Watching these Suri Tribe boys have fun being creative and playing in the river created a great afternoon of photography on my private Ethiopia Omo Valley photo tour. It all started with some fun in the river before some creative body painting and decorating. This was an organised “photo session” so the boys involved were very happy and wanted to have their photos taken. It didn’t take long to notice the ones that really wanted the cameras attention and loved having the lens aimed at them! Every day with this remote Ethiopian tribe in the Upper Omo Valley is an incredible adventure. Camping so close to the border of South Sudan certainly makes this a unique African cultural photography tour.
This boy would often take a glance to check where my lens was pointing. He loved having his photo taken!
After washing in the river some sat quietly decorating themselves while others worked as a team to help create their body art. Their creative techniques and teamwork were evident and an honour to watch.
This young man seemed the oldest of the group and he sat quietly and happily decorating himself.
Often when decorating each other they’d start laughing and amusing themselves with their creativity. It was super enjoyable to watch them have so much fun and be creative.
The local girls weren’t welcome to watch the boys do this photo shoot. They weren’t happy when they’d see the girls trying to look and they were soon told to go away. However, if you are a tourist - male or female - you are welcomed to photograph and capture these moments.
As I have mentioned previously I chose not to do many organised photo sessions but rather preferred capturing them how they were and not just for my camera. However I’m glad I did both because I could see the “tourist” photography side of the Suri and also the more natural and realistic side. Both are an honour to watch, experience and capture. Taking cultural portraits of this unique and remote African tribe is an absolute honour.
Of course if I was asking them to get in the river then I had to get wet too! Sometimes the best angles are the most refreshing lol! I’m not sharing my favourite photos from my angle lying in the river due to privacy, but I got some great photographs!
I love sharing the joy of photography with everyone on my Africa photography tours!
When I am on a trip we are all there to enjoy the trip together as a team. Teaching others and assisting others with their photography is always so rewarding. Here are my amazing driver, amazing guide and a young man from the Suri tribe all enjoying capturing moments on this special afternoon at this truly amazing location.
The “tourist” part of the Suri tribe for some of the villages is very much a part of their life now. It is a source of income and I”m really happy that with my discussions with them they told me that they really love people spending time with them and visiting their villages. Fortunately for them their remote location means they don’t get as many tourists as the other Ethiopian tribes in the Omo Valley. When they do have visitors they enjoy the shared experience and company.
Amazing moments to capture and remember taking photos of the Suri Tribe!
The river was flowing rapidly after the recent rains, so they had a lot of fun not being swept downstream and jumping in the river after the photo session!
Click on the image below to watch a highlight video of this wonderful afternoon photographing the Suri Tribe.
Video preview of my photography afternoon with the Suri Tribe on my Africa photo tour to this amazing Ethiopian tribe in the Upper Omo Valley.
I could certainly tell from their smiles and our conversations that they had a great time with us and likewise I loved every second of my time spent on the Suri land.
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