Sacred Valley Health + Suny Brockport at Yanamayo School in Peru

Bowerbird Photography June 13, 2013

On our second day with Sacred Valley Health (SVH) we headed up and up (1200 ft!) and over to the beautiful town of Yanamayo. SVH's impact reaches extremely remote villages, like this one, where Spanish-speaking interpreters are needed to help communicate with the children who speak Quechua, the lingua franca of the Incas.

While SVH and the health and nursing students from SUNY Brockport were able to provide crucial health education and medical care, we also learned so much from the children as well, and were inspired by their kindness, bright smiles, and cold hands, greeting us one-by-one in the schoolyard, on that cold, sunny morning.

In order to help Sacred Valley Health continue their amazing work, travelling to remote communities to administer care and provide health education, consider contributing to their program and visit their website here.

Enjoy the photos :)

Children wait on a small hill next to their school. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

The children received gifts before the medical campaign started. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

The remote village of Yanamayo is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, and the school sits under a ridge of mountains. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

A child gets her measurements taken. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Eye exams. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

These children patiently wait their turn. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Washing hands! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Without access to piped water, the volunteers rig a hand-washing system that the students learn to use and implement at home. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

At the nutrition table, students learn what foods constitute a balanced meal. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Amazing volunteers of Sacred Valley Health. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

A local community health promoter checks a student's mouth for cavities. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Students from SUNY Brockport conduct physical exams at the remote village in Peru. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and SUNY Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Three children get physical exams at the same time in one of their small classrooms. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

The children help Keri, of Sacred Valley Health, take stock of medical supplies. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

A portrait of another wonderful Sacred Valley Health volunteer, Stewart. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Sacred Valley Health trains community health promoters, like this woman, to help address health issues in the villages where they live. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Students from SUNY Brockport find some time to joke around during a lunch break. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Children learn to brush their teeth for the first time. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Students from SUNY Brockport, conducting a tooth brushing demonstration at the dental hygiene station. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Everyone mingles for lunch. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Yanamayo, Peru.

Way to go team! What amazing work and such a fun time!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Sacred Valley Health + Suny Brockport at Huilloc School in Peru

Bowerbird Photography June 12, 2013

Some of the most amazing days we spent on our trip were with Sacred Valley Health and a group of nursing and health students it hosted from SUNY Brockport. We helped document health campaigns at schools in the highlands of Peru. Arriving at a school in the morning, the volunteers set up teaching stations, on health subjects ranging from hand-washing to teeth brushing, and also gave each child a physical exam, prescribing treatments when needed. Many of these remote communities have extremely limited access to medical care. The importance of these visits to the schools cannot be overstated; in fact, the impact of these campaigns extend past the children to the whole village, as ailing villagers dropped in to get advice or treatment for their medical problems.

Despite the challenges facing a remote community, including access to professional medical care and safe drinking water, many health problems are preventable. Key to prevention is education. Part of solving the problem of malnutrition, is learning which foods comprise a balanced diet. Cavities can be avoided with good dental hygiene. Contagion can be contained by observing hand washing precautions. By educating a whole schoolyard of children, it is everyone's hope that these children will be able to go home and implement positive changes, and that standards for health will rise throughout the entire community.

We felt so touched to be able to witness the kindness and compassion with which the volunteers at Sacred Valley Health and the students from Suny Brockport administered care. Truly inspiring. To learn more about Sacred Valley Health, and to support the amazing work they do, visit its website here.

And now for some photos from our first day with the medical campaign at the village of Huilloc.

School day starting. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

Morning assembly. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

© Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

Testing eyesight. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

Learning about germs and washing hands. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

Teeth brushing station :) © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

Wonderful volunteers! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

A nutrition class. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

What a beautiful classroom! © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Sacred Valley Health and Suny Brockport in Huilloc, Peru.

Such a wonderful experience! We will post more photos later this week from another day on the health campaign, at an even more remote village tucked on the other side of the mountain range.

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Fashion Photo Session in Peru with Awamaki

Bowerbird Photography June 11, 2013

Peru is a photographer's dream. The landscape is gorgeous and sings with ancient history. The people we met, from the Amazon jungle to the prairie highlands, all greeted us with friendship and warmth.

We traveled to Peru on assignment, connecting with several local organizations devoted to making positive change in their community. One of the highlights was doing a fashion photography shoot for Awamaki, a fair-trade company that supports local women's weaving in the highlands of Peru, and helps sustain their families' livelihoods of raising llama and alpaca, animals that thrive in the high altitudes where they live. While the fabrics are traditionally made using all natural dyes, the clothes have a stylish, contemporary look.

We went with our two models, Sandy (a native Peruvian) and Harriet, out to an ancient ruin in Ollantaytambo for the photo session, evoking the history and heritage of the highlands where the clothes are made. Surrounded by the views of a snow-capped mountain, and a rugged cliff with yet another stone ruin hugging its side, we were surrounded by the impressive vistas that first attracted people to the area thousands of years ago. Yet, Peru is leading a charge in contemporary fashion, evident by Awamaki's gorgeous line of clothes and accessories. We hope you enjoy these photos from our fashion shoot in Peru :) Check out Awamaki's website for information on how to purchase their clothes, and support the amazing women weavers living in the highlands of Peru.

Awamaki Fashion Shoot. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Ollantaytambo, Peru, Fashion Photo. — Awamaki Fashion Shoot. © Bowerbird Photography 2013, Ollantaytambo, Peru, Fashion Photo.

Thanks to everyone who helped out on the shoot! We had a fantastic time!!!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Seattle: A Photo Diary

Bowerbird Photography June 7, 2013

We were up in Seattle for a visit a few months ago and put together a photo diary from the trip. It's always great to be back in the beautiful Northwest to see dear family + friends :)

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

SXSW 2013: Part 3

Bowerbird Photography May 24, 2013

And here is the last part of our visual diary from SXSW 2013 :) Enjoy!

Trying to decide what show to see. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Concert posters. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Food trucks! © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Walk along the water. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Awesome cool old house. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Won Fu from Taiwan. Soooo good :)  © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo. — Won Fu from Taiwan. Soooo good :) © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Won Fu from Taiwan. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Catch a ride during the festival! © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Juan Pelota coffee shop. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Ice coffee break at Juan Pelota. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Bike shop show at Juan Pelota with Unknown Mortal Orchestra for KEXP. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

RIDE YOUR BIKE. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Musical fashion statement. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

City scape and cowboy boots ;) © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Adorable dancer! © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

© Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Gladys and Maybelle. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Our fave band that we saw at SXSW: Residual Kid. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Residual Kid. © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Residual Kid fan! © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

Whole Food parking lot concert ;) © Bowerbird Photography, Austin and SXSW 2013 Photo.

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam