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The Focus
The Focus
and with our judgments. Look closer, because you never know
what’s around the corner. Some things can be very different
from what they seem to be.
Nelson has now published a book that tells the story of
his ambitious project. Containing more than 400 colour
photographs it shows the variety and humanity of those he met.
Researching and shooting the photos took much time and
effort but that is not all, Nelson says: ‘The most important lesson
I learned was that, in order to connect to any kind of people in
any situation, you need to let go of all your arrogance. Showing
them that we are – just like them – human and vulnerable, is a
prerequisite for a project like this. As with all relationships in life,
the key to a profound connection with someone is trust.
‘On a number of locations, when we first arrived somewhere,
the people were reluctant to let us photograph them, so we left
the camera behind for the first days, in order not to intimidate
‘The most important lesson I learned was that, in order to connect to any
kind of people in any situation, you need to let go of all your arrogance.’
Wearing an elaborate head-dress a woman in
Ladakh, Himalayas (below); two men with bows
look out across the forests of Vanuatu (bottom)
A Masai warrior in Kenya, his dress
very similar to what it would have
been more than 100 years ago
