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Photography from Bolivia, Chile, Peru and elsewhere in South America.

I have many more images available in my archives which are in the process of being uploaded and am always shooting new work. If you can't find the images you are looking for please get in touch, I may well be able to help!

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Alasita Festival La Paz


The Alasitas Fair (or Feria de la Alasita) is a festival celebrated throughout the Bolivian altiplano, but especially in La Paz, at the end of January. The festival honours the Ekeko, the Aymara god of abundance. It has ancient origins - the Aymara people would perform rituals and offer miniatures to their gods to ask for abundant crops. The tradition has grown over time and miniatures of a whole range of items are now available, the idea being that the full sized version will be received during the coming year. The festival traditionally starts on January 24th when the streets of La Paz fill with stalls selling miniatures. Believers have their purchases blessed by shamans, and around midday on January 24th by Catholic priests in and / or outside the city's churches as well. Markets continue selling miniatures (the festival has generated an entire craft industry dedicated to their production) and other handicrafts for a few weeks afterwards. The festival was added to UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 6th December 2017. A similar but smaller festival is held in Puno, Peru at the start of May.
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An ekeko and miniature clinical medical report file (bright green on right) for sale at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature vaccination cards, medical reports and negative covid-19 test results for sale at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bo...
Miniature vaccination cards, medical reports and negative covid-19 test results for sale at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bo...
Miniature vaccination cards, medical reports and negative covid-19 test results for sale at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bo...
Miniature vaccination cards and military service passports for sale at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature vaccination cards and military service passports for sale at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A verdict from the Supreme Court of Justice featuring Ana María Polo from the famous Telemundo TV series "Caso Cerrado" ("Cas...
A verdict from the Supreme Court of Justice featuring Ana María Polo from the famous Telemundo TV series "Caso Cerrado" ("Cas...
Chinese Jin Chan money toad wearing miners helmet and other miniatures for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Chinese Jin Chan money toad wearing miners helmet and other miniatures for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Chinese Jin Chan money toad wearing miners helmet and other miniatures for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Statues of chickens, smiling buddha and golden $100 bills for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Girl selling miniature bank notes in front of model dinosaur at Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Box of various lucky charms for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Woman shopping at stall selling ekekos and other miniatures, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekekos and miniature suitcases with travel documents for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekekos and miniature suitcases with travel documents for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Woman selling miniature fashion magazines on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Stall selling miniature ID cards, licences and credentials, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Stall selling miniature ID cards, licences and credentials, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Stall selling miniature bank notes and lucky charms, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Stall selling miniature bank notes and lucky charms, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Woman buying a miniature ceramic chicken at stall in front of the Presidential Palace, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Vendor holding a ceramic chicken with eggs, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Vendor holding a ceramic chicken with eggs, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekeko on stall selling miniatures, seller is blessing client with alcohol, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman uses an Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) to bless a client, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman recites prayers as he blesses a client, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses miniatures with incense, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses an ekeko, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses miniatures with coloured alcohol in scallop shells, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman recites prayers as he blesses miniatures, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses miniature banknotes with a silver crucifix, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses a toy car, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses a toy car with alcohol, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman recites prayers as he blesses a client, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses a toy car with alcohol, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses miniatures with alcohol, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Yatiris or shamans tout for business on steps outside the cathedral, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Decorated Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) on stall of Kallawaya medicine man, Alasitas festival, Bolivia
Decorated Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) and items used for rituals on stall of Kallawaya medicine man, Alas...
Decorated Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi) and items used for rituals on stall of Kallawaya medicine man, Alas...
Kallawaya medicine man performing blessing ritual at Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Kallawaya medicine man performing blessing ritual at Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Kallawaya medicine man performing blessing ritual at Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Kallawaya medicine man performing blessing ritual at Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses miniatures with incense, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A yatiri or shaman blesses miniatures with incense, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
People have their miniatures blessed with holy water by priests outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
People have their miniatures blessed with holy water by priests outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A woman holds up miniature bank notes to be blessed with holy water by priests outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festiva...
People hold up their miniatures to be blessed by priests with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La ...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Priests blessing crowds of people and their miniatures with holy water outside San Francisco church, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Miniature wheelbarrows with construction materials for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature houses for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekeko for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature degree certificates for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature degree certificates for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Woman arranging miniatures on her stall at start of Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Woman arranging miniatures on her stall at start of Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Woman arranging miniatures on her stall at start of Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature objects for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature objects for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekeko on market stall selling miniatures, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Girl arranging bundles of miniature bank notes on her stall at Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Miniature sacks of typical local food for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
People reading miniature newspapers and magazines on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
People reading miniature newspapers and magazines on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
People reading miniature newspapers and magazines on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Imitation Bolivian Central Bank (BCB) stall selling miniature bank notes, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Model vehicles for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Chinese Jin Chan money toad and miniature banknotes, flight tickets and passports for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Pa...
Chinese Jin Chan money toad and miniature $100 bills for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Chinese Jin Chan money toad and miniature $100 bills for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Piggy banks for sale on stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekeko and miniature suitcases with travel documents for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ekeko and miniature suitcases with travel documents for sale on market stall, Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ricardo Paco (centre, the official ekeko) with officials at the inauguration ceremony for the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ricardo Paco (centre, the official ekeko) with officials at the inauguration ceremony for the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ricardo Paco (centre, the official ekeko) at the inauguration ceremony for the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ricardo Paco (centre, the official ekeko) at the inauguration ceremony for the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A girl poses for photos with Ricardo Paco (the official ekeko) at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
People pose for photos with Ricardo Paco (the official ekeko) at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
A policeman has his photo taken with Ricardo Paco (the official ekeko) at the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
Ricardo Paco (the official ekeko) gets ready for the inauguration on the Alasitas festival, La Paz, Bolivia
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