Epic Photo Tours
  • Home
  • Our Tours
    • 2022 >
      • Tribes of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia - Sept 13 - 24, 2022
      • New York City Walking Tours
    • 2023 >
      • Epic Nepal Photography Tour - January 6 - 16, 2023
      • Epic Bhutan, Spring 2023
      • Tamil Nadu, India: The Peaceful South - December 6-19, 20233
  • Epic Views
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Registration
  • Partners
  • Past Trips
    • 2015 >
      • Gujarat, India Jan 9 - Jan 22, 2015 — COMPLETED
      • Myanmar Feb 18 - March 2, 2015 — COMPLETED
      • Epic Turkey May 26 - June 7, 2015 - COMPLETED
      • Indigenous Myanmar, Oct 1 - Oct 15, 2015 — COMPLETED
    • 2016 >
      • Backroads of Rajasthan India Jan 5 - Jan 20, 2016 — FULL
      • Kashmir, July 7 - July 21, 2015 — COMPLETED
      • Iran, March 1 - March 16, 2016 — FULL
      • Romania: Medieval Towns,Rural Culture, & Natural Beauty — June 15 - 28, 2016 — 2 Spots Open
      • Omo Valley Tribal Exploration, Ethiopia Nov 5 - Nov 17, 2015 — COMPLETED >
        • Lalibela Extension
        • Omo Valley Tribal Exploration, Ethiopia Dec 4 - Dec 16, 2015 — COMPLETED
    • 2017 >
      • Tribes of the Omo Valley - Jan 5, 2017- Jan 17, 2017 - 2 SPOTS AVAILABLE
      • Holi & Holla Mohalla, March 4 - 15, 2017 — 3 SPOTS OPEN
      • Romania: Medieval Towns, Rural Culture, & Natural Beauty — October 2nd - October 16th 2017 - WAITLIST
    • 2018 >
      • Backroads of Rajasthan - India - January 11 - January 24, 2018
      • Ancient Persia, Modern Iran - March 1 - March 14, 2018
      • Tribes of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia - July 19 - 30, 2018
      • Tribes of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia - September 24 - October 6, 2018
    • 2019 >
      • Kashmir: Essential Srinagar - March 4 - 15, 2019
      • Tribes of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia - September 8 - 19, 2019
      • Historical Ethiopia Circuit - September 19-29, 2019
      • Kolkata: Durga Puja & Varanasi - October 1 - 11, 2019
      • Tribes of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia - December 3 - 14 2019
    • 2020 >
      • Fascinating Myanmar - Cancelled
  • Blog

Black Suit + Black Shirt = You Are Now One of Us

3/20/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The covered bazaar in Tehran is a hive of activity. Whatever you may need you may find. All of the shops selling food are together, the chador makers together and the tailors and fabric sellers are also lined up, stall after stall. It really makes it easier to comparison shop for product and price. Black definitely is the color of choice in Iran. The women wear black pants and black jackets. The men seem to be in uniform as well with black, gray or dark suits, open collar shirts and black shoes. Walking past dozens of stalls selling fabric put some ideas into my head.


While on our tour I often commented to photo leader Jeremy Woodhouse that we should buy some material and have one  of the bazaar tailors make us suits. He laughed and thought it was either funny or crazy while I thought of Steve Jobs wearing the same black sweater everyday or Facebook king Mark Zuckerberg wearing his uniform black t-shirt. Wanting to fit in wasn't the object, as we both obviously don't have the physical features of a typical Iranian man. 


As I was walking past one stall and about to take a photograph of the commerce going on, the fabric seller waved me over and pointed to his wares. There on the counter were bolts of black, dark blue and gray material. Some with pinstripes and some as dark as night. I asked him the price but soon realized that he didn't speak English and I don't know Farsi. But luckily a women nearby came to my rescue and excitedly started to translate. She said that the material would cost me 1 million, 200 thousand rial ($40) and the tailoring half that price. My new friend told the tailor to get his tape measure ready before I could even think twice about it. I said, " just looking, but not buying." She shot back in perfect English,"buy a suit and you will become one of us, please give him some business." She went on to say that the Persian new year was next week and he wanted to make money so that be could buy his family gifts.  I smiled, and he dejectedly looked at the camera as I hit the shutter button.
0 Comments

Meeting...Talking...Learning... 

