( CNN ) South America 's Atacama Desert , one of the driest places on Earth , resembles some of the faraway planets monitored by giant telescopes there . The lack of humidity provides optimal conditions to watch the sky and study the origins of the universe . `` It is pure visual silence , '' said photographer Andres Figueroa . `` It is amazing . There is absolutely no humidity , and ( these conditions ) create some striking contrasts . '' There , in that clear , inhospitably arid environment , Figueroa turned his camera lens toward another discussion on cosmology , one rooted in the ancient folklore of the Andean people . Taking along his mobile lighting studio , Figueroa photographed a series of religious festivals that take place every July in the Atacama . In his `` Dancers of the Deserts '' series , Figueroa chronicles these festivals , which attract about 200,000 people to some otherwise quiet mining towns in Chile . `` I have always wanted to see the desert . Even though I am not very religious , I 've always been curious about their traditions , '' said Figueroa , who is from the Chilean capital of Santiago . Figueroa worked hard on cataloging and differentiating the ceremonies and their complex rituals -- at times playing the role of an artist , others as an anthropologist -- but he always remained faithful to his love for classic portraiture . `` From an anthropological standpoint , I was interested in documenting all the signs and symbols that appear in each costume and character , all the indigenous and Catholic syncretism , '' he said . `` My lighting studio allowed me to pick up on these details . `` From a portraiture standpoint , I used a formal approach to explain this living culture that is constantly growing and reinventing itself . I asked each character to stop to be photographed , taking them away momentarily from the festival in a more intimate scenario . '' Photographing adobe walls , desert landscapes and the ubiquitous camping sites where pilgrims come to gather , Figueroa said each character is perched in his or her own context . Social media . Follow @ CNNPhotos on Twitter to join the conversation about photography . Bears and devils pose in the desert in striking contrast . These photos highlight the uniqueness of Andean culture , which draws influences from Europe , the Inca and more recently , Chinese traditions . There are endless nuances , not always perceived by the naked eye . `` It is a very special festival . When you see the bears , you see them participating in the different roles , blending in with the ( the devils ) , '' Figueroa said . `` And sometimes , you see them as a central figure in a festival of their own . It is amazing , a tradition brought by the Chinese near Peru . '' Figueroa , who befriended many of the musicians and dancers , said it was important to take part in the festival in order to understand its meaning to the community . `` I had to understand the hierarchy and protocols of each group , '' he said . `` As a photographer , it is important to create the conditions for things to happen . You can have it all planned and set up in order for things to naturally take place . '' Figueroa said the desert festivals have a deeper role in a region that struggles with social problems such as drug trafficking and poverty . It is the glue that binds families , and young people heavily invest their time and money to make their costumes and parade with pride . The festivals `` are a form of social protection , '' Figueroa said . `` I felt the presence of love ... their love and effort in communicating with their divinity and holding together as communities . '' Andres Figueroa is a Chilean photographer . You can follow him on Facebook .
Photographer Andres Figueroa spent a week in one of the driest places on Earth . He took portraits of Andean who dress up in costume for popular religious festivals .