From the Field

2020 life frames: Storytelling from World Vision photographers

In the remote Andean highlands of Central Ecuador, Gift Catalog alpacas are helping communities raise themselves out of poverty.

World Vision’s award-winning photographers travel the world to bring home stories of children and their families to inspire us to action and compassion. They capture those intimate moments that illuminate God’s grace and faithfulness as we follow Jesus’ example to show unconditional love to the poor and oppressed.

Discover what’s it like behind the scenes during some of these moments, published triannually in this year’s issues of World Vision magazine.

In Ecuador, 11-year-old Andy plays with an alpaca.
Andy, 11, plays with an alpaca during a moment of hilarity. (©2019 World Vision/photo by Chris Huber)

Written and photographed by Chris Huber

Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera

50mm lens, 1/500th at f/7.1, ISO 200

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I had just visited families all over Ecuador to get stories. My task now? Capture pictures of kids with alpacas from the World Vision Gift Catalog. I was tired but ready to cap off the trip with two days of fun in the Andean highlands with these cuddly, fluffy animals.

After hours of driving to 12,500 feet above sea level, the lack of oxygen was getting to me. My local coworkers packed an oxygen tank, just in case, and I was hoping I wouldn’t need it.

Now I had to coax baby alpacas to a particular spot, think up funny things to say to make kids laugh — in my second language — kindly fend off young children peeking over my shoulder at my camera screen, and dispatch community elders to wrangle jumpy and wayward alpacas like this one.

Finally, all the elements came together with 11-year-old Andy hooting with joy as he fell over and this baby alpaca with its intense expression. And I didn’t need the oxygen tank, so I’d say it was a successful day.


Read more testimonies from World Vision photographers in our life frames series.

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