3/18/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
While in the IRI, Islamic Republic of Iran, I found it quite easy to engage people in dialogue about their daily life, hopes for the future and family history. As with anywhere in the world, people really enjoy talking about themselves and snippets of conversation can be transformed into full disclosure of some very personal information. Roaming about the magnificent Tomb of Hafez garden in Shiraz, I noticed a twenty something  in a mostly off and barely on hijab. She had on a cool looking hand painted t-shirt, and a variety of fascial piercings including some weird fang- like caps on her two front teeth. When she saw me checking out her t-shirt she shot me a big smile and came my way.


We were standing next to an outdoor area where ladies come every afternoon and drop in to read in unison from the Koran. After reading out loud a few pages, they move on and other women come and take their places on the raised podium.  While there I spotted another twenty something dressed in head to toe chador and marveled at the contrasting styles of these two girls. This girl was going around serving tea to the readers who had had just completed chanting. With the help of my translator/guide/friend, Farzaneh, I was able to bring these two girls, who seemed to come from different stratospheres, together for a bit of dialogue. 


I really couldn't properly pronounce the name of the red haired girl so called her Punky which made her laugh. The conservatively dressed girl, Zahra, seemed amused by it all and eagerly joined the conversation. Punky said her dress, lip piercing and red hair caused havoc in her home and her father refused to be seen in public with her. Zahra said she, too, never goes out with her father as it isn't something that someone her age does. They nodded at one another and had a private laugh when I said it wasn't cool to be seen with your parents. Their English was minimal, but Farzaneh translated and said they fully understood what I meant. When I asked them if they would like to change places with one another for a few days they both burst out laughing, and in unison replied that they could only dream about those things. They both said that they loved the garden, poetry and felt comfortable with the life they have created for themselves. 
0 Comments

Iran... 37 Years Later

3/16/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
I have just returned home from an intensive photography experience in the Islamic Republic of Iran with a group of eight intrepid photo enthusiasts. Prior to the trip, whomever I mentioned my next destination to, questioned my choice of destination — “why Iran? Isn’t it dangerous?”. My friends and family thought it was great that I wanted to travel there — they are enlightened and worldly and realized that for me, a world traveler, it would be a truly life-affirming experience. Photo leader Jeremy Woodhouse is a citizen of the world, and when we planned this trip we both agreed that traveling somewhere with absolutely no expectations would yield a more authentic travel/photography experience. We embarked on this trip to Iran with open eyes and with with a keen sense of anticipation…


The relationship between Iran and America has been a conflicted one. When the Shah of Iran was in power more than 37 years ago the two nations were linked through trade and cultural understanding. Numerous times on this trip I was approached by Iranians and listened to them speak lovingly of their times spent at universities in the United States prior to Ayatollah Khomeini and the 1979 Islamic revolution that upended Iran. One man spoke of his years studying electrical engineering in Norman, Oklahoma and of drinking beer and watching a Sooner football game with his American friends. He candidly said he had no idea of the rules, but rooting for his team was great fun. Another person spoke of his time studying at New York University, and as he rattled off street names and sights in Greenwich Village, you could easily feel his yearning for days past. Another woman spoke lovingly of her college roommate who had invited her home for the Thanksgiving holiday — she said it was the first and only time she had ever eaten turkey.


The ancient Persian empire was highly advanced, and having just photographed some of the most incredible architecture in the Islamic world, visited ancient ruins, and dined on multi-ingredient, meticulously prepared meals, one can truly sense the pride of the Iranian people. What surprised me as a guest in this nation was the modern infrastructure — the highways and bridges are as good or better than those in many industrialized nations. Modern art installations have sprouted up all over Tehran. I saw numerous vertical gardens climbing up office building walls, colorful murals adorned the sides of buildings in all cities and villages we traveled to. Islamic calligraphy is magnificent, and to view different the typefaces used as signage was fascinating. 


Private stores in centuries-old, covered bazaars, passed down from generation to generation, are where the people shop. What a joy as a photographer to meet a store owner and see a sepia tone image of his father and grandfather hanging on the wall. What a joy as a traveler to be immersed in a culture that values their culture and architecture — no garish billboards, no mega-malls, no overflowing garbage cans, no lack of public drinking fountains, no sirens or cars honking, no screaming at one another, no junk food — civility, ambiance and tradition prevail.


