Frankincense, myrrh, burqua, henna, camels, desert, hummus, tabbouleh, Scheherazade....all bring to mind the mystery and charm of the Middle East.

I lived in the United Arab Emirates for over 30 years and traveled extensively through out the Middle East Region.  I still find the culture fascinating! The people are friendly, generous and nowhere in the world have I experienced the hospitality which I have experienced here. And nowhere else have I ever felt as "safe".

Media coverage of the Middle East has over the years "terrorized" the world's view of a region that has much to offer the world. Yes, every region of the world has issues, concerns, and problems and the Middle East has their share and are no exception.

Though I hold an American Passport, the Middle East will always be the home of my heart. My husband and I came to the United Arab Emirates, when the country was just 11 years old.  It was a young country, struggling to find it's place on the world stage.  Today it is a wonderful mix of modern and traditional culture and the people of the U.A.E. have succeeded in embracing the ways of the world, while retaining the integral makeup of their traditions and culture. They have every right to be proud of their nation and their achievements.

The women of the Middle East face the world in their traditional dress.  Beneath their exterior covering, they are strong in their convictions and beliefs. Their voices will be heard.

Photographs in the collection:

Fisherman 578

Baby Camel 038

Henna 3251

Selling Frankincense 6838

Umm Khalid 438

Woman in the Gold Burqua 6821

Woman in the Black Burqua 0764

Women with Sequins 0652

Desert Dunes at Sunset 0916

Old Arab Door 6447

Falukas Under Sail 9074

Welcome Welcome 0760

Camels are made to survive!  What other animal can go a week with out water??!!?!???!

They are the ships of the desert.  And unlike other animals, each face is unique.  Some are proud, some are mean, some are beautiful, some are friendly, some are ugly... 

They are the most distinctive animal I have ever met. They are everywhere in the U.A.E.  I probably have thousands of photos of camels....and still I want more. They are ungainly, look awkward, have lumps in unusual places, have been known to be down right mean and buck me off...but still I love them.

They have the coolest feet in the world, know how to find the best and easiest way to climb a sand dune, are never lost, and always know how to find their way home.

The females are the most valued.  Female calves are never slaughtered. They are valued for their milk, rather than their meat and have a much more pleasant disposition.  The males are a burden.  They are feisty, ornery, uncooperative, non-reproductive, and a waste of food and water. The male calves are usually slaughtered for food.  Except for the stud male.  And he...because he is so unruly....is owned by a female member of the Bedouin tribe.  It takes a stronger woman to handle a strong male!

I've been lucky to see the birth of a baby camel.  Amazing!!!!  A truly beautiful and spectacular sight.  Stressful too!  Mother camel needs that baby to stand up and start nursing and she paws and stamps on the baby to make it get up!  It's called "tough love".

Photographs in the collection:

On the Move 4816

Soft Kisses 4831

Up with the Birds 4846

Trotting 4931

Staying the Course 4928

Herding Camels 107

White Baby Camel 019

Just Born 036

Speaking Out 055

Humps 115

Patiently Waiting 138

Time Out 180

Stubborn 252

Three Beauties 164

Traveling On 206

The Himba of Namibia are one of the last tribes in the country to retain their traditional way of life. They are primarily located in Kaokoland which is mountainous, very dry, and sparely vegetated, in the northern part of Namibia. They are herdsmen who breed mostly goats and some cattle and live a semi-nomadic life, moving between Namibia and Angola. They speak Otji-Herero which is the same language as the Herero people.

The women of the Himba tribe are very distinctive looking, with their red skin and hair.  Red Ocher or iron oxide is ground into a fine powder, mixed with oil and rubbed on the skin like lotion, removing all hair and skin imperfections, while also protecting their skin from the sun. Red Ocher is also mixed with mud and applied to the hair. Chinese hair extensions are attached to their own hair and then covered with the Ocher mixture. They remain in place for 1-3 months, depending on hair growth.  They then crush the mud, pull out the extensions, and reapply.

Himba women do not bathe with soap and water but cleanse themselves by smoking their bodies.  A hide is placed over a wooden twig teepee, which is placed over some burning coals. They cover themselves with a blanket and stand over the teepee, letting the smoke cleanse their bodies. Smoking eliminates any lice, fleas, or odor. They continually apply the red ocher mixture and grind fragrant woods, which they mix with oil, and apply as scent.

The Himba women are adorned with jewelry which they make from leather, shells, iron, and copper. They are topless and wear mini-skirts made of goat skins, decorated with shells and metal pieces. Thread for sewing the skins is made from the strands of the maize flour sacks, which is one of the staples of the Himba diet.

Most Himba children do not attend school.  The boys will remain with their mothers until they are approximately 10 years of age and then will join their fathers to manage the herds.  Himba girls will stay with their parents, until the onset of puberty, after which time she will marry.

Photographs in the collection:

So Serious 080

Ready for Marriage 196

Kisses 204

Little Big Man 193

Sewing 209

Ankle Bracelets 205

Deep in Thought 214

Himba Jewelry 219

Young Girl 263

I Spy 347

Welcome to my World 461

Daddy's Boy 089

Tribal Elder 094

Beading Necklaces 015

The Herero people of Namibia speak the same language, as the Himba.  They actually were at one time Himba.  When the Christian Missionaries arrived in Namibia, they were offended by the semi-nakedness of the Himba people. Some of the Himba complied with the Missionaries request to clothe themselves.  They fashioned themselves after the Missionaries, donning Victorian dress, which they still wear to this day. They called themselves Herero. 

