Terri Gold: Niger - LENSCRATCH

Terri Gold: Niger by Aline SmithsonMay 22, 2015

©Terri Gold

I’ve enjoyed Terri Gold’s unique global imagery over the years and was so happy to have a chance to meet her and see her work in person at Photolucida. Terri brings her artistic interpretation to little-seen cultures around the world. Today, I am featuring the work she captured in Niger, a part of the world rarely visited, much less photographed.

Terri is a globetrotting photographer known for her poetic infrared imagery of indigenous people from the remote corners of the world; places where the traditions of different millennia co-exist side by side. Her ongoing project “Still Points in a Turning World” explores our universal, cross-cultural truths: the importance of family, community, ritual and the amazing diversity of its expression. Her work has garnered many awards, is shown in galleries internationally and published extensively. Recent exhibitions of her work have taken place in Spain, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, Colorado and at The Annenberg Space for Photography in conjunction with the “No Strangers” exhibition. Terri has received many awards from the International Photography Awards, Prix de la Photographie, Paris (Px3), Humanity Photo Awards, and the Black and White Spider Awards.

©Terri Gold

Niger

this trip was so unique
a biblical journey .
1000 nomads
2000 camels, donkeys, long horn cattle, sheep and goats
110 degree heat
4 western women.
sleeping under the stars listening to the lullabies of the herds at night
Stepped back in time.
Most nomads arriving by camel with all their possessions for the week long party
what a life we were privileged to witness…

©Terri Gold

In the Sahel desert of Niger, the nomadic Wodaabe and Tuareg tribes are holding on to their way of living:in tune with the rhythm of nature, treading lightly on Earth, leading their beloved animal herds to precious water sources and staying true to their traditions. When the rains are good, the tribes celebrate with an extraordinary beauty contest called Gerewol where it’s the men on parade…

There has been no tourism in Niger for six years now – there were just four of us. The woman leading the trip, Leslie Clark has had a foundation there, The Nomad Foundation for 15 years. We were the only guests at the festival amid thousands of nomads – being nomads there is no fixed date or location we had to patiently search and were thrilled to finally find their annual gathering. There was nothing done on our behalf; this was the most authentic experience I have ever witnessed. We had 18 armed guards which the government insisted we travel with. All had Kalashnikov’s, and there was a 50 mm machine gun on each truck. One ahead of us and one at the rear. I have never traveled like that before. We were graciously welcomed by the nomads but right after we left Al Qaeda spilled over from Libya, and we would have had to cancel the trip.