Travels in Latin America by Eleanor Marriott

In 2006 Eleanor, who lived, worked and married in Bankside, dramatically abandoned her job to set out on a ten month tour of South America followed the next year by a five month visit to Guatemala.

Her fifty pictures taken on the trips include landscape images from the Andes mountains to what she describes as "the rugged ice-cold beauty of Patagonia". There are both vivid and subtle colours in the pictures.

"But it wasn't just the magnificent scenery that captured my attention," Eleanor reports. "I found myself drawn to the people around me and felt increasingly compelled to photograph them.

"All around me was this theatrical drama of people living out their lives against this incredibly vivid backdrop of Latin America. The scenery and the costumes changed with each country I visited but wherever I went I couldn't fail to be fascinated and moved.

"Now as I look at these images they feel like distant friends calling me back."

A 2009 calandar featuring the exhibition pictures (£10) is on sale at the exhibition and limited edition prints of the photos can also be purchased (£30, £55 framed), either from the gallery or directly through Eleanor by contacting her on [email protected]

Travels in Latin America is at the Map Gallery & Cafe, 46 Grafton Road, Kentish Town, NW5 3DU; Mon-Sat 8am-8pm (Sun 10am-6pm) until Saturday 31 October.