I’ve been fascinated with the cattle-herding camps since seeing Sebastião Salgado’s evocative photographs that he took there. From all appearances, very little has changed. I thought it fitting to go to South Sudan with Charles, a long-time friend and collaborator. As a photographer it’s a dream of a lifetime – the smoke from the cow dung at early sunrise and sunset creates ethereal light that helps to create beautiful imagery.
“The cattle camps are a far cry from my own reality, and the beliefs that I uphold. The upside of collaboration and travel is that you see so many different realities, and learn not to judge them. Charles and I were in a relatively confined space over a two-day period. Our results are markedly different, going back to my belief that beauty is in the eye of the beholder - his cows were decidedly more painterly than mine!!! It’s a mystery to me!”
Photography by Alexa Singer (@alexasingerphotography)
Location Mundari Cattle Camps, South Sudan
For three days we photographed and engaged with the delightful members of this nomadic South Sudanese tribe and their herd of Ankole-Watusi cattle, in as an extraordinary location as one could imagine. The sights of the majestic long-horned cows, the acrid smoke from the burning fires and the striking good looks of the tribe made for some amazing imagery.
“Collaborations like this create an opportunity to expand your mind and scope, and iseeyousee magazine has motivated me to claw back my creative mojo. Alexa is a fantastic photographer and travelling companion. Good humour and energy abound. She’s quick to see a moment and has an easy manner with her subjects which puts them totally at ease. This shows through in the quality of her work, and she has taught me much.”
Photography by Charles Johnstone (@charles_johnstone_photography)
Location Mundari Cattle Camps, South SudanImage
Pairing by Michael Donnelly (@michael_donnelly_productions_)
Editorial Production by Alexa Singer (@alexasingerphotography) & Patricia Romero (@patriciarstyle)