Gertrude Blom is one of the world's finest, and under appreciated social observer photographers. Trudi came to Mexico in 1940, as a result of problems in Europe.

Trudi, born 1901, in Switzerland was a journalist reporting on the socialist movement in pre-world war 2 europe. These reorts caused her to embrace socialism, and reject the ills of European fascism. Trudi was arrested in Italy in 1925, for ties to the socialist movement. (her name appeared on a library checklist on the subjects of books of controversy.) As she left Italy in 1926, she found herself in Germany. When Hitler came to power, Trudi was persued as potential threat to the Third Reight. Trudi was one of many that was hunted, but managed to stay one step ahead of the Nazis, avoiding arrest.

After reading of Anthropological studies of Meso America, Trudi became fascenated with the stories of the cultures, and individual groups, such as the Zapatista woman, who fought for Mexican independance.

In 1940, with war in Europe, Trudi found it in her best interest to persure the interests of Meso America.

In 1943, Trudi found work with the Mexican govenment, traveling through rural Mexico (particularly the southern areas) to report on the way of life, in order to determine the need for government assistance. This is when Trudi came into contact with the a gorup of Mayans living in the Lacandon Jungle. The Locandons fascinated Trudi, they were a small group who remained "pristine" throughout the ages, still worshiping some of the primative Mayan Gods. The Lacandon Maya remained self-sufficient and isolated: their existance was a poirtrait of traditional Mayan life.

Blom Did most of her Photography with the Lacandon people. Little to her knowledge, she was capturing the end of their culture, and the end of the Lacandon Jungle

Trudi refuses to refer to her photos as objects, or works of art. When asked about the technical aspects of her photography, she knows nothing. She only know of the people, place, or feeling when she took the photo. It was the spirit of the moment Trudi was capturing; not a representation of the moment. Trudi did much of her early work without the benefit of a light meter; not to her choice, but the quality of here equipment was not a consideration.

Trudi doesn't look to capture any specific images when shooting people, but all of her images seem to be affirming.

Since the lates 1970s, Trudi has all but abandoned photographing people, to doument the destruction of the rainforest.

Trudi has foght for a noble cause. Her home, Na Bolom, has been the center for various scientific studies, and campains to stop the distruction.