People and Culture - Photos
Bamiyan. Buddhist sculpture
This is how the incredible Buddhist sculpture looked over the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan in 1970, long before the Taliban destroyed it.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Bamiyan, Buddhist_sculpture_in_Afghanistan, Buddha_at_Bamiyan, Afghanistan_before_Taliban
bus to Bamiyan
In the spring of 1970, Meg and I took the bus from Kabul,, through the Salang Pass tunnel, to Bamiyan. The distance was only 120 miles, but it took all day--tea stops, prayer stops, sinuous roads took up lots of time.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Bamian, Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Salang Pass, Asian busses, Afghanistan Buddhist Sculpture, Afghan_busses
Afghan boy in front of Bamiyan Buddhist sculpture
This young boy is sitting on a wall in front of the sandstone cliffs where the Buddhist sculptures used to be located in Bamiyan
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Bamiyan, Afghanistan, Afghanistan_Buddhist_sculpture, Bamiyan_Buddha, Afghanistan_before_Taliban
Buz Kashi
This is the national game of Afghanistan. Played on horseback, on a limitless field, two teams chase each other from one end of the field to another, trying to grab a dead, beheaded goat, and sling it into a circle, where the game ends. This game was played in the Bamiyan Valley, under the gaze of the incredible Buddhist statues
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: buz_kashi, Afghanistan, Bamiyan, Afghan_horsemen, Afghanistan_horsemen, Afghanistan_national_game
wood worker of Tashkurgan
An hour truck ride from Mazar i Sharif was an ancient town where men worked the trades they had learned from their fathers and who passed those skills on to their sons. I do not know if this town still exists. You walked into a huge covered area, with stall after stall belonging to men who did wood working, blacksmithing, shoe making--and endless array of hand produced goods to meet the daily needs of the village and its surroundings.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Tashkurgan, Tashgorkan, wood_working, primitive_production, craftsmen, Afghan_crafts, Afghan_crafts, Afghan_products
Cradle maker
I have always regretted that I did not buy this cradle. I thought that riding with it on the bus back to Kabul, and then packing and shipping it would be too much trouble. It would have been worth it.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Tashkurgan, Tashgorkan, wood_working, primitive_production, cradle, cradle_maker, Afghan_crafts, craftsmen
entry into the Tashkurgan work stalls
Follow this young boy into the work stalls of Tashkurgan. At this young age, he is already part of the family livelihood.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Tashkurgan, Afghan_boy_at_work,Tashgorkan, wood_working, primitive_production, young_boy_working, donkeys_with_goods, Afghan_craftmen
Outside the mosque at Mazar e Sharif
Could one ask for any more color than is evident outside this beautiful mosque
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Mazar_e_Sharif, mosque_at_Mazar_e_Sharif, children_at_mosque, Shrine_of_Hazat_Ali
Bus to Bamiyan 2
At one of the many stops along the way to Bamiyan, Meg read outside the bus. Note how much she is covered, in deference to Afghan culture
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, bus ride in Afghanistan, third world busses
Kabul, 1970
From an ancient city wall, Kabul in 1970 was a busy place with well disciplined, good people
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Kabul, pre_war_Kabul, pre_Taliban_Kabul, Afghanistan_in_the_seventies, Afghanistan
Prayer stop on the way to Bamiyan
The most important times of the day for the Afgan people were the prayer times. The bus to Bamiyan made specific stops at specific times to allow the men to unroll their prayer rugs or prayer mats, and perform their ritual prayers.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, prayer stop, prayer rug, Muslim prayer, Islam prayer
white pigeons and Mosque at Mazar e Sharif
The mosque at Mazar e Sharif is unequaled in its ethereal beauty, enhanced by the white pigeons that live in its courtyards.
