The Karo or Kara is a small tribe with an estimated population between 1,000 and 3,000. They are closely related to the Kwegu tribe. They live along the east banks of the Omo River in southern Ethiopia and practice flood … Continue reading
I had a little bit of free time last week to wonder the streets of Hamburg as night fell, using my recently acquired Nikon PC-E 24mm shift lens to photograph the architecture of the Hafencity district.
This is the most southerly of the tribes who live in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley. In this harsh world, there are times when members of the Dassanech tribe lose their cattle and goats, and with them their livelihood. The way they … Continue reading
The Hamar people were the first tribe I encountered in the Omo Valley, after arriving in Turmi we went out the first afternoon to a Cattle jumping ceremony (previous blog post), and the following day went out at dawn and dusk to visit a couple of Hamar villages. The people have a very distinctive style, with women wearing elaborately decorated goatskin, beaded necklaces, bracelets and waistbands. They wear copper necklaces to signify their marital status, with the 1st wife wearing 2 copper ones and a lather long tipped one. The men and women both indulge in elaborate hairstyles – the women use red clay and butter to plait their hair, and the men wear clay caps, sometimes topped with feathers.
When a boy from the Hamar tribes is ready to ‘come of age’ he must complete the ‘Ukele Bulla’ (Cattle jumping) ceremony. This event usually happens after the harvest, and upon completion allows the man to marry, own cattle and have children. Prior to the jumping the female relatives of the man gather and demand to be whipped, the ‘Maza’ (a man who has already jumped the cattle within 3 months) uses a long fin stick to strike the women and girls on their exposed back. It is a consensual act, with the females begging the Maza for more. The more scarring on the womens back, the more devotion it shows to their families.
The young male about to leap the bulls has his head partially shaved and is rubbed with sand to wash away his sins, he is then smeared with dung to give him strength. A line of cattle are arranged to the sound of horns and drums, and the boy must complete 4 ‘jumps’, only when he has been through this initiation can he marry a wife who will be chosen by his parents.
Palio di Asti, Asti, Lombardy Province, Italy It begins at night; as darkness falls around the old streets of Asti crowds gather in San Secondo square, children jostle for the best position, families pick up slices of pizza, judges take … Continue reading
Last month I travelled to Italy to work on a personal project covering the Palio di Asti (will be a future blog post), I flew in via Milan, and took the opportunity to spend a couple of days exploring the northern Italian city. Scaffolding was erected on the two major architectural sights: The Cathedral and Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, which limited the angles I could shoot of them. Anyway, here are my favourite images from the short stay..
Waiting for my train to Asti….
I missed a flight back to the UK for this final day in Rio de Janeiro – that morning I found these fishermen hauling their boats out for the days work, as the sun rose over the south Atlantic ocean.
While I was in Rio de Janeiro last month I met up and collaborated with stunning Monique. She had the idea of a fashion shoot, using the colours of a local favela as a backdrop. Inspiration came from a recent Vogue shoot featuring Cara Delevingne, in the same place – Santa Marta favela. We hired two local Rio guides to help out and look out for us.
Santa Marta favela was pacified recently as part of the clean up operation as the city prepares to host the World Cup and Olympics, a few years ago it probably wouldn’t have been possible to shoot here. I’m really glad I had the chance to visit it and work there, albeit briefly, and not as part of some tour group.
(All images shot with a Nikon D800E and Nikon f/2 135mm lens.)
More info and contact details for Monique here.
Monique in Santa Marta Favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Monique, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana at dawn, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach at dawn, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana Beach at dawn, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
BEN PIPE PHOTOGRAPHY 