Salt of their blood

In the mountains just outside of Cusco lies one of Peru’s oldest and most sacred salt plains, the Maras salt plains. 

Passed down through generations, these plots can only be worked by the founding families. Ownership isn't open to outsiders; the right to work this land is inherited, protected, and deeply respected.

What you see here is more than a landscape. Each section holds the weight of history, centuries of effort, endurance, and pride.

These terraces were carved by the hands of ancestors, and today, their descendants continue that work with the same care and purpose.

What made me stop and capture this moment was the harmony between tradition and labour. 

There’s a quiet dignity in the way the workers move across the salt, not rushed, not performative, just committed. 

It was one of those rare scenes where beauty and grit coexist so naturally. The colours, textures, and patterns weren’t just visually striking. They tell a story

This image is a tribute to legacy, to craftsmanship, and to the quiet, powerful force of people deeply connected to place.