Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Lens Magazine

"I have been to Colombia many times, and in March 2024, I returned to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, an isolated mountain range in the north of Colombia near the Caribbean Sea. Four Indigenous communities live in this area: Wiwa, Arhuaco, Kankuamo, and Kogi. Tunkeka is near Palomino in the Department of La Guajira, a settlement with around 100 Kogi families. It’s less than an hour from the coast over dirt roads up into the Sierra Nevada. I usually stay for a few days, but this time, it was a one-day trip with a guide. Kogis are descendants of the Tairona culture. I visited The Lost City, Ciudad Perdida, back in 2017. It is located in the same mountain range and is only accessible after a three-day hike. It…

Certain places leave an indelible mark on our souls, evoking emotions and memories that draw us back time and again. For me, that place is the Empty Quarter (Ar Rub Al Khali) in Oman—the largest sand desert on Earth. Although I've only scratched the surface of this expansive, mesmerizing terrain, it stretches over a staggering thousand kilometers, a realm of endless dunes and shifting sands. "My journeys into this magnificent landscape have often been solitary adventures, armed only with a camera to capture the enchanting beauty and a few essentials: water, food, fuel, and a trusty GPS locator. Throughout my time in the Sultanate, I've explored various facets of the Empty Quarter, each more captivating than the last. This remarkable place offers a tapestry of environments, yet they all share…

3SERIES: MUAY THAI KIDS | COAL SURVIVORS | KID JOCKEYS ABOUT | MUAY THAI KIDS Thailand’s national sport, Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, is a full-contact martial art and combat sport that originated in Thailand. It incorporates various standing, striking, and grappling techniques, including the ancient Thai technique, Mae Mai Muay Thai (Muay Boran). In the region of Isaan, children begin training in Muay Thai as early as age 5 and can start competing by age 6 or 7. The atmosphere is intense, with high-stakes betting and immense pressure on the young participants. For many underprivileged children, Muay Thai is a way to fulfill the cultural expectations of supporting their families and an avenue towards a better future. This series has achieved significant recognition, including 1st Place in…

PHOTOGRAPHING THE TRIBES OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA REQUIRED IMMENSE AND STRENUOUS TRAVEL THROUGH WINDING ROADS AND DENSE JUNGLE. AFTER TWO CANCELED FLIGHTS ATTEMPTING TO REACH THE HIGHLANDS FROM PORT MORESBY, RELIEF WAS UPON US AS THE PLANE HIT THE TARMAC.- ZOE LARSON A mid the chaos of Randy and David setting up our makeshift photo studio and beginning to shoot our first tribe of the trip, one of the people helping run the eco-lodges brings me a man by the name of Henry to talk to. Shutters and flashes go off around us as we pull white plastic chairs around the table, balancing on the uneven, muddied floor. I ask if it is okay for me to record our interview, considering the fact my multitasking note-taking skills are far from…

2SERIES Salt Pans | Mount Athos SALT PANS The Messolonghi-Aitoliko lagoon complex is located in the north part of the Gulf of Patras on the central west coast of Greece. With its shallow area of 150 sq. km. extended between the Acheloos and Evinos rivers, it is one of the most important wetlands in the Mediterranean. The ecosystem comprises six lagoons that are part of the Natura 2000 network protected by the Ramsar Convention. The open and closed type lagoons communicate with the sea along channels and receive fresh water from the drainage pump system of the region, creating a unique aquaculture environment. Fishing is mainly done with traditional methods by local fishermen in fish-pools called 'divaria'. The area is also rich in black salt marsh and hosts one of…

SIKEREI: WE ARE LOST TOGETHER | STEEL LIFE PRESERVING THESE NARRATIVES BECOMES AN URGENT CALLING, A NEED TO ENCAPSULATE AND HONOR THE TRANSIENT BEAUTY OF THE WORLD BEFORE IT VANISHES INTO THE ETHER, LEAVING BEHIND A HAUNTING VOID."- NICOLA DUCATI SIKEREI: WE ARE LOST TOGETHER With this photographic project set against the enchanting backdrop of the Mentawai Islands, I strive to unveil the profound essence of a people who remain distanced from the encroachments of modern civilization. They uphold an ancestral lifestyle, rich in traditions that echo back to time immemorial. Nestled within a mistladen, primordial forest, the Sikerei embody a harmonious existence, living in symbiosis with the lush, vibrant nature that surrounds them. Here, away from modernity’s relentless pressures and trivial distractions, they thrive in peace. Their tumultuous history resonates…

EVERY YEAR, AS AUTUMN UNFOLDS ITS VIBRANT HUES, THE SAFFRON HARVEST SEASON COMMENCES IN THE PICTURESQUE FARMS OF THE TORBAT HEYDARIYEH AND ZAVEH REGIONS, NESTLED WITHIN THE KHORASAN RAZAVI PROVINCE OF IRAN. RENOWNED GLOBALLY AS THE LARGEST SAFFRON CULTIVATION AREA, THIS REGION BECOMES A BUSTLING HUB OF ACTIVITY DURING THE HARVEST. AT DAWN, JUST AS THE FIRST LIGHT CREEPS OVER THE HORIZON, LOCAL FARMERS AND DEDICATED WORKERS—MANY TRAVELING FROM NEARBY VILLAGES—DESCEND UPON THE SPRAWLING SAFFRON FIELDS. Amidst a backdrop of golden and crimson leaves, the workers meticulously gather the delicate saffron flowers, their rich purple hues standing out against the earthy tones of the soil. They pluck the blooms from their stems with nimble fingers, gently placing them into woven baskets. The presence of women in the workforce is prominent,…

WHAT WOULD OUR PLANET HAVE LOOKED LIKE TWO MILLENNIA AGO? IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS OF INDIA, THE FOLLOWING IMAGERY MIGHT OFFER SOME INSIGHT. Picture the shepherds guiding their cattle along the perimeter of a sprawling cement factory. Each step they take stirs up clouds of dust that hang thickly in the air, creating a haze that softens the landscape. As the golden morning light filters through this suspended dust, it casts a warm, serene glow over the rugged terrain, inviting a moment of reflection on the stillness of dawn. There’s an almost tranquil resolve in how these villagers start their day, undeterred by the industrial complexities surrounding them. Captured in the suburbs of Aligarh—a city renowned for its prestigious university and vibrant lock-making industry—these images unveil…