Toronto/Mexico City (416) 906-0205 contact@brettgundlock.com brettgundlock.com From Toronto but based in Mexico City, Brett Gundlock is a photographer and a founding member of the Boreal Collective. Brett's work has been focusing on Mexico for over three years, where he currently lives and works fulltime. Recent clients: New York Times, Der Spiegel, The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail, Bloomberg Business Week Magazine, Report on Business Magazine, Telegraph Magazine, Maisonneuve Magazine,, Toronto Star, VICE, Toronto Life, Mashable, Vocativ, Getty Images, Reuters and Bloomberg News Service. Brett's archive is represented by Corbis images- http://www.corbisimages.com/photographer/brettgundlock
A suspected cartel member lies dead, following a confrontation with vigilant fighters, Saturday, May 16, 2013, in Michoacan, Mexico. Vigilante fighters (called autodefensa- selfdefense) entered the small town of Trancitorio and fought the organised crime group that had control of the town (Knights of Templar.) Autodefensa fighters spread across the state of Michigan from 2012-2014, fighting the Knights of Templar cartel and taking control of the violent region. They were eventually deputised by the Federal government and became the official police force in the region.
A member of an autodefensa group Pur un Aquila libre (For one free Aquila) patrols a mountain road, July, 2013. In April, 2011, after years of extortion by the local cartels, complacency of local government and police, the people of Cherán, Michoacán, Mexico, organized to reclaim their town and their land. The Pueblo (translated as people or community) confronted the cartel, removed the government from office, and created their own police force to guard the city. Since that date, towns all across Michoacán have seen vigilante groups form to fight back the Knights Templar Cartel and protect their city. Autodefensa groups, (which translates in to self defense) now have control of the majority of Michoacán and are close to run night the Knights Templar Cartel out of Michoacán.
A man dances under falling fireworks during the annual fall fiesta, in Cherán, Michoacán, Mexico, September, 2014. In April, 2011, after years of extortion by the local cartels, complacency of local government and police, the people of Cherán, Michoacán, Mexico, organized to reclaim their town and their land. The Pueblo (translated as town or community) confronted the cartel, removed the government from office, and created their own police force to guard the city. Since that date, towns all across Michoacán have seen vigilante groups form to fight back the Knights Templar Cartel and protect their city. Last winter and Spring (2013-2014) Autodefensa groups, (which translates in to self defence) took control of the majority of towns in Michoacán State. But, the Government intervened and forced the vigilantes to put down their guns. Since this decision violence and new organized crime groups have returned to this troubled state.