Portraits from Peru’s Snow Star Festival
These portraits were taken with a 19th century-style box camera during Peru’s Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star.
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 30-year-old Ivan Flores poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Flores represents “La Emilia”, a man that is dressed as a woman in order to carry kindling hidden under his skirt while dancing as part of the Tahuantinsuyo nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 15-year-old Aldair Monchea poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Aldair, who represents the Tahuantinsuyo nation, performs in a colonial war dance known as Sarge Pusay, that plays out an acrimonious battle over land boundaries. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, Rudy Espiriya and his three-year-old son Dayiro Tahuara, pose for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Espiriya and his son perform a dance called Paapuri Guayri as part of the Paucartambo nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 58-year-old Bernardino Quispe poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Quispe is a musician who plays the quena, a traditional Andean flute that dates back to pre-Hispanic times. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 32-year-old Porfirio Quispe poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Porfirio dances as part of the Paruro nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, Roger Barrios poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Barrios is a dancer representing the Acomayo nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 54-year-old Filament Wilca and his 23-year-old daughter Laura Wilca, pose for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. The father and daughter are violinists representing the Quispicanchis nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 22-year-old Jefferson Valdivia poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Valdivia of the Quispicanchis nation is dressed as the protagonist of a dance called “Mal Genio”, or “Bad-tempered”. The dance lampoons women who do not care for housework. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 13, 2017 photo, 23-year-old Edison Olgado poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Olgado is a dancer representing the Quispicanchis nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 13, 2017 photo, 78-year-old Justino Quispe poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Quispe dances with the troupe, “Comparsa Runa Canchi”. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 13, 2017 photo, nine-year-old Jose Carlos Cahuana, dressed as a character known as “Majeno”, poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. “Majenos” are based on aguardiente vendors from the Majes-Arequipa region, depicted as plump, good-natured, big spenders. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 20-year-old Alexio Marveli poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Marveli is dressed as the mystical character, “El Auqui”, a wise old man and protector. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 19-year-old Fabio Luis Calancha, dressed as a half-bear, half-man creature known as a ukuku, poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Fabio represents the Tahuantinsuyo nation. Although ukukus are tricksters who play pranks on the pilgrims they also maintain order and are the only ones allowed up to the sacred Qullqip’unqu mountain’s glacier. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 13, 2017 photo, 19-year-old Guido Yupanki poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Guido is a dancer representing the Tahuantinsuyo nation. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 13, 2017 photo, Sebastiana Jara poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Sebastiana sells handicrafts and typical fabrics from the Cusco region at the Snow Star festival. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 11, 2017 photo, 12-year-old Jean Marco Valverde poses for a portrait in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. Jean Marco, who represents the Paruro nation, takes on the role of a soldier in his dance performances. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
- In this June 12, 2017 photo, 54-year-old contract musician Eulogio Quispe poses for a portrait with his Peruvian harp, in the Sinakara Valley, in Peru’s Cusco region, during the Qoyllur Rit’i festival, translated from the Quechua language as Snow Star. The Peruvian variation of the harp has no peddles. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)