LOCATION
Omo River Valley
STORY
The Promise
COMMUNITY
Nyangatom Tribe
When I accepted the invitation to the trip, I almost immediately began making promises.
To myself.
To those I had not yet met.
To the viewer.
To communities, those I was and was not a part of.
One of these promises was linked with my desire to make portraits of the people I would meet and make connections, friendships. I promised myself that I would make portraits that honored the nuance and complexities of the individuals I would meet.
I would make portraits of strength
happiness
vulnerability
distrust
friendship.
I would make portraits to celebrate the individuals.
This experience was as nuanced and personal as the imagery I was fortunate enough to make.
My goal was to create imagery that allowed for you to connect with the individual. To understand each person photographed, and to find the gift I found while making the images:
To end up learning not only about each person, but also about ourselves.
M. Thurk
Omo River Valley
