11 Peruvian Photographers You Need to Know About

Takanakuy fighter
Takanakuy fighter | Courtesy of Atoq Ramón.
Manuel Orbegozo

Photography has a long tradition in Peru. Ever since the first camera’s arrived in 1842, photographs have served as historic documents that preserve a window to Peruvian culture, traditions and to denounce social issues in the last two centuries. However, some of the most important photographers born in Peru were not always documentarians or photojournalists; photographers like Mario Testino explored the fields of fashion photography and became one of Vogue magazine’s most cherished contributors. Here’s a list of 11 Peruvian photographers you should check out.

Martín Chambi

The father of documentary photography in Peru, Martín Chambi was born in Puno in 1891 but moved to Arequipa in his youth after meeting two British photographers who were documenting a mining project. After learning about photography techniques, Chambi moved to Cusco and opened a studio where he made a living taking portraits of wealthy families. But Chambi had other interests: he wanted to photograph everyday life in Cusco and its surrounding areas. He saw something in people’s expressions and customs no one else could see. Thus, Chambi is considered a pioneer in documenting a rural side of Peru never seen before. His personal archive consisting of 30,000 photographic plates is still in Cusco under the care of his grandson, Teo Allain Chambi.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Mario Testino

The fashion world is in love with Peruvian photographer Mario Testino. So is the British Royal family, Hollywood, and every other famous person that has posed for him. Testino has said he gets his artistic inspiration from the places that he’s lived in like Peru, Brazil and England. Testino’s work has been published in Vogue and Vanity Fair, and he has composed portraits of Princess Diana and other royals such as the King and Queen of Jordan and King and Queen of the Netherlands. In 2012, Testino inaugurated MATE, a contemporary art museum in Barranco where he has his permanent exhibition and other international exhibits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztviA4W3C40

Morgana Vargas Llosa

Morgana Vargas Llosa – born in Barcelona but of Peruvian descent – began as a photojournalist for Spanish newspaper El País and soon got herself in the frontlines at Kosovo and Gaza. Morgana has co-published Mirame Lima, a photography book consisting of 50 portraits of families around the country that show Peru’s ethnic and cultural diversity to encourage integration and to let other Peruvians know themselves better. She is the daughter of Nobel Prize-winning writer Mario Vargas Llosa.

Herman Schwarz

Herman Schwarz is a photojournalist with a long history of photo editing for Peru’s most important newspapers. Schwarz is known for photographing a whole generation of writers and journalists, as well doing full series of artists, like painter Victor Humareda’s bohemian lifestyle.

Atoq Ramón

Although his real name is Marco, his nickname describes him best as a photojournalist: Atoq means fox in Quechua. He’s got the abilities of one. Somehow Ramón always manages to snap photographs in the most crucial times while undergoing immense danger to get the best frame. In fact Ramón was badly injured during a protest after a police officer shot a pellet into his left eye, leaving him under the threat of losing his vision. He is the co-founder of photography collective Maldeojo and Lacra magazine.

Courtesy of Atoq Ramón

Gihan Tubbeh

A world-renowned artist, Tubbeh is a documentary photographer whose work is often blurry, with a heavy contrast of colors but with a strong message hidden in the scenery or an expression; her art is more like a dream that sheds light into the human condition. She won an award at 2010’s World Press Photo contest for her series on the daily life of a 13-year old autistic kid.

Mariano Vivanco

Mariano Vivanco is a Peruvian fashion photographer who shoots for magazines like GQ and Vogue. Vivanco has an interest in exploring the idea of masculinity in his work. You can see three of his photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He’s shot celebrities like Rihanna, Lionel Messi and Naomi Campbell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kar6JIDwtfM

Rochi León

Rochi León has taken her documentary photography all around the world to show portraits of Peruvians in their everyday life and the spaces (some very artsy) they’ve created. A straightforward approach to the souls of the country.

Courtesy of ROCHI LEÓN

Morfi Jiménez

It seems like Morfi Jiménez set about adding to Martín Chambi’s legacy. His portrait series of Andean people in remote villages got him a Hasselblad Masters award. The subjects he chooses to photograph are often wearing traditional clothing and are somehow interacting with their surroundings or perhaps other people in the frame. What best highlights his work is the coloring effect on most of them, making a hybrid between an old analog feel and a high tech camera quality image.

Sharon Castellanos

Sharon Castellanos has said her documentary photography of communities in Cusco is a kind of surrealism. A lone hat suspended in the air with the infinite grassland as a backdrop, or men dancing around a pond in the middle of nowhere are some of the scenes she’s frozen in beautiful black and white photographs that were featured in the New York Times Lens blog.

Danielle Villasana

Although Danielle Villasana was not born in Peru, her long term projects in the country has won her a spot in this post as an “honorary Peruvian”. Villasana has worked on documenting the lives of trans women who often face violence and physical abuse because of their gender. Villasana, who usually picks strong visual stories that explain social issues around women or the trans community, also did a series on Peruvians who had tuberculosis, documenting their everyday struggle. She was selected as an emerging talent by Getty Images, and won first place for the Magnum Foundation’s Inge Morath Award. Her website features her best work from all around the world.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article