The Omo Valley

A documentary journey in Ethiopia

I traveled to Ethiopia’s Omo Valley to photograph the people and places I encountered there. I arrived as a visitor, aware that a photograph can show a moment but never tell everything about a person’s life.


I paid attention to gestures, work, family, and the moments between people. As I spent time with those I met, my photographs became less about unfamiliar surroundings and more about the connections we could share.

Early morning scene in Ethiopia with the pink sky and landscpe
Close up of boy and his crops over his head
Country street scene in Ethiopia
Older man with his devoted dog crouched in front of a herd of cows
Four boys with painted faces holding goats in front of a tree
Portrait of a shepherd relaxing in the morning
Portrait of Suri woman holding a clay pot on her shoulder
Portrait of young Suri girl with painted face
Young woman stands in front of a goat pen in tribal clothing
Tribesman sitting and preparing a ritual bowl in front of a metal hut
Side portrait of Suri woman with painted face and large earring.

About the project

These photographs are part of Shared Humanity: Omo Valley, my independently produced book about the journey. The title reflects something I felt throughout my time in Ethiopia which is that our lives may look different, but there is much we can recognize in one another.