ABOUT ME
My name is Maria Paz Morillo. I am 17 years old, born in Quito Ecuador on January 18th of 2001. The joyfulness and proudness of being Ecuadorian increases each day as I see the astonishing surroundings that we have, and the various cultures that fill our country with unique essence. That essence and distinguished ecuadorian personality built up the person I have chosen to be. I was raised in the countryside of Quito, surrounded by million of trees, distinct animals that interacted with us every day, and the nature that was always present in my infant years. I've grown up in a environment were I was constantly exposed to outdoor activities, which certainly contributed to my present and the decisions I have made. The childhood I was part of, the environment I belong to, and the 56 members of my family, made me the inquisitive and affectionate girl I am today. The memories we built, all fit together to form our consciousness, and creates and develops your character in a way that only especial moments can. Growing up, in all this familiar environment, I have learned to be a social individual, after all, having uncountable family members, I had to be social, and surely I had to be myself and have my own personal characteristics. Discovering myself has been a long run trip. After all, I feel confident of what I love, who I am, and what I want to do in order to make that positive difference, not only in myself, but also, in the Ecuador that I love. My uncle, Alfredo, can be the person that opened to me the first door to my admiration and passion. His generous hands guided me since I was eight into his perception of the world. In present days, I could strongly say, that my camera brings joy to my life, this machine creates new connections, stories, memories, smiles, tears, interpretations and more. The desire to keep wondering my country and the people that is in it, is endless. The goal of creating memories keeps adding up, and certainly I will continue to discover, helping, and photographing great moments and people.
My interest in making something that has a significance in my life, and especially in others, is immense. Most of my character comes from that. Through the photography that I love, I want to demonstrate true necessities, which are uncountable in my country. Being part of Beyond Lagarto Cocha has taught me more than I expected. I have learned Secoya’s way of living, culture, desires, and beliefs. The satisfaction of helping and caring about a whole community brings a different type of joy to my life, and I hope to keep on caring on this journey through my entire life.