Hey have you ever wondered if loving fashion is a weakness?
Well, you just need to look at these spectacular photos of photographer Hans Silvester and the people of the Omo Valley to know that adorning and making ourselves beautiful is a part of the human race.
I posted these images in 2008 and still love them all these years later. German photographer Hans Silvester spent five years travelling to the Omo Valley to capture these amazing images and they are celebrated in his book Natural Fashion: Tribal decoration from Africa.
Better than some of the fashion on the runways of Paris, the people of the Omo Valley celebrate the beauty of their natural surroundings by adorning themselves with flowers and seed pods, paint and feathers, grass and branches in a way that would have Jean Paul Gaultier or Karl Lagerfeld running for their sketchpads.
So next time you are stuck for some amazing clothes and have no budget see what nature is offering.. You probably will be surprised!
Hans Silvester’s other book C’etait Ailleurs still remains one of my favourite books on black and white photography in Europe. This is the guy that road a moped from Paris to Istanbul, what a world he captured on the way. Exquisite..
Makes you want to get on the road.
“There is nothing that makes its way more directly to the soul than beauty.” Joseph Addisson
You have been tagged!
Take a look at my blog and you will see all the rules xv
Thanks Vick. caròa x
Carla! This photos are FANTASTIC!! I’d love to have them framed in my hallway! Wowiezowie!
Isa
Ahem.. I meant “These” photos…. H0ok3D oN ph0NikZ werK3d 4 m3! LOl
these photos are absolutely beautiful! “Natural Beauty-completely!”
These are rediculously beautiful. You’re so lucky to have been so many places!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
-Spencer
very intense images.
Love love those adornments…i saw these photos before and was so intrigued. so simple and yet sophisticated.
thanks for posting these!
Woah these are STUNNING!!!
these photos are AMAZINGLY SPLENDID! just fantastic!
PS: yes, the photo in black and white is from NYC. a place i want to go to some day…
I love the vibrancy of life depicted in these photos. Such simple adornments but full of punch!
I’m crazy about headdresses of any kind. These, combined with the tribal make-up…breathtaking.
I received this post in my mail but it did not register on my blog list. I stopped by to check. Anyone else having this problem? Hope you had (or are still having) an inspiring trip.
Catherine
These natural creations are fabulous, and really would look great coming down the runway!
The fantastic photos would be look great hanging on my walls ha ha
xo xo
Just so naturally beautiful Carla!!! (And the same thing has happened to me as Thousland Clapping Hands…your latest one still has not registered with mine either)…Take Care, Dzintra
Fantasic! I found you via Lala and am adding your blog to my favorites right now
My Castle is right. You really do like you photography, don’t you?
I love those images.
Greetings from London.
Amazing pictures.
Love this blog. Glad I ran across it! I’ll stop by again.
Isn’t this amazing? I’ve seen a lot of his photos, but definitely have to buy the book!
I can’t begin to tell you how amazing this is… unbelievable.
xxx
This blog is fabulous! I’m so glad I discovered it.
fantasic photos.!!
i’ve been wrapping up italian joy for everyone!! i’m so excited to share it.
wishing you happy holidays and bonnes fetes!!
thanks for your support as i enter the blog world…much appreciated. btw, i tried to send you an email, but it bounced back to me…x chantal
this reminds me of a recent shoot i saw but i have forgotten the model… the images are beautiful – especially the second one!
These photos are breathtaking. I’ve so enjoyed the posts on your various favourite photographers. It’s a fascinating education for a novice like me. Congratulations also on your book launch in Paris.
Wishing you a happy and joyous holiday, Carla. I hope that you are somewhere beautiful and full of inspiration. All the best,
Catherine
They seem to bounce off the screen they are so dramtic and beautiful.
Happy Christmas Carla. A wave and kiss from Sydney xx
Amazing photos!
Thank you for the glorious books!!! I posted about them on Saturday and I think someone bought one from Amazon. Thank you again, they are beautiful!
Just stopping by to wish you a very Happy New Year!
xo xo
Hi Carla, I just wanted to swing by and say Happy New Year!
xo Isa
The colors in these photos are amazing!! So vivid!
Hi Aunty Carla,
Your photo’s are great!!!
xoxoxoxo
(Lizey)
Hi Aunty Carla
I love the photos!
I like the fountain!
It is awesome!
I lie it frozen it is cool!
Love Charlotte
xoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxxoxoxxoxoxo
These are amazing. I have the Peter Beard collection. These remind me of his work. So haunting and gorgeous.
OMG i love these! i found these pics around a month ago and i cant wait to buy the book. Great blog!
awesome blog : )
Carla, these are just so stunningly beautiful and taken with such depth and clarity! xxCorrina
Carla, I went to the Omo Valley on assignment for Grands Reportages in 2003 (amazing to think it was ten years ago) for a story about the Surma with Remi Benali, my honey as the photographer. It was by far the most challenging of the trips that we had done up until that point and yet the most rewarding. Remi ended up doing five expeditions (some of his work is here: http://www.remibenali.com/culture_and_tribes_mursi/index.php) and we didn’t know about Hans Silvester’s work–he beat us to the punch!
Something to keep in mind: unfortunately, terribly, the life of the tribes in the Omo Valley is very much in danger. Much of their territory has been sold off to foreign investors and there is also a plan for a major dam that will rob them of their water supply. They have no choice but to change the lifestyle that they have known for thousands of years by working for these companies or being put into refugee camps. For more info about this: http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/tribes/omovalley
Hope it is ok that I spoke out but this is dear to my heart!
Absolutely more than ok Heather how wonderful your journey sounds and thank-you for the link to Remi’s work! I was not aware of the plight of these beautiful tribes tragic news if progress takes over
Carla xx
This is absolutely the post I wanted to read before bedtime Carla. I love it!!! Jxx
So happy you enjoyed it Janine
So beautiful, aren’t we women the best. xxpeggybraswellldesign.com
Yes we are Peggy x
Amazing series, wonderfully captured and love the story behind the images.
Have to go down there and look at these adornments in person. Just too gorgeous.