I have no interest in writing about the Iranian clergy, the Iranian government, human rights or lack of them, or the U.S. and its relationship with this nation. To me, the way each person conducts himself on a daily basis is a political act. The genuineness and authentic kindness shown by every single person I met in Iran, whether it was a waiter, a store keeper, a 22-year-old soldier just starting basic training, or a rural housewife, was palpable.  


Having been afforded the opportunity to have had many intensive discussions with men and women (some wearing the hijab, others the more conservative chador) has been truly a remarkable experience. I wish the Iranian people only happiness and the ability to reach their full potential as members of the world community. 
​
0 Comments

Dus Village: Food Means Life

12/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photograph by Michele Zousmer
My phone rang this morning and my friend/tour operator in Addis Ababa, Osman Ahmed of SORA Tours was on the line. After reviewing the trips that we conducted over the last two months and had many laughs he read off the statistics. Myself and photo leader Jeremy Woodhouse personally purchased and donated over 1,800 pounds of food to the Kara and Arbore tribes. The Bennett family of McKinney, Texas helped us buy 400 pounds of cornmeal. We donated 325 t-shirts collected by New Canaan Country School and the Brett Brown Baseball Academy. Trip members Michele Zousmer and Isabel LeCuna paid for the treatment of a girl whose foot was severely sliced by a machete. The November group of ten, donated school supplies that were warmly received in an Ari village school.The Konso village school received 500 pens graciously donated by my friend Alex the branch manager at TD Bank, 68th Street, NYC as well as 50 notebooks. Nancy Wright, product manager at Clif Bar, supplied us with boxes of protein bars to hand out. Nancy Brandt, a December trip member made a sizable financial donation to Omo Child. Osman summed it all up by saying that our groups were truly ambassadors of peace and goodwill. As Gandhi said;" Be the change you want to see in the world". Happy Holidays to all!
0 Comments

School Supplies: Making a Difference

12/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photograph by Michele Zousmer
On Epic Photo Tours/Pixelchrome Photography Tours we always try to give back to the communities that welcome us and allow us to get a glimpse of their way of life. In November of 2015 the adventurous, friendly and socially aware Omo Valley group of ten, visited a school and observed a complete lack of school supplies. Within an hour of leaving the school, they all reached into their pockets and took out piles of Ethiopian Brr and suddenly we had money for school supplies. Yes, you can buy supplies in Ethiopia but as the teacher told us; "the pens dry up after a week and the pages fall out of the book after a month". So given marching orders by trip member Ginna Fleming, I returned home and used the donated money to buy notebooks, rulers, staplers, scissors and dry erase boards. TD Bank donated 500 pens. Once back in the Omo Valley in December I donated the school supplies to the Ari tribe village school. This small, somewhat forlorn looking one room school was closed, but we were able to find the teacher who let us in and proudly showed us his classroom. We gave him the school supplies and he thanked us. Our guide/translator Eyob beamed with happiness as this was happening. Later on that day Eyob told me that the teacher asked him if we could return next month with more notebooks. Hopefully next December I will return with twice the amount!
0 Comments

Village Life: Sharing the Gourd

12/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photograph by Michele Zousmer
The distance in miles from San Diego, California to Egudi, Ethiopia is 9,700. This village, home of the pastoralist Arbore tribe is difficult to reach during the rainy season as the one road quickly turns into a river. In the dry season the dust and gravel kick up and the rocks and pebbles become projectiles on the road. It is here, in this village where the cycle of life is governed by the changing of the seasons and the rise and setting of the sun that I received a life lesson from a girl who didn't know her age, couldn't write her name and sleeps on the hard ground on a goatskin. People live together, eat together, sleep together, laugh together and dance together. It is thought that the more they dance, the healthier their tribe will be. But for me the most symbolic event that I photographed was this lovely girl drinking from a gourd. As she told my translator, when I asked if she could relate differences between her life and mine; " a water bottle is only good for one person to drink from; a gourd is big enough to be shared by many". After I photographed her sitting in the shade, I realized why I just traveled 9,700 miles. I am not sure I will give up my water bottle but on my next trip I will be sure to share the gourd with the people that I meet along the way.
0 Comments