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Mazar_e_Shariff, Shrine_of_Hazat_Ali, mosque_at_Mazar_e_Sharif, white_pigeons
Afghan man with pigeons
This man, with his incredible joy and contentment, was outside the mosque at Mazar e Sharif
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Mazar_e_Shariff, Shrine_of_Hazat_Ali, mosque_at_Mazar_e_Sharif, white_pigeons, man_with_pigeons, Afghan_man, Afghanistan_before_Taliban
Transportation in Afghanistan
Meg riding in typical short distance travel in the Mazar e Sharif area
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, transportation in Afghanistan
Afghan girl
This young girl, in the Mazar e Sharif area of northern Afghanistan, shows some of the Greek remnants of Alexander the Great's forays into Afghanistan
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Afghan girl,
Afghan elder
What a wonderful life and spirit this man must have enjoyed at least through 1970
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, Afghan elder, turban,headpiece
Boys sharpening knife
What incredible movement and cooperation as these two boys worked together to sharpen a knife
Location: Afghanistan
Keywords: Afghanistan, boys_sharpening_knife, Afghan_craftsmen, third_world_working_conditions_picturesthird_world_working_conditions_pictures
China. boy carrying sticks on back
China. boy carrying sticks
Location: China
Keywords: China. boy carrying sticks on back, rural China, Yunan province, Lugu lake
Nosu girl with brother on back
Nosu girl with brother on back
Location: China
Keywords: China, Nosu,Nosu girl with brother on back,siblings in China, village children, village children in China
Nosu woman washing clothes
This Nosu woman was washing clothes with her two young children in a stream that crossed the road between Xichang and Butuo. Also note the tree limbs that have been planted along the road for erosion control.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu, China, rural China,Nosu woman washing clothes with children, Nosu children, Butuo
Nosu woman using feet to wash clothes
This photograph was taken at the same time as the one below. This Nosu woman demonstrates the number of ways that clothes are washed in the village country of rural China.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu, China, rural China,Nosu woman washing clothes, Butuo,rural China,Sichuan
woman directing pig
Life is lived on the street in rural China. This woman is guiding this pig in the direction she wants it to go in "downtown" Butuo, Sichuan Province.
Location: China
Keywords: Buto,rural China, Sichuan, farm animals of China, pig, pigs,
Nosu woman with drop spindle
Throughout the Nosu country of Sichuan province, one sees women on the streets with sheep or goat wool (roving) and a drop spindle. They constantly feed the wool onto the spindle, moving the spindle to and away from the roving as they create yarn.
Location: China
Keywords: spindle,drop_spindle, Nosu, Nosu_women, spinning_yarn, wool,Nosu_crafts
Yi woman in ceremonial dress
This Yi woman is in her ceremonial dress worn for a funeral of an elderly woman
Location: China
Keywords: Yi,Nosu,Yi_ceremony, Nosu_ceremony, Nosu_funeral, Yi_funeral, ceremonial_dress
Elderly village woman
An elderly woman in Butuo observes her town
Location: China
Keywords: Butuo,rural_China, Sichuan, elderly_Nosu_woman,Chinese_village_woman,elderly_in_China
Nosu boy with tire
In the early morning, a young boy stands with a bike tire, a common play thing in Butuo,in rural China
Location: China
Keywords: Sichuan, Nosu_boy, village_boy, boy_with_tire,play_in_China, rural_
Village Nosu girl with sibling on her back
Throughout rural China, older sisters carry their younger siblings on their backs,baby sittingfor them while their parents work.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu_children,rural_China, Nosu_village, Sichuan, Chinese_baby_sitting, baby_sitting, Chinese_child_care, siblings
Nosu women carrying baskets
Whereas Nosu men rarely seem to be dressed up, Nosu woman are always colorfully dressed for ordinary daily tasks.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu_women_walking_rural_road,Nosu women_work,Nosu_women_work_clothes
Nosu woman farming
Even in the fields, the colorful dress of Nosu woman stands out.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu_woman_farming, Nosu_woman_working, Nosu_women_work_clothes, third_world_working_conditions_pictures
Yi woman finery
At an Yi funeral, women wear incredibly fine clothes. This village was a simple, ordinary one. I have no idea where these clothes are stored, how they are washed and kept clean, how they and made. Look at how fine this embroidery is.
Location: China
Keywords: Yi_ceremonial_dress,Nosu_ceremonial_dress,Yi_woman_finery,Yi_funeral_clothes,Yi_embroidery,Yi_women_embroidery,Nosu_woman_finery,Nosu_funeral_clothes,Nosu_embroidery,Nosu_women_embroidery
Funeral dress finery
This wonderful headpiece was striking to observe.
Location: China
Keywords: Yi_woman_finery,Yi_funeral_clothes,Yi_embroidery,Yi_women_embroidery,Nosu_woman_finery,Nosu_funeral_clothes,Nosu_embroidery,Nosu_women_embroidery
Yi funeral unmarried woman clothing
This form of Yi funeral finery is worn by unmarried woman.
Location: China
Keywords: Unmarried_Yi_woman_in_funeral_dress,Yi_woman_finery,Yi_funeral_clothes,Yi_embroidery,Yi_women_embroidery,Nosu_woman_finery,Nosu_funeral_clothes,Nosu_embroidery,Nosu_women_embroidery
Yi mother and daughter at funeral
This young girl was a colorfully dressed as her mother. An impressive ceremony indeed. We were invited to attend, but unfortunately needed to travel on.
Location: China
Keywords: yi_woman_finery,Yi_funeral_clothes,Yi_embroidery,Yi_women_embroidery,Nosu_woman_finery,Nosu_funeral_clothes,Nosu_embroidery,Nosu_women_embroidery,Yi_mother_and daughter_in_ceremonial_clothes
Yi ceremonial women
This is one of my favorite portraits. I shot it using a short telephoto on my Canon digital Rebel. These women were standing outside where the covered body of the deceased elderly woman was lying. There seemed to be no weeping or wailing or regret. Rather, the spirit was one of joy.
