Stranded on the roof of the world national geographic. Pamir book week 1 pamir forgotten on the roof the world this is the story of a book that took its time to come alive. When photographer matthieu paley hiked up into the pamir plateau of afghanistan in the winter of 2008, the place had not been visited by. He likes to focus his camera on regions that are misrepresented or misunderstood. French photographer matthieu paley s interest in the pamir mountains of afghanistan, home of a nomadic kyrgyz and known as bame dunia, the roof of the world, began back in 2000. Matthieu took the time to share with us some info regarding his last great project, the book pamir, forgotten on the roof of the world, where he collected rarely photos of a disappearing worldtestimony to the unique life, rough and fascinating, of a people attached to their land, whose survival on the roof of the world defies all odds. In the distance, a highaltitude trail leads into afghanistans pamir mountains. Ive worked there for many years and still do today. More recently, he has been working on stories relating to the environment.
When awardwinning national geographic photographer matthieu paley came across a caravan of kyrgyz traders in northern pakistan in 1999, it was the start of more than a decadelong project that would take him to one of the worlds most inhospitable climates inhabited by human beings and culminate in his recentlypublished book, pamir. The images above are a small sample of paleys years of work on the project. Pamir serai collected links to photography works, to videos and to social media for comforting you with a trip or a vacations project in chapursan valley. Matthieu paley portugal afghanistan from time to time, fujifilm may enter into service or licensing arrangements with any given xphotographer, pursuant to which the xphotographer provides specific services or images to fujifilm in return for appropriate compensation. When photographer matthieu paley hiked up into the pamir plateau of. Ice rider, siberia, 2005 national geographic fine art.
Pamir forgotten people on the roof of the world by mareile and matthieu paley. Matthieu has published several books of his work on the pamir mountains, mongolia, siberia and on the evolution of diet. Matthieu also uses video and writing to open peoples eyes on our common humanity. Mathieu and marielle paley have trekked inhospitable parts of asia and are. Amazing phots, lyrical text and a book that haunts the imagination. Matthieu paley is an intrepid explorer and an award winning photographer. His last and longest book project, pamir, forgotten on the roof of the world pamir, oublies sur le toit du monde, was started unexpectedly in 1999, on a high mountain pass on the border between pakistan and afghanistan. This is the story of a book that took its time to come alive.
Abdul aziz, the campement chief, sat next to his home under the stars, later offering me a golden pen. Matthieus passion for the human nature has taken him all over the world. Following a 3 days snow storm, a bicolor sky welcomes the yak herd as it returns to camp in the pamir mountains. His tent felt like an extension of the hills in the distance. This multimedia documentary forgotten on the roof of the world tells the story of a littleknown tribe of kirghiz nomads in one of earths most.
Website from national geographic photographer matthieu paley, based in turkey, updating you on his whereabouts, new. Paley s coverage of these nomadic people ultimately culminated in an award winning book, pamir. This video is the result of a multimedia workshop lead and organized by matthieu and mareile paley and in the pamir mountains of tajikistan. He is a contributor to national geographic and a member of the photo society. Afghanistan stranded on the roof of the world kyrgyz.
He regularly leads workshops for national geographic expeditions and is a lecturer for national geographic live. Matthieu s passion for the human nature has taken him all over the world. Pamir at over 14,000 feet, some 1150 afghan kyrgyz live here, suspended in time, trapped by history. Born in france, matthieu paley has traveled all over the world for national geographic magazine. Matthieu paley is a freelance photographer based in turkey, and a regular contributor to national geographic.
A short list of good books about tajikistan caravanistan. Anthropologist ted callahan added his touch with great text boxes spaced throughout the book. Winter expedition to the wakhan corridor, afghanistan, into the pamir mountains, to document the community of afghan kyrgyz. He says he has been working alongside ismailis in northern pakistan, afghanistan and tajikistan for several years now, adding that these regions are his favorite places in the world. He began documenting the journey of afghanistans kyrgyz yak caravans in 2000 and was one of the first westerners to reach the afghan pamir mountains in winter 2008. Those kyrgyz ethnic group run away from kyrgyz republic in 1917 and they live in very poor and harsh climate. He is most interested in documenting communities that are misrepresented and misunderstood with a particular focus on those that are isolated within geopolitically sensitive areas. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The pamir mountains are one of the bleakest and least known corners of the world. Forgotten on the roof of the world afghanistans pamir. Matthieu paleys photographs of the kyrgyz of the wakhan in. Geographical, they have held many exhibitions and this book of their trip in pamirs is wonderful. Kyrgyz kids are reading book in wakhan, pamir mountains. Matthieu paley is a regular contributor to national geographic.
