Culture and Portraits of Peru and Andes
Friendly Grin
A man excitedly heads towards his kitchen in Misminay to check out the new stove we installed.
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New Stove
Be of service. An important mantra. Here in Misminay, Peru, we replaced an old chimeny and stove with a much safer and efficient one almost entirely built from natural components found around the house. Here the family enjoys cooking on their new stove and not having to breathe in the black smoke. Notice the charred remains from the prior chimney on the top right of the photo. Now, the metal chimney carries the smoke up and out.
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Genuine Smile
Genuine Smiles with my sobrino Mayu in Misminay
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Slingshot
An excerpt from a student on my past trip about the story behind this photo.
"Today Ryan showed us pictures from the first month of the trip. The one that struck me the most was the photo he took of me and a young boy named Cristian. This brought back my favorite memory of the trip so far. It was such a little moment, but it had such a lasting impact. While we were finishing up lunch and about to head up the mountain to the natural salt mines in Peru, I stopped because I saw Ryan and some boy off in the distance. I was intrigued, so I went towards them to find out the name of the boy was Cristian and what was so fascinating was his little homemade slingshot. At first I sucked, like really bad. But, Cristian taight me how to hold it and what to do with my hands and next thing I knew I was slinging it a mile. I was having so much fun I didn’t want to leave and head up the mountain. Cristian was really amazing, he even caught some fish in the river with his makeshift net and had them for dinner. The kid was incredible. Although it wasnt a huge moment it is my favorite memory and my first time really interacting with locals. I tend to have the most fun when I just drop whatever I’m doing, stop thinking about whatever I’m thinking about and let my 10 year old self have fun. I thank Cristian for allowing me to let my 10 year old self have fun with him and play with his slingshot."cristianperu portraitslingshotperu photographyandeslife in the andesperu boythe art of playsacred valley peru portrait
Vendor
A street vendor in Huaraz, Peru selling various juices in the heat of the day.
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Cathedral Views
A campesina (country or rural woman) taking in the big city festivities in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. I can only imagine her thoughts as life is totally different here than where she hails from.
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Amaru Family
Our host family in the small community of Amaru bids us farewell after a wonderful stay.
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Intricate
An expert weaver in Chinchero begins the process of creating this wonderfully beautiful piece of art that also tells many stories. She does this all by memorization. Notice the wonderful design already being created in the lower left.
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Focus
Incredible focus, patience and skill as an expert weaver in Chinchero works on a traditional textile piece. This co-op started by a woman named Nilda is aimed at preserving these ancient traditions and providing opportunities to these woman and their children. Beautiful.
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San Blas
A woman slowly making her way up the cobbled streets in the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas in Cusco.
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Basilia's Gaze
Vasilia, 83 years old gazes up for a brief moment while sorting freshly harvested potatoes in the community of Chonta.
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Daily Paper
Men in the Plaza de Armas in Cusco reading the daily paper. Nice to see people just sitting like old times.
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Daily Discussions
A couple of women in Huaraz, Peru meeting in the central plaza to chat
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Keep Strollin'
A simple scene in Cusco. A woman on the streets pushing her stroller. Nothing more. Just playing with the shutter to try and create a sense of movement and capture the seemingly mundane everyday routines in a special way.
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Plaza de Armas Chiquain
A man taking in the days in the Plaza de Armas in Chiquain, Peru.
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Prettiest Thing You Can Wear
They say a smile is the prettiest thing you can wear. How true it is.
Bus Stop
An everyday scene at a Cusco bus stop.
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Alex
Alex's eyes connect with mine in a moment of innate curiosity.
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Snacking
A girl waits with her llama as she waits for the next rounds of tourists to ask to take photos with her and her animal.
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Siesta
A man takes a standing up nap in the heat of the day in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia where the jungle town was hitting 104 degrees this day.
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Blues
This scene of blues in Ollantayambo caught my attention.