Location: China
Keywords: yi_ceremonial_dress,Nosu_ceremonial_dress,Yi_woman_finery,Yi_funeral_clothes,Yi_embroidery,Yi_women_embroidery,Nosu_woman_finery,Nosu_funeral_clothes,Nosu_embroidery,Nosu_women_embroidery
Nosu classroom
This picture shows the deep desire to learn in rural China. This young girl has her sibling with her as she listens intently to the lesson.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu_classroom,education_in_rural_China,school_in_rural_China,commitment_to_education_in_China
Nosu classroom
Look at the expression on the faces of these two girls. They are commitment to their education. Even though this small Nosu village in Sichuan province had only limited water, look how clean their faces and hands are, and how clean this old but beautiful clothes are. My deepest hope is that these two girls are able to succeed.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu_classroom,education_in_rural_China,school_in_rural_China,commitment_to_education_in_China,education_for_girls_in_rural_China
Nosu along the road
I took this picture from the bus between Butuo and Xichang. This was typical of a family group, carrying a bag of grain or rice, a child following, and a man with a farm implement.
Location: China
Keywords: Nosu_along_a_road, rural_road_in_China, rural_road_in_Sichuan
Elderly sisters
When one is old, it is good to help each other.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: elderly sisters, aging, helpfulness, helping one another, elderly in Ecuador
I was overwhelmed my the tenderness of this Quecha woman and her baby. I took this photograph at the health foundation run by the Verbo Church in Cuenca.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Quechan woman and baby, Cuenca, Quicha, mother and child, Ecuador mother and child
Aging beautifully
No words can really describe a face like this one. How wonderful it would be to comprehend that life this woman has seen and lived.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Ecuador, elderly woman, Ecuadorian portrait, wisdom, face of wisdom
Joy at any age
Although stooped over with age, this Ecuadorian woman was filled with joy and curiosity.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Joy,elderly woman,aging well,Ecuador people
Mother and Child
This is one of my favorite people pictures. This mother and child shows so much tenderness, love, and eternal goodness.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: mother and child,madonna like pose, madonna like mother and child, Ecuador mother and child,Loja mother and child
Sister holding baby sibling
How great the maturity shown by this young girl who at a very early age knows how to care for a baby sibling.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Sister holding baby sibling,caring children,Ecuadorian children,Ecuadorian child care,siblings,third world child care
Quechua girl
Wonderful light, wonderful beauty. This picture was taken in Carabuela, an off the beaten path community near Otavalo, Ecuador
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Quechua girl,Otavalo girl, Carabuela girl,gold necklace,dark haired beauty,young beauty
A boy and his duck
This pair loved each other. When the boy leaves his pet duck at home to go to go, the duck wanders despondently, quacking sadly until his friend returns.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: boy and duck, human animal friends,pets,Ecuadorian friendships,odd friendships,caring
Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción
The Blue Domes of the Immaculate Conception church define the city. In the right kind of light, they leap up to touch the sky.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Cuenca_blue_domes,Catedral_Metropolitana_de_la_Inmaculada_Concepción,Cuenca_cathedral,Cuenca_cathedral_domes
Turi overlook of Cuenca
The hills of the Turi district offer distinct views of the patterns of Cuenca, with the blue domed cathedral dominating the view.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Overlook_of_Cuenca,Turi_Cuenca,Blue_domes_from_above
Cuenca Cathedral doors
Massive doors, exquisite bronze work
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Cuenca_Catedral_Metropolitana_de_la_Inmaculada_Concepción_doors,Cuenca_cathedral_doors
Cuenca Cathedral door panel
Here is a close up of the work done on one of the cathedral door panels.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Cuenca_Catedral_Metropolitana_de_la_Inmaculada_Concepción_doors,Cuenca_cathedral_doors,Cuenca_cathedral_door_panel
Cuenca blue steeples
At night, the blue steeples of this cathedral are a rich sight.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Cuenca_blue_steeples,Cuenca_blue_cathedral
Cuenca Cathedral reflections
Rain is not a reason to avoid photography. Rather, the wet pavement and cobble stones present an interesting variety of reflections.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Cuenca_blue_steeples,Cuenca_blue_cathedral,Cuenca-blue_cathedral_reflections
Cuenca laundry time
A common scene along the many rivers that flow through Cuenca is the laundry being washed and dried along the banks.
Location: Ecuador
Keywords: Cuenca_laundry,Cuenca_rivers,washday_in_Ecuador,laundry_in_third_world_countries