Perspective

Brandace Laska, a professional storyteller and photographer accompanied comunindad dos in 2022, capturing movement, memories, and making connections with the people of Quispicanchi. As a seasoned travel photographer and volunteer, she offers a beautiful perspective on our work in Peru -

Boarding onto a 7-hour flight out of DFW, I breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, a few hours to relax. I am feeling the effects of working endless hours for too long. I have looked forward to this flight for some time; not just for the excitement of the journey, but selfishly for the simple 7 hours of downtime for both me and my phone.

I close my eyes. And I take a beat. I know this break is one which allows my body to rest but will require some deep introspection. 

I realize my challenge ahead. On a high level, it’s quite simple: create portraits of selected women and capture imagery of programs in action. No problem. As a Professional Photographer with 22 years of experience and a degree in my field, this is the simple part. As a woman; an empath; and an advocate for positive change while preserving culture, this task requires so much more of me than the simple snap of a shutter. I recognize that my perspective will bleed through the imagery. It’s key to the dignity of my subjects that I recognize that from the start.

This leads me to ask: who am I to use my lens to paint the picture of these women? What about my background enables me to portray their struggles and dreams? How will I relate to them?  It’s not about the costly equipment that I will be parading through their village. Though I know I have to find a way to make that okay. It’s about establishing a relationship that allows me to depict the struggles, daily lives, and dreams of such amazing beings. I am here to celebrate them! 

I take a deep breath. And I get to work on my deep dive within.

I’ve always been an outsider. Growing up I didn’t have a lot of friends. I was the type of kid who sought out that spot at the very end of the table in the lunchroom. This allowed me to go unnoticed and quietly slip away as soon as I was done eating. I wasn’t invited to parties; I walked home alone after school. In class, I never raised my hand but would wait for others to ask questions in the hope that mine too would be answered.

I understand the bond between female friends differently than those who have experienced a lot of female friendships because I’ve observed and even coveted that bond. Does observation ultimately make me an expert on women’s relationships with one another? I can’t say that it does. But it does make me a sort of expert at recognizing kindred connections and the nuances which define the complex dynamic between them. It also leaves me an understanding of the challenges women face in the quiet space they find while on their own.

How does this, coupled with my current mood of feeling overworked and underappreciated qualify me to tell their story? I realize it makes me an empath who can, in a weird twist of fate that only a God with a sense of humor can employ, relate to these women. If there’s one thing I know that is universal amongst women it is our ability to multi-task and to work tirelessly often without acknowledgment. I decide I’ll lead with that. And I cling to this sense of self as I meet my first subjects.

I find the women to be some of the more unique subjects I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. Most are really hesitant to have their photos taken. They are most comfortable getting into the frame with someone else. They celebrate one another and lift each other up as they move together in the frame. They seem to know more about their friends’ good qualities than they know about themselves. They quickly call out each other’s most photographable qualities, and some of them even offer various accessories for their friends to wear. I’ve never been a part of such a judgment-free, uplifting group of women. It was freeing and inspiring.

They are hesitant to get to know an outsider but are intrigued by that outsider as I attempt to become a part of their world for just a bit. They offer the lens a glimpse into their lives for a moment as they continue to work. Their eyes shyly seek out the camera, depicting a want for something that is rooted deep within them but is maybe beyond their imagination. Their actions express that they desire the best for their families and will do anything they can to achieve that. There’s a quiet dignity in these moments as they recognize that I too am a part of a similar journey. Out of mutual respect for a fellow female, they allow me in just for a moment. I’m not here to be a voyeur or to stage my narrative that I’m placing upon them…. But to enable viewers to discover the dignity and the soul each subject holds within herself. They each seem to understand that.

I hope and pray that the imagery brought back to the U.S. tells the story of strong; proud; humble; good-hearted people. Even though we’re many miles apart and are from vastly different cultures, we have so much in common. In a different set of circumstances or in a twist of fate, these images could be of your mother; your grandmother; your sister; or your friend.