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Afternoon Siesta
Woman trying to stay awake at the San Pedro market in Cusco as the day draws to a close.
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Afternoon Bench Viewing
A woman sits next to a statue on a bench in Ollantayambo, Peru just taking the day in.
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Young Horseman
A young horseman confidently gallops by on Lake Viconga deep within the Cordillera Huayahush. A very different way of life as these horses are akin to our cars...and this path is the interstate.
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Pachamanca Seasoning
Adding fresh local herbs to the traditional earth oven pachamanca in order to retain moisture and give flavor to the food as it cooks.
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Pachamanca Preperation
Building a traditional rock earth oven called a huatia in preparation for a community feast called a Pachamanca.
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Natural Dyes
A woman in chinchero boiling the spun sheeps wool in water and local ingredients to create stunning natural dyes.
chincherochinchero peru photographyperu weavingperu textilesnatural dyesperuvian weaving colorsperu textile colorsperu photographyperu travel
Framed Plaza
A view from a window pane in Limo Restaurant of daily life in the Plaza De Armas in Cusco.
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Plastic Colors
An explosion of colors in the Huaraz market.
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Lamay Festival
Hundreds file out of the church in Lamay celebrating the saint of Santa Rosa at the end of August.
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Natural Dyes
All of the natural dyes on display in Chinchero. The yarn colors come from the seeds and leaves you see in the bowls. The wool is boiled with these ingredients to create amazing natural dyes.
chincherochinchero peru photographyperu weavingperu textilesnatural dyesperuvian weaving colorsperu textile colorsperu photographyperu travel
Curious
Often as travelers, we are curious about those we come across. What we sometimes don't realize...is that they are equally curious. A mom, daughter and their dog high up in a grazing meadow at around 15,000 feet in Lares in the Peruvian Andes
laresperu familyandes lifeperu portraitperu photographymountain cultureperuvian andes culture
Weaving Teachings
A young apprentice learns the ropes in the traditional weaving techniques of Chinchero. It will take many years for her to become a master if she keeps at it.
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Best Friends
These two best friends pleaded for me to take their photo and bring them a print when I return. They were all smiles!
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Spinning Familia
Mother and daughter in Chinchero sharing laughs as they spin wool.
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Morning Ride
A man rides his horse in Chonta after heading down the steep slopes to check on his fields and animals.
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Pouring Chicha
La Jefa of a small chicaria in the backstreets of Ollantaytambo pours a cup of fresh chicha or corn beer for her guests. These small home taprooms serve as local bars run usually by a woman who doesn't take any crap from others. She allows them into her home and to pay for her drinks, but she commands respect from all.
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Helping Out
A young girl in the small community of Chonta gets in on the action of helping clean the dirt off the potatoes.
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A Pop of Churros
A pop of yellow as a vendor sells Churros on Sunday in downtown Cusco.
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All Hands on Deck
All the kiddos helping Marina clean the dirt off the freshly harvested potatoes to cook up for a community feast (Pachamanca). In order for the kids to enjoy the meal, they must learn from an early age that they have to do their part in chip in. It's ayllu (community), a deeply held cultural norm in the Andes.
potatoespachamanaperu pachamancaperu culturechont peruperu photographywashing potatoesperuvian foodpotato harvest
Homemade Toys
toys made from cord and a cut out top of an aluminum can. They then take scissors and cut edges into the can top so it's razor sharp. They can pull the string to spin the razor so it will cut grass and who knows!
Helping Out!
Kiddos in Chonta help out as grandmother Vasilia keeps a watchful eye. They helped wash the harvested potatoes that we would enjoy in our community feast later that day. In order for you to enjoy the Pachamanca and food, you must chip into help prepare, so that's exactly what the kiddos did.
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Basilia Supervising
Basilia spends much her days just sitting and supervising. In her mid 80's now she remains stubborn and resilient, but she has learned to rely on others to help her out in cultivating her small farming plots and assisting with daily chores.
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