Portrait II, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

After a week immersed in the dense, shaded hills of Yirgacheffe capturing the labor of the coffee harvest, the journey south felt like a descent into a more primal landscape.

The air grew thin and dry as the emerald highlands gave way to the savanna—the iconic, sweeping African plains characterized by scattered acacia trees and sun-baked earth. Reaching the remote villages along the banks of the Omo River, I found clusters of intricate, thatched-roof huts. There is a profound stillness in the Omo; the river itself serves as a lifeline cutting through a territory that feels both harsh and incredibly
beautiful. 

I wanted to capture a series of natural, unforced portraits that focused on the intricate artistry of their tradition—from the deliberate patterns of scarification and bold body paint to the textures of their attire—all set against the vast, quiet backdrop of the Omo River savanna.