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Peru's Highway of Dreams

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Child of the Mines
Photograph by Maria Stenzel

Edy Carmona Espinoza, age three, was born in Huaypetue, where his parents—originally from Cusco—have worked for a decade. Tens of thousands of impoverished highlanders have flocked to the remote rain forest mine, often enduring what one Peruvian official described as "slave-like conditions." Mercury contamination from the mines is widespread. Children exposed to the substance risk brain damage and even death.

Camera: Nikon F100
Film Type: Fujichrome Provia 100
Lens: 24-50mm zoom
Speed and F-Stop: 1/60 @ f/11 or f/16

Weather Conditions: Sunny
Time of Day: Late afternoon
Lighting Techniques: Natural light
Special equipment or comments: When doing portraits in the sun, if you shoot in the late afternoon or morning, your subject's face and eyes are well lit. By contrast, noon light will obscure your subject's eyes in the shadow of the eye sockets.