Peru and Bolivia Landscapes, Cityscapes and Nature
Mystical Andes
Beautiful clouds enshroud the mountains high above the Lares Valley
Churup
Placid waters above Huaraz at Laguna Churup.
Q'eros Valley
The beautiful valley where the community of Quico Chico is situated in the Peruvian Andes. Everyday the fog and moisture comes up the valley from the Amazon rainforest below.
Food Splendor
Oh, the splendors of the markets of Peru. Urubamba on market day.
Pacchanta Sunset
Sunset in the small community of Pacchanta at the base of Apu Ausangate enshrouded in the clouds.
Llama Sunshower
Herder's Home
Llamas grazing underneath the might Ausungate. The small houses are used during various times of the year by people who live in the area to stay for several weeks or months at a time while they have their animals in the high altitude pastures.
Stillness
Complete tranquility in the Cordillera Vilcanota in the Peruvian Andes.
Natural Dye
Beautiful colors that come this plant called Q’olle flower and are used to produce wonderful textiles.
Limatambo Fog
Beautiful fog enshrouds the valley descending down to Limatambo.
Glacial Stream
A glacial stream in Pacchanta, Peru cascades down into the community of Pacchanta. Ausangate is the highest and most sacred mountain in southern Peru.
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Condor!
A condor flying above the Apurimac Canyon. The sacred bird of the Andes.
Angel's Trumpets
Angel's Trumpets flowers adorn the ancient walls all along the streets of Ollantaytambo.
Natural Dyes
Sheep balls of hand spun yarn made from all natural dyes in Chinchero, Peru. The colors are stunning.
Apurimac Canyon Majesty
Llama!
That face.
Machu Picchu Afternoons
The late afternoon sun descends down the citadel of Machu PIcchu
Apurimac
Later afternoon light dances across the canyon in Chonta high above the Apurimac River. This area is famous for the condors who frequently fly through these stunning walls.
Illampu
"I begin to see an object when I cease to understand it." Henry David Thoreau. Beautiful Lago San Francisco. Illampu, Bolivia.
Chasing
Chasing the last light of the day from the community of Misminay, Peru.
Pacchanta
The small community of Pacchanta with the might Apu Ausangate peaking through the morning clouds.
Blue Door Inspiration
This was the spot that I took my first ever photo I kinda sorta liked. It was these 2 blue doors many years ago that captured my attention. I shot the scene on my cell phone. I have the photo printed on my wall at home. I decided to re-pay them a visit and it was a cool moment to see how far photography has brought me and additionally taught me. This quiet little scene changed my entire existence and helped me find true passion and seek to explore with open eyes and connect with places on a deeper level.
Machu Picchu Glow
Evening last light on the famed Machu Picchu.
Palomani
Our horse taking a break on top of the 17,500 Palomani pass before beginning the big descent down into the valley seen in the distance.
Afternoon Storm
An afternoon storm sweeps across the Sacred Valley creating dramatic light.
Glacial Hues
The stunning glaciers on Apu Ausangate in the Peruvian Andes. Living. Breathing. Dying....We need to pay attention and protect them. They give us life.
Ancient Salt Mines
The beautiful Salineras salt mines in Maras, Peru. The salt comes from a subterranean stream. The water comes out at a spring by the mines. The flow is channeled into many tiny canals that direct the water gradually downslope to the numerous terraced pools. They are shaped into polygons with the flow of water carefully controlled and monitored by the workers. The altitude of the pools slowly decreases, so that the water may flow through the myriad branches of the water-supply channels and be introduced slowly through a notch in one sidewall of each pond.
Fields of Gold
Afternoon light strikes Maras and Chinchero across the Sacred Valley as seen from high up on Lares.
Amazon Life
A boat throttles upstream on Rio Beni in the Bolivian rainforest. I always struggle with the heat, humidity and relentless bug bites, but, it surely is a magical place. I truly love being on the river and listening to the sounds murmuring from within the depths of the seemingly impermeable jungle canopy. It is a fragile ecosystem that is being largely destroyed by strip mining, gas exploration, deforestation and encroaching development. However, how are we the west able to tell people that have no other options for work and money to not engage in these lucrative economic drivers? These seemingly terrible practices put food on their family's tables, allow them to have a few small luxuries and provide us with our beautiful hardwood floors, kitchen cabinets, cell phones, televisions, computers, jewelry etc...It is such a complicated reality, and I have no panacea. What I do know is that this is an incredible place that is essential to preserve for our earth's well-being ...maybe by providing alternatively viable economic options to those that live in the region. We also need to curve our appetite in the west for unnecessary luxury items and cut down on the demand. I am guilty as charged and am trying to make small changes. Being conscious to the realities and making baby steps is a great start!
Stormy Glow
An afternoon storm sweeps across the Sacred Valley creating dramatic light.
Channeling my inner Ansel Adams as our arriero (horseman..or boy in this case). descends down to Lake Ausungate
Huascaran Pano
The highest tropical mountain range on the planet and Peru's highest Peak Huascaran tower above beautifully blue lakes and a sinuous highway craved out by man. This road changed many lives in so many complicated ways opening up access to places that before rarely interacted with other areas in the region.
Ollantaytambo Terraces
Moray
The incredible archeological sight of Moray. The inca used these circular levels to create a natural greenhouse experiment. The temperature change can be 27 F from the top to bottom. Just amazing.
Afterglow
Cusco illuminated at sunset as a storm moves south.
Quico Chico Home
Home in Quico Chico in Nacion Q''eros Peru. This is where we stay with the entire family who sleeps on the bed seen here. 4 people cram into the small bed in the freezing cold every night. Additionally they cook potatoes from the small kitchen and have no venting , so the charred and black smoke infiltrates your lungs. The stone walls have no mortar and the frigid winds easily fills the small room. The door is maybe 3 feet, and you have to be careful to not bump your head everytime you step out. No running water. No electricity. This is life. This is perspective.
