15 Striking Portraits of Ancient Tribes around The World

15 Striking Portraits of Ancient Tribes

Around the World

Ladakhi – Photograph by Jimmy Nelson​

In 2009, photographer Jimmy Nelson set out on a journey to document the ‘world’s last indigenous cultures’. Using a 4×5 camera, Nelson took an amazing series of portraits, featuring 31 ancient tribes around the world.
The project, entitled Before They Pass Away, culminated with an elegant hardcover book (available in three versions) featuring stories of his encounters and nearly 500 photos.
The series has also led to a number of speaking engagements and exhibits around the world. See here for a list of upcoming events.
On the project website, beforethey.com, you will find many additional pictures of each tribe along with information about Nelson’s experience photographing each.
The project has also received some criticism. Most notably from Tim McLaughlin and Elissa Washuta. Nelson even responded to McLaughlin’s critical review of the project here.
The dialogue in the articles above are valuable and the fact that Nelson responded to the criticism provides an intriguing conversation around the topic. I encourage you to read them and derive your own conclusions.
For the latest from Before They Pass Away, you can find more information at the links below.

Before They Pass Away
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

1. Chukchi
Russian Arctic Region​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

2. Huli
Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

3. Goroka
Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

4. Kazakhs
Northern Parts of Central Asia​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

5. Rabari
India​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

6. Vanuatu
Island Nation in the South Pacific Ocean​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
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7. Ladakhi
Northern India​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
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8. Dani
Western New Guinea​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
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9. Mursi
Southwestern Ethiopia​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
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10. Kalam
Eastern Papua New Guinea​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

11. Mustang
Nepal​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

12. Māori
New Zealand​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
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13. Karo
Omo Valley, Ethiopia​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
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14. Samburu
North-Central Kenya​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book​

15. Nenets
Northern Arctic Russia​

Photograph by JIMMY NELSON
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Order the book

http://twistedsifter.com/2014/03/portraits-of-ancient-tribes-around-the-world-jimmy-nelson/​