A Little Seed
Omo Valley, Ethiopia – 2023

Archival Pigment Print

“Morning comes gently to the Omo Valley. It’s a place of deep roots and fierce beauty, where stories are sung, danced, and painted on skin. Every gesture feels old and alive at once. She was posed by a grove of banana trees, her hands pulling the fronds around her to frame her painted face. A bundle of fruits spilled from beneath her chin like an elaborate necklace. In her stillness was a quiet dignity, her expression serious and her eyes locked on my camera lens while I took her portrait.. The leaves, as plain as they were, became a part of the frame, a border that sheltered and highlighted her presence.

Her eyes, fierce and forward, remind us that even through life’s difficulties, there is room for awe, for play, and for beauty.

The strength and creativity she carries are a reflection of her community, a testament to the grace and resilience that persist across Ethiopia.” – Cristina Mittermeier