When I first started traveling to the developing world in the late 1980s I remember seeing photographers using strange tripod mounted contraptions to take their pictures. The photographers used to gather in central squares and parks where their customers could easily find them and they might have attractive floral or architectural backgrounds.

Cuban street photographer – Havanna © Nigel Goldsmith 1998

The pictures they took might record weddings, birthdays or have more formal applications such as ID cards. In Bolivia I once asked a photographer what took place in the box, while my Spanish is OK, I couldn’t follow the technical explanation, fortunately this wonderful film shows how one of the last remaining photographers creates his pictures.