The Herero women wear long flowing petticoats and gowns and all wear their distinctive large brimmed hats, when they are outside the home. The shape of the hat is held in place by a piece of light weight wood which is sewn into the hat. The hats provide much needed shade, in a barren environment.

The Herero have experienced a history of unrest. They staged a massive uprising against the German colonists at Waterberg, where many were killed.  Many fled into the Kalahari and some crossed into what is now called Botswana.  Today they make up about 8% of the population of Namibia.

Traditionally, the Herero were pastoralists and farmed cattle. Today many use their cattle handling skills on commercial farms.

Photographs included in the collection:

All Dressed Up 430

Meeting Friends 433

Keeping Warm 1756

The Hat Maker 1860

Matriarch of the Family 1776

Enjoying the Morning Sun 1783

Traditional Herero Dress 452

They say the Kalahari Bushmen are descendants of the first people to walk the earth.  They speak a very unique language consisting of a series of "clicking" sounds. Their lives have been studied and filmed, romanticized, and misrepresented in many ways.

If the world as we know it, comes to an end and we must have the skills to survive off the land, in a harsh, barren, environment, I want to live with the Bushmen.  They have the knowledge to make fire within minutes without a match, bows, poison arrows, find water where there is obviously none, track animals for miles, find medicinal plants for many diseases, build a home from materials available around them, clothe themselves from animal skins, forage the land for food, all while seeming to live in a peaceful, harmonious, group.  The Bushmen are small in stature but carry themselves with dignity and pride.  And they have a wonderful sense of humor!

Today the Bushmen struggle to retain their lands and their traditional lifestyle. They have been marginalized by the government's laws and regulations which have no respect for their culture and way of life.  Sadly, alcohol is also a contributing problem within the community.

The women of the community create beautiful jewelry and bags from ostrich shell and seeds.

Photos in the Collection:

An Inspiration 2615

Turtle Purse 2607

Beautiful Girl 2631

Mother and Baby 2511

Boy in the Forest 2605

A Mile in His Shoes 2704

Loin Cloth 2475

Never Lost 2413

Smiling Girl 2394

Making Fire 2553

Survival Gear 2417

Smoking 2457

Bow and Bag 2416

There is nothing more exhilarating than coming face to face with a rhino or lion knowing full well that he is definitely the one in charge!  You are in his territory...not the other way around.  He has the freedom and speed to move and go where he likes.  He is a wild animal with generations of survival skills ingrained in his being.  The will to live is strong, the instinct to protect himself is all encompassing.  He kills to eat, so he can live.

The laws of nature apply in the bush.  You must never forget!

Rhino Hiding 013

Sunrise in the African Bush 3765

Hungry Baby 3218

Crock 3959

Water Buffalo  4120

African Sunset 3715

On Alert 4218

Prowling 4243

Baby Leopard 4289

Resting Hippo 4417

Lunch 4433

Eye of the Buffalo 1988

Taking Flight 1930

Elephants are the most amazing creatures. There was a time when the elephant was king. They roamed the continent of Africa at will. They say the development of Africa is the story of the decimation of the elephant. The quest for ivory is insatiable and poaching continues even today, further decimating the numbers in the herds, in spite of attempts to control it.

It is known that the herd's collective memory is passed down from generation to generation and this is how the children learn from their parents. They can communicate with each other in close proximity by touch, gesture, loud rumblings, and squeals.  Over long distances, they use low frequency sounds, which are well below the human range of hearing.

The trunk is very sensitive and elephants have a keen sense of smell. By sense of smell they can detect other members of the herd and any dangers that they may not be able to see.  The trunk also helps them to forage and harvest the 200 to 300 Kg. of food they require on a daily basis. 

The gestation period of a female elephant is twenty-two months.  Mother elephant is fiercely protective of her offspring and will do almost anything to protect it.  The young calf will grow up in a very loving environment and will be cared for and protected by all members of the herd.

The elephant is greatly respected by the tribal people of Africa, not only for it's size and dignity but also for it's potential danger to humans. 

Photographs included in the collection:

Dusty Dawn 3759

Heads Up 406

Up Close and Personal 4088

Mama's Baby 004

Face Off 033

It's a Whole New World 005

Ghostly 027

Coming Out of the Mist 3762

Little One 3907

River Crossing 4014

Best Friends 3881

Elephant Hug 2285

Family 4188

Nose to Nose 2294

I have a love affair with black and white photography.  The photos are just so expressive. It's been said that with color photography, you see the clothes but in black and white, you see the person and can look into their soul.  

These are a few of my favorites.

Photographs in this collection:

All Dressed Up 0640B

Bushman Medicine Man 2865B

Rhino 1705B

Prancing Hippo 4190B

Road Marker, Africa 2534B

The Chief's Wife 438B

Purros Student - 1 414B

Purros Student - 2 404B