Latin America Professional Award 2024 1st Place

The Ayabaca pilgrimage is at the heart of deep-rooted Catholic traditions within the South American region. It is the largest pilgrimage in the continent and attracts thousands of faithful, including a specific type of fervent follower: criminals in search of redemption. I joined these pilgrims to explore and capture the performative image of their cathartic rituals, as they travelled to meet the Captive Lord, represented wearing a spiked crown as he is led to his crucifixion. Every year around May, the first pilgrims depart from southern Peru, heading north towards the highlands of Piura – a four-month walk covering more than 2,000 km. For these pilgrims, the body becomes theologically significant in the process of atoning for their sins, as if to wipe the slate clean for another year.

Ernesto Benavides (1978) is a Peruvian documentary photographer working primarily within South America. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Lima. Currently works as a staff photographer for the international news agency Agence France-Presse. Among other recognitions he was 2022 World Press Photo Contest South America jury chair. And his photographic series Presidential Vacancy was awarded with 2nd place in the Spot News Stories category of the 2021 World Press Photo Contest.