Juan and I recently went back to Ecuador and throughout our journey, I photographed many different faces in different cities, including Quito, Portoviejo, Manta and Guayaquil. I photographed digitally and with 120 film. I photographed men, women and children – some strangers, some family, some friends. I photographed folks with jobs you may not even know existed.

Each day this week, I will bring you a portrait of an Ecuadorian. A person who, like you and me, works hard to make ends meet.

This gentleman is El Lotero, or The Lottery Ticket vendor. Throughout Ecuador, you see el lotero everywhere; at stoplight intersections, outside stores, at the bus station…you name it.

I photographed this lotero at the bus station where my husband and I took a mini-bus from Guayaquil to Portoviejo.