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Peru
Peru
Probably one of the craziest photos I've ever taken inside the Catacombs of Lima. Similar to the catacombs in Europe, these crypts have been in use for many years, only ceasing operation in 1810. A minimum of 25,000 people are laid to rest here, with some estimates going as high as 75,000. Unfortunately, due to the low light and lack of a tripod, this was one of the only sharp photos I could capture. Nonetheless, the arrangement and presence of the skeletons were fascinating.
This is easily my favorite long exposure photo I've taken, capturing the Cusco Cathedral towering above the rest of the city. This massive structure is visible from most places in the city and has been standing for over 300 years, withstanding countless earthquakes.
Golden hour sun covering the mountain in rural southern Peru.
This iconic angle captures the hilltop ruins of Machu Picchu, with Huayna Picchu pictured in the background.
The striped slopes of Vinicunca, Peru's Rainbow Mountain, at over 5,000 meters. The colors come from mineral deposits in the rock, iron oxide for red and copper for green, exposed as the glacier that once covered the mountain melted away.
A family on the Uros Islands, floating on Lake Titicaca. Every island here is hand built entirely from totora reeds, layered thick enough to live on, and they float freely on the lake rather than sitting on fixed ground.
The glaciated peak of Ausangate rises above the valley, the highest mountain in the Cusco region at over 6,000 meters. It's considered a sacred apu in Andean tradition, and the golden grasslands below are where alpaca and llama herds graze through most of the year.
A Spiny whorltail iguana basking in front of the blurred ruins of Machu Picchu. These lizards are found only in Peru's state of Cusco and spend their lives high above sea level, so very little is known about them.
Two Uros residents aboard a totora reed boat, built in the same technique as the islands themselves. These boats are traditionally used to travel between islands and to the mainland, and building them is a skill passed down through generations.
Terraced ruins climb the peak of Huayna Picchu, the steep mountain that rises behind Machu Picchu. The Incas carved these steps into the ridge itself, and it's still a hike to the summit today.
On one of our gas station stops, I quickly ran off into the village for a minute or two to capture photos of the locals and the farming homes. I managed to capture some amazing shots, like this one. However, my adventure was cut short when a little old lady further down the road started yelling at me.
Terraced hillsides on Taquile Island, one of the natural islands on Lake Titicaca rather than a floating one like Uros. The community here is known for handwoven textiles, a tradition recognized by UNESCO, with the patterns and colors used to signal a person's age and social status.
Aguas Calientes at night, the small town built into the gorge below Machu Picchu. The Urubamba River cuts straight through the middle of it, and the town only exists to support visitors since there's no road access, everyone arrives by train or on foot along the tracks.
A beautiful black and white shot taken in one of the many plazas found in the major city of Lima. The intricate details and diverse architecture made this city an amazing subject for photography.
A quiet corner of the Uros Islands, black and white bringing out the texture of the reed homes and bundled totora stacked outside them. Reed roofs and walls like these need to be replaced every few months as the material dries out and breaks down.
A shot from the Ollantaytambo Sanctuary. I could write a whole essay about the mysteries of the Ollantaytambo ruins and their history. Aside from being one of the last standing fortresses for the Incan rebels during the invasion of the Spanish conquistadors, it has also been recently discovered to be geographically aligned with sites like the Great Pyramids of Giza and Easter Island. The Battle of Ollantaytambo in 1537 holds incredible historical significance, and I was honored to be able to photograph its ruins.
Ollantaytambo is also known for its giant terrace steps. Some of these farming terraces were specially designed to allow for the cultivation of crops that wouldn't naturally be able to survive at such high altitudes in the mountains. Aside from the farming benefits, they are believed to have played a significant role in the Battle of Ollantaytambo, providing the fortress with natural defense.
A prospective shot from Ollantaytambo, showing one of the structures built into the fortress in front of the massive naturally guarded grain silos nestled in the mountains behind.
With the telephoto lens, you can get a closer look at these massive silos. During the war with the Spanish, there was a constant fear of food supplies being destroyed by the conquistadors. To combat this, Ollantaytambo strategically placed their reserves hidden on the steepest cliffs of the surrounding mountains.
One of the few snow-covered peaks I had the opportunity to capture during my travels. This frame ended up being one of my favorite photos I've taken because of the intricate layers of mountains, with small homes and trails carved into the sides.
Llamas traverse the backside of Machu Picchu, scaling the surrounding cliffs of the ancient city.
The shoreline of Peru's capital city Lima.
The bustling city of Ollantaytambo, captured from atop the ruins. I really enjoy capturing scenes like this when I visit new places, and this one truly exemplifies why. In a single frame, you can see stray dogs, pedestrians, street vendors, the Urubamba River, and various types of cars and mopeds found in the city. Additionally, you can see the incredible architecture all coming together.
One of the locals I met on one of my walks into the village photographed threw a hanging tapestry.
Another great example of why I love photos like this. This shot showcases the city of Cusco from one of the surrounding mountains. You can see the Cusco Cathedral inside Plaza De Armas and the nation's coat of arms carved into the hills and farmland.
The city's edge of Machu Picchu, along with the rock fields pictured in the bottom half, is believed to have supplied all the materials necessary to construct the entire city.
