TRIBES | Wednesday, March 31, 2021
#TRIBES: as many of the nomadic tribes look to settle down, the odds are still against them, often lacking voting rights, historically labelled - in law - as members of a criminal tribe, courtesy of British rule, help comes slowly. Other #Gujaratis are often unaware of their fellow humans in their own state, preferring to explore the rest of the world first. #nomads #india #gujarat #photojournalism
COBRA | Wednesday, March 31, 2021
#COBRA: although their venom is drained, they still bite - picture of that soon - and I’ve never seen anything move so fast in my life. A camera focuses your attention to the degree that photographers frequently end up in risky situations, like being within striking distance of a cobra. This shot shows you how close the chief really was to the snake. The things people did to make a living. #india #gujarat #vadi #tribes #nomads #snake #snakecharming #photojournalism
SNAKECHARMING | Wednesday, March 31, 2021
#SNAKECHARMING: to underline the point that this tradition is dying, the chief’s son - backing away in the doorway - has lost control of the snake, and has been saved by his friend. Mike Davis, the great picture editor, observed that he’s looking out and not at the cobra suggesting he’s more worried about what other people are thinking. #india #vadi #nomads #tribes #gujarat #snake #cobra
TRIBE | Wednesday, March 31, 2021
#TRIBE: the chief of the #Vadi here is a magician and crack snake charmer. The tribe has suffered from the outlawing of snake charming - seven years in prison - without any alternative or assistance given by the government. I was upset to discover that in 2018, four women from this tribe were attacked and one was killed after accusations of child kidnapping. There is way too much to unpack in a single Instagram post, but it’s complicated. Outlawing traditional livelihoods is one thing - once you’ve seen the awfulness of dancing bears, you’d sign the legislation - but leaving people in poverty and starvation is another. #india #nomads #gujarat #photojournalism #snake #cobra #snakecharmer
NOMADS | Wednesday, March 31, 2021
#NOMADS: I met a a very famous photographer whose style I spent the summer of 2009 ripping-off, and he was photographing many of the same subjects as me. He gave me tons of great advice and one key point was that he thought it very important that I show them on the move. I finally nailed it after many weeks. The men have already left with the cattle, the women pack up camp and travel to the next site, literally carrying their beds. #tribes #gujarat #india #photojournalism
