I’m planning on capturing each of the thousand faces of Maria, this might take a while, I’m not sure I have enough years left to get them all.

This project can’t be hurried, I’m afraid, the faces have to be natural and I have to have a camera nearby. Maria doesn’t pose.

I was drawn to this image. Maria can be fierce about certain things – her art, protecting her animals, fighting for her friends, watching out for me, being independent, taking no shit from men.

She also has a soft and gentle heart, and that is the face I wanted to catch her. It is a wry look, a gentle look.