Arbore: Princess of the Omo

12/30/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photograph by: Michele Zousmer
West of the Woito River in remote Southwestern Ethiopia resides the 7,000 strong Arbore people. Living in four small villages in close proximity to one another these pastoralists measure their wealth in cattle. The men leave their huts at sunrise and take their flock to the field. The women do what most do in the Omo Valley; haul water, prepare coffee, nurse their young and beautify themselves. Often photographed by the streams of foreigners who pull in to their villages in search of the; "undiscovered", "feral", "lost" the Arbore are rarely interacted with in a meaningful way. It is here, while meandering alone I came across three tribal beauties. All accessorized with colorful necklaces, waist bands made of highly polished beads and serpent shaped earnings. Their feminine way of being, gracefulness, and playfulness blended into the environment. The wild flowers, flat plateau surrounded by the mountains all framed them and I truly felt that they were people of the land. Not only could I peacefully photograph the Arbore girls, I could truly feel the moment as a special one. As we got closer to one another I heard teenage chatter and laughter. As much as I was enjoying this special meeting of people from diverse places I could feel their radiance, dignity and sense their joy in meeting me.
0 Comments

What Do You See: When You See A Boy And A Chicken

11/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse
The road was windy, unpaved and in a valley. Up on the cliff we observed people walking home from Sunday church, women in white shawls holding large umbrellas. Men in tattered baseball caps with finely sanded walking sticks. On their feet cheaply made Chinese plastic sandals.To the right was a craggy mountain with stunted trees growing out of it. I won't call it rain or drizzle but something was coming down. Kind of a thin white mist, an air of quietness and peacefulness pervaded the surroundings and us in our vehicles. Glancing out of the window coming up the road I spotted a teenage boy walking towards us. Over his shoulder he had a long stick, on his back it appeared he had a bag I really couldn't make out what he was carrying in his arms until he was next to the car. And there he was, a boy carrying a chicken, with not just a stick over his shoulder but a spear and tied to his back was a goatskin bag and a large metal kettle. All the makings of a proper Sunday dinner. Who could ask for a better, in the moment photographic experience.
0 Comments

Ethiopia: The Enduring Spirit

11/20/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse
What makes Ethiopia wonderful for a traveler and photographer is spirit of the people. Kids in rags, women trundling up steep embankments with 20 litre yellow buckets on their backs, homes that are awash in mud after a flash storm, the constant struggle to earn a living where an economic infrastructure doesn't seem to exist in the 80% of the country, one which is agrarian — all can really be bruising.

Yet, whereever we ventured we were greeted with smiles, laughter and shakes with that uniquely Ethiopia way of doing it, the hand shake and then pull in to do the shoulder to shoulder bump. It is very easy to feel at home while traveling in this wonderful country. 
As a outsider Ethiopian life seems extremely difficult, but the hardy welcome we received show a population of stoic people who put on a great game face.
1 Comment

Hopes and Dreams

11/20/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
View from the Dining Room at the Buska Lodge — Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse
While staying at the Buska Lodge in Arba Minch I had the opportunity to befriend many of the service workers. They all relished to the opportunity to practice English, talk about themselves, and not be bombarded with requests from the other guests. They all had name badges with titles, everyone seemed to be a director of one department or another. These people, all in their 20s, were the first in their families to master English (some better than others). When I asked the quality control director what he dreamt about last night he mentioned that he had a vision of owning a car. I asked him if he had a license and he replied that he was saving his money so that in the very near future he could take driving lessons. When I inquired what the very near future meant, he replied, "within the next five years". 
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    March 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    May 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    Ahmedabad
    Cultural Photography
    Ethiopia
    Gujarat
    India
    Jain
    Mingi
    Omo Child
    Omo River Valley
    Photo Tour
    Travel
    Travel Photography

    RSS Feed

Our company

Tours
Instructors
Epic Views
Trip Talk
EpicPhotoTours Registration Form
Terms & Conditions

Join our Mailing List

Submit
© 2013 - 2019 Epic Photo Tours | All Rights Reserved | +1 203-252-6958 | EpicPhotoTours@aol.com