Photos taken in Oruro, Bolivia in 2011 with the first camera I ever owned, a Canon PowerShot SD780 IS.

La Patria brings to life the richness in culture that Carnaval in Bolivia represents through the various dances and ornate costumes that are native to the country. Each photo captures a moment in time that reflects the joyful expressions of the dancers and the euphoric feelings that this annual celebration represents for Bolivians.

The Diablada dance is the most well known dance in the Bolivian Carnaval and is characterized by dancers wearing outfits depicting the devil and other mythological figures originating from the region. This dance was performed as early as the 1500s in the Andean region.