The Hamer tribe in Southern Ethiopia maintain a traditional pastoral lifestyle. As pastoralists, cattle play a significant role in the tribe's culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in one of the Hamer’s most well known and epic ancient rites of passage; the bull jumping ceremony.
Usually occuring in Autumn, this is an elaborate event in which a teenage boy whom the elders regard as a coming of age adult, undergoes the traditional test which determines whether the young man is ready to marry and own cattle.
I photographed the event to document and preserve this Hamer tradition.
From an early age my mother’s sense of wonder about the world instilled in me an innate curiosity that drives my appetite for discovery. For the last 15 years I have traveled the globe and brought stories of inspiration, astonishment and beauty to thousands of New Englanders via a Multi-media project designed to engage participants in a dialogue on the beauty, diversity and history of our interlocked world. I’ve pulled audiences into visual journeys through the performance of over 500 programs and have become known for making creative and unforgettable images.
Awards * Images twice selected as one of National Geographic's Daily Dozen
* 5 time winner of Better Photo (photographic website) monthly photo contest (over 7,000 entries/month)
* Photography articles published in Boston Globe
* Selected as the IFAW (International Federation of Animal Welfare) photographer of the year
* Honorable mention for Nature/Wildlife in 2018 Px3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
