Photography At Its Best

African Twilight, at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, had tremendous photographs taken by Carol Beckwith, (Australian) and Angela Fisher, (American). The two photojournalists traveled to Africa and took pictures of Africa's vanishing life styles. The color and action in the photos were sharp and clear and I took photos of some of my favorites.

The elephant mask represents wealth and power of the king, a red dancer, Kulukulu mask is considered a powerful mask, a young man with courtship paintings on his body that represents guinea fowl, tall men walking entertain, and a young boy who has gone through an initiation ritual were the ones I liked. My favorite was the sunset picture.

Jewelry, feathers, beads, and mud were used to decorate their body by different tribes. A short video called Painted Bodies gave me more of an understanding of why bodies are painted. Reminded me of how men now tattoo their whole bodies. One comment made was that usually it is the woman who decorates herself in the modern world to attract men but in some of the African tribes it is the man who decorates his body to attract the woman. Don't some birds do the same thing with the male  having more colorful feathers?

Two of the largest earrings I had ever seen amazed me. They were not only large but looked heavy.

The two photographers have returned to Africa many times to take pictures and to document the art of body painting. Between them they have published fourteen books and have had photos in National Geographic. I found some videos of their work on the Internet and all I can say is that their work is a fascinating display of wonderful photography!

"White and red ochre body paint

 is used to decorate the face and body

 for many reasons. Oil, clay, chalk

 and plant dyes are used to form

 decorative patterns significant to

 a persons place in life.

 In some tribes, body paint

 is used more like clothes."

Beth Asaff