In September 2009,
I embarked on a photographic study of a remote, extremely undeveloped
part of northwestern Nepal called Humla-and of the remarkable people who
live there. They are a wonderful mix of grit and warmth, humility and
pride, innocence and wisdom. For centuries, the Himalayas have walled
them in, shaping and preserving their way of life.
Humla residents consider themselves the
last remaining guardians of pure Tibetan culture. As modernity beckons,
however, more of the region’s youth are leaving home. One thing I found
in abundance, in these communities that make do with so little, was a
firm sense of identity. It was my intention to capture this in my
images—the strength of that sense, the pride the people of Humla take in
the niche that they and their ancestors have carved out for themselves.
It’s modest, yes, but it belongs entirely to them. Looming in the
background of these photos, however, beyond the snowy peaks, is the very
real possibility that future generations, assimilated into the Western
world, might forfeit the rich and unique traditions cherished by their
elders. Either way, these time-worn traditions are treasures worth
documenting.
