Spotlight: Jorge Oviedo With People of San Andres

San Andrés is a Columbian island in the Caribbean, just over seven miles in length. The tiny but beautiful island is home to almost 70 thousand residents, who recently got a moment in the spotlight. The San Andrés government asked photographer Jorge Oviedo to travel to San Andrés to capture the lifestyle of its people, to show the energy and life they exude despite the struggles of their everyday lives.

Portraits from the Heart of San Andrés

Jorge started the project by laying the groundwork and meeting a bunch of San Andrés locals. He says the hardest part of the project was simply gaining their trust. These people weren’t used to being part of an advertising campaign. Jorge wanted to talk to them first to help them feel comfortable being in front of the camera. He says he learned about what they were doing, made jokes with them, and got to see their personality before taking the photos so that he could capture their true spirit.

I enjoy making this kind of portrait, with real people in real locations, showing the different aspects of their day to day lives, and the happiness of them.

Jorge says he really loves this project. Also, he loved the process of making it and he loves the end product.

I had the opportunity to learn the different ways people live and the problems in different parts of Colombia, and meet people who continue to be kind no matter their problems.

Subsequently, the San Andrés government is using the photos to show off how the people of San Andrés live, work, and go about their daily routines. They are thrilled to have these photos that spotlight their small community and the spirit of their people.

See more of Jorge’s work on his website.

Further Reading
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