An entrepreneurial spirit
Baldomero Alejos Bautista arrived in Ayacucho in 1924, when he was only 22 years old, motivated by the celebration of American independence. In addition to his dreams, he carried with him his camera, a wooden tripod, a briefcase with glass negatives, photographic paper, chemicals and the inevitable supports (chassis) for his camera.
He was born in Santiago de Chocorvos (Huancavelica), being the youngest of 6 siblings. Being orphaned at an early age, his family took him to grow up with a landowner. Almost a teenager, he traveled to the capital Ica, where he worked as an assistant to a traveling photographer. Then in 1919 he emigrated to Lima, where he became a disciple of the master Diego Goyzueta who shaped him as a professional photographer and influenced the French style of his work.
He decided to follow his own path and began his photographic studio in Barranco (Lima). In 1924, he traveled to Ayacucho, due to the celebration of the American independence, and lived there permanently. He installed his studio in Jr. 2 de Mayo, and in the following years, he moved up to 3 times before setting up his last own studio.
He married María Julia Calderón known as “Rita”, a famous baker, with whom he had 3 of his seven children. After a painful illness, he died in 1976, leaving to Ayacucho, Peru and the world his valuable photographic archive.