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Photographer Documented An Indigenous Tribe With Strange Genetic Fluke That Causes Their Eyes To Turn Blue
Indonesia is a very special country. The Indonesian Archipelago consists of over 17,000 islands. It is considered to be the world's largest island country. Having so many little islands, it is a melting pot of culture. There, over 700 different languages are spoken.
And look at what the melting pot has boiled up on the small island of Buton. Some indigenous people there have a strange genetic fluke known as Waardenburg syndrome, which may cause hearing loss, and in this case, dazzling, piercing, electric blue eyes that remind us of Frank Herbert's Fremen from Dune. As you can see, it can even affect a single eye, making them heterochromatic.
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Korchnoi Pasaribu, a geologist and a hobby photographer who hails from the Indonesian island of Java himself, has managed to capture the hypnotic eyes of these tribespeople and share them on his Instagram. It isn't the first tribe that he ever visited, but it may be the most unique one. How often do you see people from the Pacific that have eyes as blue as this? The chances of being affected by this syndrome are 1 in 42,000. Count the odds of stumbling upon a few of those in a single small tribe. It's like finding a gem, but in this case, the gem is in someone's eyes.
Waardenburg syndrome may affect only a single eye.
Korchnoi told Bored Panda about the circumstances of his photoshoot. "I've known them since 2019, but I only went to photograph them now on September 17, 2020. I was very happy to [finally] take pictures of them." He's also done a few "themed" shots regarding ecology and the environment, which speaks powerfully through the eyes of the subject.
The internet is in awe, and the photos have been shared and published far and wide. Show your support for this unique photographer by following his Instagram, where you can find even more pictures of the indigenous people of Indonesia from many other tribes. Rev up your Dune, White Walker, and other references, and share with us what you think.
yeah. it is a photograph and the leaf is intentional. It looks beautiful.
Why do all the kids look so upset? They're all crying in all of the pictures.
Editor's note: the breathing mask is used for artistic purposes.
Editor's note: the breathing mask is used for artistic purposes.
I think these people looked terrified of having their pics taken. Some even look like they are tearing up.
They could have left if they werw terrified. And the genetic condition they have that effects the colour of their eyes also effects how the eyes look apparently. Their faces might just be this way always.
Load More Replies...Might have wanted to include more information about those with one browneye, one blue and those with medical apparatus related to breathing. The people are stunning.
Having different colored eyes is a condition called heterochromia. Many (but not all!) people with Waardeburg syndrome have heterochromia. Also having a white lock of hair on the front side is very common to go with this condition
Load More Replies...No people, it's not Photoshop. Just look up this Waardenburg syndrome images for yourself. You will see.
Poor people. Why? Because they are apparently impacted by Waardenburg syndrom type II that causes heterochromia (you can see that on the photos) in 90% of cases associated with mild to severe loss of hearing.
hearing loss isn't too bad, once you have it you get used to it, and there are devices to help hard of hearing people hear, and though having hearing loss is a challenge that at least me personally wished others were more aware of, there's no need for pity, we still have a good life :)
Load More Replies...I love how the leaves in the photos contrast with the people's eyes. Stunning.
Wow, so beautiful. The bright-blue eye(s) really complements their complexion. So exotic!
I recognized the syndrome right away. I wonder how it seeped into thier ancestry? Very pretty side affect though.
It is a genetic disorder called Waardenburg-Syndrom. That's the result when there is no "fresh blood"
Um, are you sure they didnt have some blue eyed visitor a loooong time ago and its a throw back??? LOL
Isn't the fact that humans having blue eyes is also an abnormality anyway! As we're the only apes to have blue eyes. Plus everyone with blue eyes can be traced back to one person?
I am interested in their eye health and their ability to see well as this is the most important feature of the eye....... Obviously, but what brilliant blue ! Having recently encountered similar in my own family I know that heterochromatic eyes are not always without issue. so more information would be good ! Not sure why you would use tacky props when these people are beautifully fascinating in them selves.
