I visited San Juan De la Vega for their Exploding Hammer festival, held each year on the last day of lent in respect of saint San Juan – a celebration marked by raw, explosive power.

Stories say that De la Vega was a local Robin Hood, stealing from rich miners and redistributing their wealth among the poor.

Leaving Celaya, the closer we got to the San Juan de la Vega, the more the taxi shook from intermittent blasts - making it increasingly clear where the festival was being held.

Matched with spectators, food and beverages alike, participants gathered in a field where they brought their home-made explosives - taping them to hammers.

I was welcomed by large groups of friends and family often eager to show me their explosives - even asking if I’d like to participate.

Did I? Well, my mother may read this, so the official answer is no.

The moment of impact was a violent eruption of dirt, dust and gunpowder into the air- taking some getting used to.

The detonation shockwaves ripple through you - and ear defenders can only blunt the sound, not mute it.

Being liberal with safety, often the explosives were detonated freely and without warning. I was caught off guard a few times by teenagers detonating large amounts just meters away from me.

I decided on two personal rules for the day; never remove your ear defenders, even during conversation - and to maintain constant situational awareness.

I was glad to have ear protection and my 400mm telephoto lens and not just my wide angle.

For the camera folk, I used a 70-200mm with a doubler in hand. Though not a fool-proof solution to the flying shrapnel.

My goal was to capture the sheer, unfiltered force of these blasts. An impact that is challenging to adequately illustrate to anyone not experiencing it first hand.

Despite the intensity of the blasts, there was a surprising sense of calm. Families watched, children played, with some even joining in.

This strange juxtaposition of danger and tranquility left a lasting impression, a unique experience that went against expectations.