Original article: Elena Concha Silva, pionera de la fotografía analógica en el Maule, publica su primer fotolibro disponible para descarga gratuita

Elena Concha Silva: Pioneer of Analog Photography in Maule Releases Her First Free Downloadable Photo Book

At 85 years old, Parral photographer Elena Concha Silva sees her first photo book dedicated entirely to her work published.

Titled «Dreaming Starry Skies,» this publication features 220 selected images from an archive of over 5,000 photographs taken between the 1970s and the early 21st century, now available for free download.

The book, funded by the National Fund for Cultural Development and the Arts, Regional Fondart, 2025 Call, highlights the journey of a key creator in understanding the history of analog photography in southern Maule, whose work had long remained outside mainstream editorial and exhibition circuits.

Self-taught and a founder of the Independent Photographers Union in the 1980s, Elena Concha developed a unique perspective on rural life, mountainous landscapes, territorial transformations, and everyday experiences in the central-south region of the country.

However, much of her work remained stored away in boxes, negatives, and slides preserved in her home in Parral.

The editorial project was created by researchers Espe Fuentes and Ivón Figueroa Taucán, alongside Francisca Astroza, who was responsible for digitizing the archive. They undertook an extensive process of research, digitization, and review of the archive.

More than a cultural rescue, the publication of this book circulates a set of images that interact with significant social, cultural, and environmental transformations that have occurred in the region over recent decades.

The photographs even retain the material marks of their own survival: dust, scratches, and fungi that began to affect negatives and analog copies. «Purple fungi heralds that analog photographs will slowly disappear and we recognize that we do not have the tools to prevent it,» state the researchers.

Transformation of Rural Landscapes

The publication also discusses the various forms of disappearance that permeate Chile’s recent history: the transformation of rural landscapes, pre-neoliberal ways of life, and the marks of dictatorship in the territories of Maule.

Therefore, far from being merely a documentary reading, «Dreaming Starry Skies» offers a new approach to Elena Concha Silva’s work. Its pages feature rural scenes, family portraits, mountain landscapes, and visual explorations that reveal an author who intuitively experimented with technical and poetic resources long before they were widely recognized.

Following its launch in April, the printed edition published by Editorial Almacén and developed from Casa Cachaperas sold out entirely within just two weeks, reflecting the interest generated by the photographer’s work. Today, thanks to a partnership with Revista Endémica, the publication can be downloaded for free, expanding access to one of the most significant visual archives of southern Maule.

Filled with excitement about this new chapter in the circulation of her work, Elena Concha Silva encapsulates the spirit of the publication: «I enjoyed making the photographs. I hope you enjoy looking at them.»

Free download here revistaendemica.cl