People seemed to enjoy these, so here goes another one.
First, (again), I do not claim to be a portrait photographer. However, I do like to photograph the indigenous people where I ravel as part of my documentation and cultural context.
In 1995/1996, we lived outside the provincial capital "city" of Guaranda, Ecuador. Once an important center, it has been a little left behind, as it is on the other side of Mt. Chimborazo from the cities of Ambato and Riobamba, through which the Panamerican Highway passes. There is no single indigenous group here, like I described last time in the town of Salasaca (near Ambato), but rather different villages with separate identities (and different hats!). Guaranda is described in tourist books as the "Rome of the south", as it is build between 7 hills. However, the resemblance ends there!
We were house-sitting about 3 miles out of town. Next to us, across an empty field, was our closest neighbor. They had 4 childred who would come by and play with our two - ages 6 and 9. Children seem to transcend any language barrier and they often came around, especially the oldest one, "Elisabeth". By day she would look after the younger two while her parents tended to a 5 acre plot of corn. The eldest boy was often seen roaming around with his slingshot (around his neck in the photo. Like others we met, she always wore such a beautiful smile!!
