to heaven with love in their eyes
for the days they rode where we now stand,
mud on our boots and hooves, reins in hand.

(There were storms all around. But instead of rain, a sunset fell over the French Gardians.)

More at www.MarshallFoster.com

, , , , , , , , ,

Award-winning photographer Marshall Foster captures stories of strength, fragility, and the beauty found when we come together to help others.

11/18/2024

The members of Danza Azteca Guadalupana make their own outfits, so each feather in their headdresses, every ankle rattle, every stitch in their attire is handcrafted by the dancers themselves.

, , , , , ,

Witness the impact of Marshall Foster’s award-winning photography. Discover images that reveal humanitarian crises, inspire change, and shed light on vital issues.

11/18/2024

Following the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, indigenous traditions like Danza Azteca faced relentless suppression. Colonial authorities, determined to erase cultural resistance, banned native dances and destroyed instruments such as the huehuetl and teponaztli.

Danza Azteca, to me, is a profound statement of cultural continuity and transformation. It’s not just a dance; it’s a living bridge between the past and the present—a way for communities to reclaim what was nearly lost and infuse it with contemporary meaning.

It feels like an act of defiance against erasure and a celebration of survival, evolving from something sacred and ancient into something deeply personal and communal. Watching it or hearing its story, you can sense the layers of history—both the pain of what was suppressed and the triumph of what endures. It’s pride, memory, and celebration in motion, reminding us that culture is never static but something to live, pass on, and let grow.

, , , , , ,

Witness the impact of Marshall Foster’s award-winning photography. Discover images that reveal humanitarian crises, inspire change, and shed light on vital issues.

11/18/2024

Jose Flores is a devoted member of Danza Azteca Guadalupana, a group rooted in family, history, and cultural tradition. His father, Javier Flores, founded the group in Austin in 2011, bringing with him the vibrant practices of Danza Azteca from their hometown of San Luis de La Paz, Guanajuato. For the younger Flores, the dance is more than a ritual; it’s a legacy.

“Danza Azteca to me has a significant meaning because the hometown where we’re from, that’s the biggest thing you could do. Danza Azteca is all over the town,” Jose explains. “This is a representation of how our traditions have been kept up throughout the generations and also just to show cultural meaning to the people.”

What began as a small group has grown into a thriving community. Today, Danza Azteca Guadalupana teaches and inspires a new generation of dancers in Austin. For Jose, it’s about sharing the meaning behind every step and symbol, ensuring these traditions continue to resonate.

“We have a lot of kids here that we’re showing, like, ‘Hey, like this is what this god meant. This is what your outfit means,’” he says. “It’s just something that we really want to keep doing.”

Jose reflects on the importance of preserving their heritage in a multicultural city like Austin. For him, the dance is a way to represent Mexico’s beauty and culture while fostering connection.

“It’s important because that’s a part of us. That’s a part of Mexico. Mexico is beautiful in many ways—landscape, tradition, the food. So it’s a very important part of Mexico, and it’s something that, being in the States, we can represent.”

Through their dedication, Jose and his group are creating space for tradition to flourish in new surroundings. Every dance, every explanation to a curious child, and every performance ensures that Danza Azteca not only survives but thrives. For Jose, the dance is a living connection between past and present...and a promise to future generations.

, , , , , ***os,

Witness the impact of Marshall Foster’s award-winning photography. Discover images that reveal humanitarian crises, inspire change, and shed light on vital issues.

11/08/2024

“We are embodying our ancestors as we dance,” Justin Heron, known by his tribal name, Nahui, says. “It’s a gift to the people around us, just by existing in our true form, a reflection we’re able to share while we dance, while we scream, while we speak.”

Justin has spent years reconnecting with his Apache and Otomi heritage—a journey that led him to perform with Danza Azteca Guadalupana in Austin, TX. Wearing a traditional headdress and ceremonial attire, he honors the stories and traditions passed down through his ancestors. Through his movements, he not only expresses his personal connection to his culture but also helps keep these stories alive for future generations.

As Heron says, “My hope is to instill pride and strength in our history, in who we are.”

***os

11/08/2024

Members of Danza Azteca Guadalupana devote careful attention to their adornments, honoring a long-standing tradition that connects them to their heritage.

This ceremonial dancer wears a vibrant copilli, which is a feathered headdress that was predominant in Aztec culture. Copilli were worn by Aztec nobility and elite warriors to symbolize their connection to the gods, their social status, and their alignment with specific animal spirits, like the jaguar or eagle, representing courage and strength.

These headdresses were made with feathers from sacred birds like the quetzal, prized for their vivid green color, as well as from macaws and other brightly colored birds.

In his hands, the dancer holds a conch shell, an instrument historically used to call upon spirits or announce the start of sacred ceremonies, grounding the performance in age-old ritual.

, ***os, , , ,

11/07/2024

Austin, TX – On a cool fall evening at Waterloo Park, the beat of Danza Azteca Guadalupana’s drums reverberated through downtown streets, drawing in the crowd as members gathered to observe Día de los Mu***os.

This annual celebration serves both as a remembrance of loved ones and a way to preserve heritage. Grateful for the chance to capture and share a few images of Danza Azteca Guadalupana honoring tradition and community.

Looking forward to sharing more of their story in the days to come.

Featured here, performer: Nancy Jaimes

***os, , , , ,

11/04/2024

From the Flames - We spent most of the afternoon thinking the day's shoot might get washed out. The clouds were pretty stormy, and it looked like rain was coming at any minute. But just as the sun started making its way down to the horizon, the sky opened up in this dramatic and fiery sunset.

This lone Camargue horse was running through the marsh right by the ocean, and for a second, it felt like it was charging straight out of the flames. The reflection on the water just doubled everything, the colors, the movement. There’s something surreal about this one, like a scene out of a dream.

11/01/2024

I was out in the marshlands, photographing the horses after they’d finished running. One horse fell behind the pack, and I kept my lens on it, curious to see what it might do next. As it climbed up over a grassy hill, I caught this shot. To me, it feels like it’s about to step into a hidden world—a kind of secret garden that only it could see. The way its mane blows back created this mix of energy and a surreal beauty that I didn’t expect but really love.