I came across this artist about a year ago: Pieter Hugo. He is a thirty something South African that has been taking pictures since he was ten. I absolutely love his work “The Hyena and Other Men.” It shows a traveling group of Nigerians that have “tamed” African hyena’s as well as some monkeys. It apparently has been a family tradition. They make money by entertaining people with these animals as well as selling natural medicine. I think these photos are unreal and its very hard to stop staring. Apparently when his book came out of this series it sold out by word of mouth within weeks. I think that is pretty amazing.
His other works are amazing as well. A lot of it has to do with death and the genocide in Rwanda as well as portraits of very "different" people. Amazing stuff!
A quote by Hugo: “It sounds extreme, but for me to work at all as a photographer, I have to be conscious always of the problems inherent in what I do. I have to be conscious, if you like, of the impossibility of photography.”
I can relate to what he is trying to say. With my documentary on animal shelters it is very hard to show the emotion of the people and animals like I want to. Thinking of the impossibilities of photography is always on my mind.
Here is his website ENJOY!
