PAPUA NEW GUINEA

August 2024

 

The last frontier. The edge of the world. A place that time has forgotten. The ultimate tribal experience.

I went back in time and experienced first-hand a dizzying array of authentic, unadulterated tribal cultures. From painted faces and bodies to wigs, masks and feathers - Papua, brought one of the wildest exotic imaginations to life and even surpassed it.

This was my most spectacular photo trip. A pinnacle of travel portrait photography. It simply doesn't get any better than this. Tucked away deep in the highlands of Papua is the home of the Huli tribe, famous for their elaborate face painting and wigs. In the Huli tradition, the women do all the work so that the men can concentrate on their appearance - which they do with great pleasure. Especially during the tribal wars, the warriors can be seen in their colourful garments enjoying a snack by the roadside before going into battle.

Once a year, a two-day festival is held in the highland town of Mount Hagen, where more than 50 tribal groups perform in an overwhelming variety of breathtaking costumes.

The Sepik River, which meanders through the lush landscapes of Papua New Guinea, is home to a remarkable cultural and linguistic diversity - with over 300 languages spoken.

​

​

​