Ovahimba Stare Down

Ovahimba Stare Down
Getting down to photographic business with the Ovahimba, an indigenous tribe in Namibia. 

Getting down to photographic business with the Ovahimba, an indigenous tribe in Namibia. 

I really like these captivating looks from the Ovahimba children. I can't imagine getting that from a child elsewhere. Most kids are too happy and always smiling or giggling. Occasionally perhaps slightly stunned and unsure, but generally, not looking into the camera with the fire of a 1,000 suns.

I've heard that some tribes in other parts of Africa are all about the money-for-photographs trade. While I can understand their desire to profit and elevate themselves, I'm never a big fan of paying for photos. With the Ovahimba, it's a little less direct. You bring them some rice, sauce packets or other commodity foods when you go to meet them, and then you can take photos pretty freely. I can respect that quite a bit more.