This is wonderful. I think that people with darker skin and blue eyes are EXTREMELY beautiful. this is so cool
What's cool about a genetic condition that also makes you experience hearing loss?
Load More Replies...I bet this is actually true, but these pictures were definitely photo shopped to an extent. Those eyes are too blue to be true. Y'all are gonna down vote, but i'm just stating my opinion. :)
No, they are not. Google the syndrome and you will see Sub-Saharan Africans with the same, exact color eyes...it is a color indictive of the disorder and is very real, no Photoshop necessary.
Load More Replies...There's an implied anglocentrism to the fascination with blue eyes that I find kind of awkward.
There are a lot of other symptoms in Waardenburg Syndrome, eye colour is the least of their troubles. It's weird how we fixate on that and how 'beautiful' it is but ignore the fact that most of those with the syndrome suffer from other symptoms. Blue eyes are no more beautiful than any other colour. Maybe rarer in some places, where I live it is the dominant colour so we don't care so much about it..
I think these people looked terrified of having their pics taken. Some even look like they are tearing up.
They could have left if they werw terrified. And the genetic condition they have that effects the colour of their eyes also effects how the eyes look apparently. Their faces might just be this way always.
Load More Replies...Might have wanted to include more information about those with one browneye, one blue and those with medical apparatus related to breathing. The people are stunning.
Having different colored eyes is a condition called heterochromia. Many (but not all!) people with Waardeburg syndrome have heterochromia. Also having a white lock of hair on the front side is very common to go with this condition
Load More Replies...No people, it's not Photoshop. Just look up this Waardenburg syndrome images for yourself. You will see.
Poor people. Why? Because they are apparently impacted by Waardenburg syndrom type II that causes heterochromia (you can see that on the photos) in 90% of cases associated with mild to severe loss of hearing.
hearing loss isn't too bad, once you have it you get used to it, and there are devices to help hard of hearing people hear, and though having hearing loss is a challenge that at least me personally wished others were more aware of, there's no need for pity, we still have a good life :)
Load More Replies...I love how the leaves in the photos contrast with the people's eyes. Stunning.
Wow, so beautiful. The bright-blue eye(s) really complements their complexion. So exotic!
I recognized the syndrome right away. I wonder how it seeped into thier ancestry? Very pretty side affect though.
It is a genetic disorder called Waardenburg-Syndrom. That's the result when there is no "fresh blood"
Um, are you sure they didnt have some blue eyed visitor a loooong time ago and its a throw back??? LOL
Isn't the fact that humans having blue eyes is also an abnormality anyway! As we're the only apes to have blue eyes. Plus everyone with blue eyes can be traced back to one person?
I am interested in their eye health and their ability to see well as this is the most important feature of the eye....... Obviously, but what brilliant blue ! Having recently encountered similar in my own family I know that heterochromatic eyes are not always without issue. so more information would be good ! Not sure why you would use tacky props when these people are beautifully fascinating in them selves.
This is wonderful. I think that people with darker skin and blue eyes are EXTREMELY beautiful. this is so cool
What's cool about a genetic condition that also makes you experience hearing loss?
Load More Replies...I bet this is actually true, but these pictures were definitely photo shopped to an extent. Those eyes are too blue to be true. Y'all are gonna down vote, but i'm just stating my opinion. :)
No, they are not. Google the syndrome and you will see Sub-Saharan Africans with the same, exact color eyes...it is a color indictive of the disorder and is very real, no Photoshop necessary.
Load More Replies...There's an implied anglocentrism to the fascination with blue eyes that I find kind of awkward.
There are a lot of other symptoms in Waardenburg Syndrome, eye colour is the least of their troubles. It's weird how we fixate on that and how 'beautiful' it is but ignore the fact that most of those with the syndrome suffer from other symptoms. Blue eyes are no more beautiful than any other colour. Maybe rarer in some places, where I live it is the dominant colour so we don't care so much about it..