This week’s photo challenge “Culture” is set by photographer, Aaron Joel Santos, who is based in Hanoi, Vietnam. I took a look at his blog and website as his challenge was to pose “curiosity”. His comments set an interesting challenge :
Culture is a bit of a loaded word. In a photograph, it can embody everything and nothing. So where do we draw the line? Shopping culture, hippy culture, Asian culture, Thai culture, ancient culture, and on and on. These phrases have different meanings. For me, as a working travel photographer, being able to show culture, in all of its various guises, is crucial to the success of an image.
There are obvious elements that go into making a great photograph: perspective, color, contrast, subject matter, and lighting, to name a few. But for this challenge, go for that little something extra — that piece of the image that makes a viewer want to see more — to delve deeper into the culture you’re photographing. I’ve always said that I want my photographs to make people curious. So that is your assignment here: inspire curiosity with your photography.
It set me thinking about the broad aspects of the subject, and to “context culture”, where geography and history provide a context for understanding the differences between cultures. Curious? What do the Huli wigmen of Papua New Guinea, the Himba people of Namibia and the Tuvalu people of Tabuaeran have in common?
Nature on the Edge 
Terrific pictures Liz! It’s amazing how there are so many different cultures yet we all are similar in so many ways 🙂
Thanks Uday. Isn’t it a fascinating world.
Wonderful post. The photos are fantastic and really help one to experience the culture of the participants. Well done!
Thanks Tina.
I’ve seen tv documentaries about the Himba people and culture, how amazing to have visited them. Heard of the Tuvalu also but had to google the Huli – although I pretty much guessed from their look. This is a fantastic post in my eyes, there’s nothing I like more than learning about other cultures.
Thanks Gilly … our global village and the spread of technology touches even the most remote corners. I worry about the insidious creep of Westernisation putting indigenous cultures at risk. It was humbling to have had a glimpse into cultures which are rich in age-old tradition.
Great gallery for the culture if Himba!
Thanks Amy.
Thanks Amy, they’re clinging on …. but change is eating away into their traditional ways.
Excellent photography, Liz! Very informative post, thanks a lot.
Have a great new week.
Love
Dina
Thanks Dina 🙂
As always, a thank you for your comments 🙂
These are amazing images, and what a beautiful expression of culture. Thank you for sharing these with us.
Thanks for the comments Emily … made me aware of the ‘cosmetic’ industry in the west, versus face paint and ochre 🙂 Culture and identity is a fascinating subject.
Thanks … a celebration of diversity 🙂
One thing they all have in common — is being photogenic!
They are that! And not a stitch of clothing made in China 🙂
😆
Beautiful, rich, uniquely fascinating. Smiles that inspires you.