国家地理 成千上万的萤火虫照亮墨西哥的森林(1)

When an editor called to ask if I could photograph a story about fireflies in Mexico, I didn't check my schedule before I said yes. I'd seen these insects light up the forests in Tlaxcala once before, and I jumped at the chance to go back.

当一位编辑打来问我是否可以为一个关于墨西哥的萤火虫报导拍照时，我没查看我的时间表就答应了。我曾经看过这些昆虫点亮特拉克斯卡拉的森林，而我欣然接受再回去的机会。

While studying at the University of Colima, I began exploring Mexico, crossing the country several times by bus. I've spent time in 28 of its 31 states, and the variety of landscapes -- Michoacán's beaches, Colima's volcano¹, San Luis Potosí's plateau² -- captivates me in a way that no other country has.

当我就读科利马大学时，我开始探索墨西哥，多次乘巴士汽车穿越这个国家。我去过墨西哥31州中的28个州，该国多样化的景观，米却肯州的海滩、科利马州的火山、圣路易斯波托西州的高原，比任何其他国家都令我着迷。

Now I work as a photojournalist in Mexico and along the border, documenting desperate situations that rarely seem to improve for everyday Mexicans. I'm lucky enough to be able to leave when I need to; my Mexican colleagues face censorship and threats to their lives.

如今我在墨西哥和美墨边境附近担任摄影记者，记录着对墨西哥人来说似乎难以改善的绝境。我很幸运在我需要时就能离开这里；我的墨西哥同事们得继续面对新闻审查和生命威胁。

Though necessary and important, news stories don't reflect the Mexico that I fell for and that is home to so many people I love. An assignment focused on the country's natural beauty was a welcome reprieve³.

虽然新闻报导是必要且重要的，却无法反映我所爱的墨西哥，而且这里住着许多我爱的人。这个聚焦在墨西哥自然美景的任务成了令人愉快的慰藉。

1 volcano   

n.火山

参考例句：

• The volcano unexpectedly blew up early in the morning.火山一早突然爆发了。
• It is most risky to go and examine an active volcano.去探察活火山是非常危险的。

2 plateau   

n.高原，平稳，稳定状态；vi.到达平稳阶段

参考例句：

• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。
• As the river drops from the plateau,it forms great waterfalls.河水从高原上下落时，形成了巨大的瀑布。

3 reprieve   

n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解

参考例句：

• He was saved from the gallows by a lastminute reprieve.最后一刻的缓刑令把他从绞架上解救了下来。
• The railway line, due for closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve.本应停运的铁路线获准多运行6 个月。