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I Travelled 25000 Km In Siberia To Photograph Its Indigenous People, 6 Months Later Here’s The Result
Hi! My name is Alexander Khimushin. Nine years ago I packed my backpack to see the world and have been globe-trotting ever since visited 84 countries. While travelling the world, I realized that people are the most amazing part of it.
Three years ago I came up with an idea of the photo project 'The World In Faces' that would celebrate beauty and diversity of the world through the portraits of ordinary people. Especially from those remote places, where culture and traditions are still alive. Since then I have taken thousands of portraits all over the world. Last six months I photographed indigenous people of Siberia.
An enormous region, almost a double size of Australia and 30% larger than the United States, Canada or the whole Europe. Siberia is one of the world’s last frontiers of the unknown. No doubt, everyone heard that it is very cold and sparsely populated, but what do we know about people living there?
During my half-a-year-long solo journey, I covered 25,000 km to visit many remote locations across Siberia: from lake Baikal shores to the coast of Japan sea, from endless steppes of Mongolia to the coldest place on Earth - Yakutia. All with only one mission - to capture faces and traditions of various groups of indigenous people living there. While some of the ethnic groups are dominant in their regions, many others are on the edge of disappearance, with a total population as low as only a hundred people left. They remain largely unknown to the outside world.
More info: khimushin.com | Facebook | Instagram
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Ulchi Woman
That coat she's wearing is incredible...i imagine its waterproof? So interesting how she's incorporated silks and cotton.
Oh I sooo love this one ... Ancestral power and beauty .. the expression in her face and the timeless lines of wisdom and knowledge <3
Wow - she has such a "presence" - power, strength, determination just flow from her. Regal, beautiful and amazing.
I just know she's thousands of years old and knows all kinds of powerful magic.
A wonderful photo showing peace, wisdom and respect. A very elegant lady
I wonder what stories she would tell about the history of the people there
With the hard life these people endure, I wouldn't be surprised if she were only in her 60s or 70s.
Sakha Girl
Evenki Little Reindeer Herder
Daddy, daddy, I want a dog...wait no, a caribou! for my birthday :D
Ulchi Girl
The cut aways on the cuffs of her sleeves are reversed--and it's like a kimono. Fascinating and beautiful. I wonder if she made it?
Uilta Little Girl
What a cutie! Love the dimple. She looks like a happy child. Innocent and unburdened.
Evenki Little Girl
Soyot Girl
Evenki Girl
Buryat Girl
Tazy Woman
Ainu Young Man
that robe is so gorgeous! What's the story behind it? the work is incredible--and the fabrics--are they made by the Ainu or traded?
Negidal Girl
Oroqen Man
Evenki Mom With Baby
Russkoustintsy Woman
Shenehen Buryat Girl
Yukagir Girl
Even Young Man
He's not sure about the photography thing but proud of his clothes totally matching.
Nanai Girl
Udege Man
He has been on many hunts to feed his family and perhaps the whole tribe.
Tuvan Mongolian Man
Yakut Shaman
The design of the eagle is incredible, what is it made from and how is it attached?
Wow. These photos are so beautiful, and the clothing shows such a range of styles--did they explain any of the stories behind them? the processes or their traditions or history? They are just amazing.
And god said: "Let's put the hottest girls to the coldest place of the Eatrh."
proudly indigenous! their outfits remind me of the pictures of my native american ancestors 🙂
I think people used to cross the bering strait (very very long time ago) so might be distantly related to one another.
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i think that you did a great job, it must be a great acheivment to travel the world. I have always dreamt to do that, im very curious about what people from different parts of the world are spending their days in. they are very beautiful, im impressed.
Thank you! It took me almost a year all up to share this 35 photos today with you! Working on it more that a full time job I would say it's been a double of what's normally called a full time job )) I can't complain though! It was my own idea, my own choice and I love every minture of working on the project! Will continue doing so!
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I wish someone could tell them that people all over the world thought they looked beautiful in the pictures
Most of them will have internet. They'll probably see the reactions.
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It is interesting that the photographer chose to go with a more formal style of prearranged portraiture--where people know in advance that they are going to be photographed, and they all make sure to wear the nicest clothes they own, etc.--instead of a more candid style of photographing people doing their daily activities at home and work, out and about.
In daily life we just wear t-shirts, jeans, it's probably not so interesting for the viewers.
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I loved the photos.. Thank you for making such an amazing effort. One can only imagine the amazing stories and experiences that must have came with each step of your journey.. Awesome!
Breathtaking! How they are similar, but not. Their eyes speak volumes. What an incredible and interesting endeavor!
These are all so beautiful! The journey was incredibly long but also incredibly worth it!
Those pictures just stole my heart. Amazing.. Beautiful. I love it!
Thank you for sharing. Long may their cultures and languages endure.
Absolutely stunning. Makes me want to visit. I'm indigenous from northern Canada.
Beautiful story.. love their craftsmanship.. Each robe and piece of jewellery is unique...
Thank you so much for providing photos of folks living in Siberia. I belong to a special group - MtDNA Y1 Haplogroup with 26 other members. According to 23andMe, our ancient mothers migrated through Siberia then came down the eastern coasts of Russia, Japan, China, and Korea. Your fabulous portraiture collection has given me wonderful faces of people, many I share genetic heritage with. With gratitude beyond words, I thank you!
They are really beautiful. It would have been better if you shared some stories related to their culture.
