Slices of Work in Latin America and the Caribbean

Transcending Place, Space, and Time

De: Edward Valeau

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Our World of Work is a series of photography books that uses the lens to celebrate people working in a particular place, at a specific time, and in a specific space. Images were photographed over 25 years of travel throughout 75 countries, and in most cases with my wife, Vera Valeau. The book's underlying theme is identifying and celebrating the ordinary people who work to survive globally under various influences, conditions, controls and circumstances, over which most often they have no control, little interest, and, most importantly, no knowledge of how it affects them.

The first series, Slices of Work in Latin America and the Caribbean: Transcending Place, Space, and Time portrays the social and environmental working conditions of a segment of the region's population. Through narration, poetry, storytelling, and photography, the book aims to introduce readers to a culturally pluralistic, diverse, and dynamic society of ordinary people. It celebrates the unique contributions of each culture and the diversity that enriches our global workforce.

The book aims to provide a pathway for readers to explore the vibrant textures, tapestries, and colors of the Latin American and Caribbean workforce, which stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of labor and life. It identifies the one thing that binds people, irrespective of religious beliefs, values, economic and social standing, gender, racial, or ethnic identity, and that is Work.

Finally, the world of work is shaped by the World Bank, the International Labor Organization, governments, companies, local customs, and village norms, which collectively exert significant influence, power, and control over earned wages, working conditions, types of work, and standards of people’s lives, among other factors. The images serve as a reminder of the consequences and the impact of all-too-visible, yet invisible, forces that shape “Our World of Work.”

Edward J. Valeau is an international photographer, author, Fulbright Scholar, American Council on Education Fellow, Paul Harris Fellow, and California State University Fellow. He has spent the last twenty-five years traveling to 65 countries, photographing people in their work environments to capture expressions and feelings in our world of work. This book is the first in a series, Our World of Work Through the Lens.