He likes to focus his camera on regions that are underreported or misrepresented. Simerg is deeply indebted to him for sending us a collection of his photos for publication on this web. A celebration of food and life in the pamir mountains of afghanistan and tadjikistan. Apart from photography, matthieu uses video and writing to better open peoples eyes on our common humanity. Over the last 17 years, matthieu s passion for the human nature has taken him all over the world. After a 3year stint in new york, where he studied photography, matthieu moved to northern pakistan in 1999. Ice rider crosses worlds oldest lake my modern met. Climbing to the roof of the world with matthieu paley. Published in october, the book documents the lives of about 1,250 afghan kyrgyz people living in small settlements on the pamir plateau in afghanistans wakhan corridor.
His interest and the curiosity for humankind has taken him to the most remote areas in the world. This video is the result of a multimedia workshop lead and organized by matthieu and mareile paley. Matthieu took the time to share with us some info regarding his last great project, the book pamir, forgotten on the roof of the world, where he. He is best known for his work documenting communities in the western region of the greater himalaya. Pamir serai selection of links to images of chapursan. Ismaili girl in wakhan, tajikistan by matthieu paley. A selection of images from photographer matthieu paleys most recent book on the pamir. For him, there was never a master plan, just a curiosity and. Matthieu s images have been exhibited in private galleries all over the world. French photographer matthieu paleys interest in the pamir mountains of afghanistan, home of a nomadic kyrgyz and known as bame dunia, the roof of the world, began back in 2000. Paleymotion was hired to document the roof of the world festival in tajikistan.
The family has only a few yaks left and a horse that young juma is especially fond of. Mathieu and marielle paley have trekked inhospitable parts of asia and are world class photographers and storytellers. Forgotten on the roof of the world afghanistans pamir mountains all images matthieu paley. After 20 years of living in asia, he has recently moved to portugal. In a thick, illustrated book, matthieu and mareile paley tell the story of their discovery of the pamir, an isolated region of northeastern afghanistan, made virtually inaccessible due by rugged geography and diplomatic tensions among china, pakistan and tajikistan. A birds eye view of lake baikal, the worlds largest fresh water lake, writes paley on his website during winter the ice is up to 1.
Matthieu paley national geographic fine art galleries. Matthieu paley is a french photographer and regular contributor for national geographic. According to matthieu, creating his book forgotten on the roof of the world, which documents the people and lifestyle of pamir all happened very organically. Focusing his efforts on regions that are misrepresented, he is especially committed to issues relating. Matthieu paley photography is a frenchborn photographer but has left france a long time ago.
As an aside, the most famous photography book about pamir, by matthieu paley, is actually about kyrgyz shepherds in the afghan wakhan. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Forgotten on the roof of the world afghanistans pamir mountains all images. Matthieu paley national geographic exodus aveiro fest. I have spent a lot of my career photographing the regions of hindu kush, karakoram and pamir, so west of the himalayas, the north of pakistan, the northeast of afghanistan and tajikistan. He is currently working on his next book, on the kyrgyz of the afghan pamir, forgotten on the roof of the world, a project he started 10 years ago. He has published several books of his work on afghanistans pamir mountains, mongolia, siberia and on the evolution of diet and his fineart images have been shown in solo exhibitions worldwide. There are a lot of sceneries, traditions, mountain local life to observe in upper hunza.
French photographer matthieu paley is the person behind this almost unbelievable photo called ice rider. Pamir forgotten on the roof of the world matthieu paley. After ten days without meeting anyone, we came across this nomadic tent on the edge of the lut desert. He is most interested in documenting communities that are misrepresented and misunderstood with a particular focus on those that are isolated within. Following a 3 days snow storm, a bicolor sky welcomes the yak herd as it returns to camp in the matthieu paley on instagram. Set in khorogs restored central park, the roof of the world festival included two ensembles of traditional music from across the river in. The roof of the world festival 2009 khorog, tajikistan.
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