Pre Camera Days in Ecuador
Posted by Dr. Cason on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008
In medical school I was lucky to spend 6 weeks in Ecuador and struggle learning some medical Spanish. It worked and I later went on to perfect my overuse of the present tense.
We traveled around quite a bit and gradually I became accustomed to the raw untouched beauty. I long to go back with my camera. What I did have was a throw away camera and some lucky shots. I scanned these a long time ago and rediscovered them this weekend.
Kathleen…Here you go girl- just get out there and shoot! All of these were composed this way. I didn’t crop anything. I just adjust some contrast and sharpened it. I look back and wish that I had a really robust camera but it’s inspiring all the same.
I love this photo for it’s lines. This was down in the Aldea Salamandra Rain forest. We learned to make chocolate, ride a kayak and relax in hammocks. I did get bit up pretty bad by some insects and had to be put on steroids and antibiotics. It was so impressive that the doc took pictures to teach her students.
This is in Pappallata. We were walking to catch a bus back to Quito when we heard some thundering noise, As I turned around, here came one llama and a crowd of horses. I was too amazed to be scared. I had just enough time to get a shot.
This was taken in Otovalo at a popular textile market. Women everywhere carried their children in fabric tied at their waist . This young girl did the same with her cat. 
Reminds me of my kids.
Filed in My Favorite Photos | 16 responses so far
Kylaon 03 Dec 2008 at 12:04 am 1Oh, that horse photo! Wow.
Kylas last blog post..Morning and night
Nikkion 03 Dec 2008 at 12:40 am 2Geez woman you really do travel a lot. I however have never been outside of North America. Actually if you want me to be honest I don’t even have a passport! I really should get on that!
Jadenon 03 Dec 2008 at 1:40 am 3What beautiful shots!! I love the last one.
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kat_stephenson@juno.comon 03 Dec 2008 at 2:28 am 4Very beautiful shots, but you have to admit the sharpness is not there with a cheaper camera. I luv the horse shot, but I am going to have to research this Ilama leading them. That is interesting. I wonder if this is normal as these horses look like they know to follow that Ilama.
That landscape in the background is also breathtaking.
kat_stephenson@juno.coms last blog post..My Favorite Things . . .
kat_stephenson@juno.comon 03 Dec 2008 at 2:30 am 5Oh, I forgot one important note. Sheila will be proud of me, that camera is now in my purse or with me at all times. If I see a shot I want to share, I WILL have my camera now.
kat_stephenson@juno.coms last blog post..My Favorite Things . . .
Lisaon 03 Dec 2008 at 2:48 am 6That last one is great. Apparently you were always a photographer.
Lisas last blog post..Part XXVI: Cancer and Life: This One Isn’t A Patient
Housecaton 03 Dec 2008 at 4:25 am 7Love the llama!
My cats would never consent to being carried around like that. I wish!
Housecats last blog post..Homecoming and Round of 32
Amy Wrighton 03 Dec 2008 at 4:32 am 8Oh, I love the girl carrying the cat. I bet that she’s a mamma and carrying around her own baby now.
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Dr. Casonon 03 Dec 2008 at 8:08 am 9Kyla- How are you?? I visited your friend- Benny. Wow what an ordeal! The horse one is my favorite.
Nikki- Take Danger. She’d love it.
Jaden- Thanks! I love the color green contrasting with her dark hair.
Kat- Yes I am bummed about the clarity but it brings back such good memories and I’m glad I have them!
Lisa- In my heart at least.
Housecat- Yes it seems pretty content huh? But there are so many wild dogs, I bet it feels really safe up there!
Amy- I’m sure of it.
kathleenon 03 Dec 2008 at 9:27 am 10Hey, BTW, is Jakey up and about and doing that chicken leg again. I showed your blog to a friend today, and she fell in love with the little man. She laughed and laughed about his chicken leg trick on the razor.
Kathleenon 03 Dec 2008 at 11:28 am 11Sheila – I know what it is about your photos that impresses me the most. Of course the beauty, but also the desire to learn more about things in your photographs – such as this llama leading the horses. Here is what I found out.
The llama is indeed protection for the horses as it will be very vocal about any possible predators. The sound of the llama making groaning noises or going “mwa” is often a sign of fear or anger. If a llama is agitated, it will lay its ears back. It seems when one lone male is raised with the herd (whether cattle, sheep, horses, etc), the herd usually accepts the llama as the guard animal.
“Llamas are introduced to a herd and are pastured with them; they do not require separate shelters. Ideally, a llama should be introduced to the sheep while they are in a corral or small pasture rather than on open range or large pasture. The llama should remain in a small area until the sheep and llama seem well-adjusted and attached to each other. This encourages bonding between the sheep and llama. A llama introduced in this manner will be more effective as a guard against predators.
Research supports the use of multiple guard llamas is not as effective as one llama. Multiple male llamas tend to bond with one another, rather than with the livestock, and may ignore the flock. A gelded male of two years of age bonds closely with its new charges and is instinctively very effective in preventing predation . . .
Using llamas as guards has eliminated the losses to predators for many producers. The value of the livestock saved each year more than exceeds the purchase cost and annual maintenance of a llama. Although not every llama is suited to the job, most llamas are a viable, non-lethal alternative for reducing predation, requiring no training and little care.”
And there you have it from the Wikipedia. Amazing, I would have never thought of a llama as a “guard llama,” but they actually call them this. BTW, that llama must not have feared the humans because you can see his ears are going forward, and not backward. Those horses sure look confident in Mr. Llama’s abilities too!
Kathleens last blog post..My Favorite Things . . .
White Hot Magikon 03 Dec 2008 at 2:06 pm 12Great pics! I love the horses. I think your talent shines through.
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Dr. Casonon 03 Dec 2008 at 2:50 pm 13Kathleen- That’s amazing! I always remembered it as a whole lot of llamas but when I looked back on the pic I was surprised to see just one. I even named it running llamas- but it’s not. It’s just one lone llama.
White Hot- Secretly I wished I lived on a ranch.
Trishon 03 Dec 2008 at 5:08 pm 14wow….. again, what amazing photos, even with one of ‘those’ cameras…
I am anxiously awaiting a new lens for my Nikon D80 and will be taking even more pictures…
you are inspiring!
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Nora Beeon 04 Dec 2008 at 4:43 pm 15Great photos. One of the best photos I ever took was with a disposable camera.
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Brianon 05 Dec 2008 at 3:58 pm 16That’s quite a shot with the livestock! I’m not sure whether the lama looks scared, or magnanimous.
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