Angaur, Palau Environmental Portraits

Here are some other top shots from my recent winter spent photographing in Angaur, Palau.  About ten of these were planned, themed shots.

If you'd like to help contribute to the costs of printing all of these photos to be sent back to the families in a couple weeks, please see my Indiegogo campaign here: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/angaur-palau-family-portraits/x/799792

[Kira]

[The dead taro patch after Super Typhoon Bopha's waves flooded it with saltwater.  It will take ~5 years to produce taro again.]

[Tomei, fruit bat hunter]

[Valdez, betel nut tree climber]

[Terrence, kid]

[Thomas, cool guy]

[Church Deacon]

[Kastol, net fisherman]

[Seb, boat fisherman]

[Shayna and Shanna, twins]

[Hinkley, betel nut tree climber]

[Melanie, Peace Corps Volunteer]

[Valdez, betel nut tree climber]

My Winter Project

I spent the winter living on the island of Angaur, Palau, which is where I served in the Peace Corps eight years ago.  For 2.5 months I photographed all 31 families on the island.  I also did ten environmental portraits.  I did the family photos because nobody on the island has any family portraits due to the lack of a photographer, film, and computers.  Also because I'm a nice guy.  I did the environmental portraits because there are really interesting people there who need to be documented.  Also that was for my portfolio.

I paid for the trip out of my own pocket, but I'm hoping to get a little help defraying the costs associated with making hundreds of prints to mail back.  I plan to print at least one enlargement per family (8x10 minimum, but preferably 11x14) for their house and many smaller prints for mailing to relatives. I also hope to laminate the enlargements to protect them against insects and humidity.  Hopefully these prints will still be on the walls ten years from now!

If you'd like to contribute both the families and I will be appreciative.  Go here to see my Indiegogo campaign for the project: http://igg.me/at/palau/x/799792

Here is a small sample of some of the family portraits.  I'll post the environmental portraits next.

Kitang's First-born Ceremony

I was asked to photograph this ceremony:

(looks like blogger put them all out of order, but I don't have enough internet time/speed to sort them out)