Thread by @rorypecktrust

For the second day of our #WPFD18 series exploring behind the scenes of freelancers at work in regions across the world, we'll be sharing insights from freelance photographer César Rodríguez in Mexico - a country that ranks 147th of 180 on @RSF_inter's World Press Freedom Index

Freelancer César Rodríguez was born in the western Mexican state of Nayarit, where he took this photo: “This was in a living room in a house in Tepic, Nayarit, where a clash between armed civilians and the navy took place." [1/2]

"At least five people died, and it’s believed that other armed civilians escaped. I chose this image because when I see it, it reminds me of places where people are at war – "official" wars – and it reminds me that here in #Mexico we have our own war as well.” [2/2]

According to @pressfreedom, 45 journalists have been killed in #Mexico since 1992 – six in 2017 alone.

To continue our #WorldPressFreedomDay series, another glimpse of #freelance photographer César Rodríguez's work in his native #Mexico: “Here I was on patrol with the army forces in Tamaulipas. Tamaulipas has become a lost state, a cartel-controlled state in Mexico", César said

Three of the six journalists killed in #Mexico in 2017 were #freelancers, according to @pressfreedom. Drug cartels are among the reasons behind this high-risk environment

Another of freelancer César Rodríguez's glimpses into working within his local region: “This is Carlos Vazquez, working on the tobacco fields in Santiago, Nayarit, Mexico. Back in 2015 when I took this photo, the tobacco labourers worked 16-18 hours a day." [1/3]

"When the tobacco companies saw the photos published, they contacted me and asked me how they could improve their lives." [2/3]

"Three years later, it seems that bit by bit their lives and working conditions are improving.” [3/3]

Mexican freelancer César Rodríguez reflects on another angle of his job: “Here are members of a vigilante group on patrol. This group has now taken over the security of the municipality of Aquila on the Michoacan coastline, reducing the crime & murder rates to almost zero." [1/2]

César continued: "Working in this town made me realise how strong communities are, and how resilient they can be even in extreme situations.” [2/2] #Mexico

To close today’s photo series from #freelance photographer César Rodríguez ahead of #WorldPressFreedomDay, he has shared this photograph of an emotional scene in his native Mexico – where violence is sadly not an uncommon occurrence [1/3]

César: “Roberto’s daughters and family members at the funeral of a young man who was missing for three years. Because of him, his mother founded a search group in the city of Los Mochis, #Sinaloa. [2/3]

He added: “After three years of searching him, she found his bones. ‘Hope is finding my son, even if it’s just his bones, I want to find him’, she said.” [3/3]