On my recent vacation to Peru, I shot quite a few pics of the local people living in the highlands. These are my favorites.
K20 + DA 50-200mm

[Jimbo]

Nice series Frank. What a interesting way to live. Very different from our norm but maybe that's a good thing! JIM

[xs400]

Nice series Frank. What a interesting way to live. Very different from our norm but maybe that's a good thing! JIM

Thanks Jim, They do have a different life style than us. They don't have as many material things as us, but they were less stressed and cheerful. They certainly have a great sense of family and community that I don't see where I live. There are certainly somethings that are good about their lives that we don't have.

[JMR]

These are excellent, dare I call them, environmental portraits. Though one usually sees more of the environment in such portraits, your images evoke a kind of characterizion of people in their environment. Very nice.

JMR

[juanraortiz]

Nice series. As you say in another post this kind of photography is very gratifying. For me nothing like a good portrait. You say they live less stressed and with more family life. As a member of a latin country i can say you are more supported by your relatives, but you loose part of your freedom. I think we must found an average among hte individualism and the group. Sorry, that's another matter. Good job!!

[roentarre]

I like them very much as well. Well done and thanks for showing them.

[daacon]

I like the all , but particularly the ones taken without them knowing. Pure expressions on all of them well done Frank.

[xs400]

These are excellent, dare I call them, environmental portraits. Though one usually sees more of the environment in such portraits, your images evoke a kind of characterizion of people in their environment. Very nice.

JMR

Thank you very much.

Nice series. As you say in another post this kind of photography is very gratifying. For me nothing like a good portrait. You say they live less stressed and with more family life. As a member of a latin country i can say you are more supported by your relatives, but you loose part of your freedom. I think we must found an average among the individualism and the group. Sorry, that's another matter. Good job!!

You comment “Ican say you are more supported by your relatives, but you loose part of your freedom.” From what I saw, I would tend to agree. In the highlands of Peru, there is definitely pressure to conform to the local norms – there especially seems to be a kind of dress code where your clothing tells people where you are from, if you are married or not, and what your position is in the community (are you the mayor, for instance). We were also told there are specific norms for dating and meeting members of the opposite sex. It these respects, there is definitely a loss of freedom.

I like them very much as well. Well done and thanks for showing them.

Thanks, your comments are greatly appreciated

I like the all , but particularly the ones taken without them knowing. Pure expressions on all of them well done Frank.

Dave, thanks very much.
Frank

[drmartin]

Yes, these portraits are simply magnificent! You have told much about their life. Thanks!

[Jonson PL]

Strong work, you've got some great shots from your trip

[SCGushue]

Frank,

Nice series of reality photos. I think you really captured the flavor of the highlands. I did my graduate work down in Peru in the late 70's, and I don't really think that too much has changed there since. That is either fortunate or unfortunate, depending, of course, on one's viewpoint.

None the less, I think your pictures captured a lot of what I experienced in my extended stay. But life for these highland people is still a very rough road compared to what the average forum member experiences daily.

Great shots.

Stephen

[redpigeons]

ok I got to go to peru!!
I love the photos