...: I can't thank FHN, and the people of El Paramo region enough for all their help, support and openness!

Every step of the way was one remarkable experience after the other... I am always grateful to those who permit me to walk into their lives and trust my intentions as I photograph them for either a quick fleeting moment and/or a long intimate stay...

I am forever grateful to FHN and the people of the El Paramo region in Ecuador...

Thank you for welcoming me into your communities, homes and lives!

Darwin Zambrano (left) and I live in completely different environments with opposite lifestyles, but are similar in many ways... I haven't looked through the photos of Darwin and his family yet and so there are none posted below... However it is the photos of Darwin's family that I am most excited to view....

Edison went above and beyond to help me travel from La Yecita to La Y... While keeping ourselves entertained along the journey... we quickly realized that I have a horrible singing voice and was much better quietly singing back up than lead vocals. I argued that I didn't know any of the words to the songs we sang, but he insisted I stick to singing back up... that was even after I nailed "Kokomo", a great Beach Boys tune... He kept my crazy horse in check...He blamed my steering... I blamed my horseback riding inexperience, but it brought a lot of laughs... When I was stuck up over my knees in mud he dove right in and dug me out... it took about 20 minutes, but he wouldn't take a break until I was out.

Edison... Thanks for all the help!

Karin (right)... They're gonna miss ya lady! She did more than was ever asked of her and has only made the lives of the people in the region better!

Doctor Andy... if you ask him about politics he will say VOTE OBAMA!!!

Edwin "El Jefe de Jefes"... no dentist is better with a patient than Edwin!

Fanny (center) just too sweet a lady!

Guido... Don't worry he made it under the limbo stick...

Sarah from Nokia... the lady can swim... may have something to do with the swimming she did in college...

I don't think any Ecuadorian has more Asian fruits planted in their property than Don Bolovar...

Some of photos from La Y, La Yecita and Bilsa....

Particio, 5, cut himself while running with a machete and received several stitches. His father carried him for over 30 minutes on his shoulders from El Limon to the Subcentro at La Y. Patricio was very lucky his community is close to the Subcentro. People from communities such as Mona have to travel approximately 5 to 6 hours on horseback in knee-high mud just to receive basic medical and dental care at the Subcentro. The nearest hospital is located in Quininde, which is an extra 1 1/2 hours from La Y by Ranchero. In the rainy season horses often journey on steep highland roads in mud over their knees and the people, if not on horseback, wade up to their wastes in mud for hours to travel to the Subcentro.