I love the pix. But do you really mean Siberia for all the photos? Were you in the Russian Far East as well? Can you tell me if any pix were taken in Khabarovsk Krai?
Always wanted to visit Siberia some day <3 I'm actually currently learning the Sakha language. Beautiful photos and a wonderful diversity of cultures!
These photos capture the people beautifully and in some ways through the internet, others come to learn that the world is much bigger and more diverse than our own small little world. It seems that lately, there's been a lot of "I travel the world and took photographs of indigenous or [ fill in the group's name]." I wonder, these travelers and photographors can afford to travel thousands of miles, take nice photos of the local people then what? Leave, post photos on the internet or sell them on some stock photo website, make some money. What happens to the people you took photos of? You leave them behind in their poverty. Another traveler comes through and does the same thing. Another form of exploitation of indigenous communities.
They belong to different Turkic nationalities. About native americans i can say for sure that Cherokees are related with us. 🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇺🇿🇺🇿🇺🇿🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇬🇰🇬🇰🇬🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮
The first things came across my mind seeing this pictures were the words "raw beauty". Thank you fo sharing!
It would be more appropriate to refer to some of the girls as young women, to mirror the regard you have for young men.
Arpeggi Lee - I can play this warped game too. There are significantly more women than men in the pictures, so I guess that means the men are less important than the women ? Geez, just appreciate the beautiful pictures, clothing and people. You people have issues.
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wow. it's really hard for me to understand these people are from the 21st century. the photos are mindblowing
Wow. These photos are so beautiful, and the clothing shows such a range of styles--did they explain any of the stories behind them? the processes or their traditions or history? They are just amazing.
And god said: "Let's put the hottest girls to the coldest place of the Eatrh."
proudly indigenous! their outfits remind me of the pictures of my native american ancestors 🙂
I think people used to cross the bering strait (very very long time ago) so might be distantly related to one another.
Load More Replies... i think that you did a great job, it must be a great acheivment to travel the world. I have always dreamt to do that, im very curious about what people from different parts of the world are spending their days in. they are very beautiful, im impressed.
Thank you! It took me almost a year all up to share this 35 photos today with you! Working on it more that a full time job I would say it's been a double of what's normally called a full time job )) I can't complain though! It was my own idea, my own choice and I love every minture of working on the project! Will continue doing so!
Load More Replies... I wish someone could tell them that people all over the world thought they looked beautiful in the pictures
Most of them will have internet. They'll probably see the reactions.
Load More Replies... It is interesting that the photographer chose to go with a more formal style of prearranged portraiture--where people know in advance that they are going to be photographed, and they all make sure to wear the nicest clothes they own, etc.--instead of a more candid style of photographing people doing their daily activities at home and work, out and about.
In daily life we just wear t-shirts, jeans, it's probably not so interesting for the viewers.
Load More Replies... I loved the photos.. Thank you for making such an amazing effort. One can only imagine the amazing stories and experiences that must have came with each step of your journey.. Awesome!
Breathtaking! How they are similar, but not. Their eyes speak volumes. What an incredible and interesting endeavor!
These are all so beautiful! The journey was incredibly long but also incredibly worth it!
Those pictures just stole my heart. Amazing.. Beautiful. I love it!
Thank you for sharing. Long may their cultures and languages endure.
Absolutely stunning. Makes me want to visit. I'm indigenous from northern Canada.
Beautiful story.. love their craftsmanship.. Each robe and piece of jewellery is unique...
Thank you so much for providing photos of folks living in Siberia. I belong to a special group - MtDNA Y1 Haplogroup with 26 other members. According to 23andMe, our ancient mothers migrated through Siberia then came down the eastern coasts of Russia, Japan, China, and Korea. Your fabulous portraiture collection has given me wonderful faces of people, many I share genetic heritage with. With gratitude beyond words, I thank you!
They are really beautiful. It would have been better if you shared some stories related to their culture.
I love the pix. But do you really mean Siberia for all the photos? Were you in the Russian Far East as well? Can you tell me if any pix were taken in Khabarovsk Krai?
Always wanted to visit Siberia some day <3 I'm actually currently learning the Sakha language. Beautiful photos and a wonderful diversity of cultures!
These photos capture the people beautifully and in some ways through the internet, others come to learn that the world is much bigger and more diverse than our own small little world. It seems that lately, there's been a lot of "I travel the world and took photographs of indigenous or [ fill in the group's name]." I wonder, these travelers and photographors can afford to travel thousands of miles, take nice photos of the local people then what? Leave, post photos on the internet or sell them on some stock photo website, make some money. What happens to the people you took photos of? You leave them behind in their poverty. Another traveler comes through and does the same thing. Another form of exploitation of indigenous communities.
They belong to different Turkic nationalities. About native americans i can say for sure that Cherokees are related with us. 🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇺🇿🇺🇿🇺🇿🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇬🇰🇬🇰🇬🇭🇺🇭🇺🇭🇺🇫🇮🇫🇮🇫🇮
The first things came across my mind seeing this pictures were the words "raw beauty". Thank you fo sharing!
It would be more appropriate to refer to some of the girls as young women, to mirror the regard you have for young men.
Arpeggi Lee - I can play this warped game too. There are significantly more women than men in the pictures, so I guess that means the men are less important than the women ? Geez, just appreciate the beautiful pictures, clothing and people. You people have issues.
Load More Replies... wow. it's really hard for me to understand these people are from the 21st century. the photos are mindblowing
