Paul Sansome - The Last Generation - DPOTY 2019 Shortlist

Paul Sansome - 'The Last Generation' - DPOTY 2019 Shortlist

RPS Documentary Photographer of the Year 2019

I was nervous before my first meeting with the ring-necked women of the Kayan women in Kayah State, Myanmar. I did not want to encounter a “human zoo” that characterises their exploitative treatment in Thailand. However, without realising it, I had an ace up my sleeve in the shape of my outstanding local guide who turned out to be related to these women. Visiting his great aunt, 72 year old Mu Min, was particularly rewarding as she had rarely been subjected to photographers and my visit gathered quite a crowd of family and neighbours! I hope that these few photographs reveal something of these women’s strong, feisty character. Incredibly, I was so concentrating on depicting their personalities that the rings became almost completely secondary. Also, my choice of using black and white was because I found the rings more distracting in colour. These three women are all widows but lived within a close community and extended family. It was a privilege to meet them.

Paul Sansome

Paul Sansome

Paul Sansome

Paul Sansome

Paul Sansome

Paul Sansome

A photography visit to the Kayan villages in Myanmar is touched by several ethical issues. Above all, there is the concern not to treat the neck-ring wearing women as freaks. The wearing of rings is a cultural heritage and as such should be documented. The women start wearing the rings as children and as they grow more rings are added. A full set of rings might weigh 10kg. Based on my conversations with the women I do not believe it should be considered as a coercive practice, although the initial wearing of the rings starts with girls as young as 6 years old. The rings are worn to enhance beauty. However, the practice leads to health issues and, to my understanding, is not part of the new generation’s lifestyle. Girls will be seen wearing rings at roadside tourist shops. However, these are a clip-on version that are not worn all day with the consequent collar bone deformation.

The Kayan people have been subjected to oppression within their region which has led to many of the tribespeople fleeing into neighbouring Thailand. Here, there is a much more serious issue of the women being treated as a human freak show for mass tourism, along with being denied rights of freedom to travel and citizenship. However, this was not what I saw in Myanmar.

There is no doubt that my positive experience was the direct result of having a male guide who was from this community, and able to introduce me to several of his aunts and great aunts. Not only that, but he could engage the women in friendly conversation which led to the relaxed nature of the portraiture. The images in this submission show various emotions experienced by one of the ladies. However, I spent much more time in the area meeting several of the women and documenting the community in a larger photography project.

My overriding response to the visit was that it was an uplifting experience to have met some very engaging individuals. Most surprising of all with my photography was that the neck-rings (and further rings worn on wrists and knees) became secondary. The women were great expressive characters, and I really want this to be the impression that I give to the viewer. I was concentrating on the glint in the eye, the beaming smile or, perhaps, the everyday signs of tiredness such that the rings were not the real message in the images. On first meeting any of the women, I did not reach for the camera. It was important to me to have some conversation with them rather than expose them to a model shoot experience. Then as they enjoyed their conversation with my guide I could focus on capturing their emotions.

Initially my photography was mainly based on landscapes and, when fortunate, some wildlife. However, in recent years my passion has really been for travel, and within that genre, depicting the lives and personalities of people. I travel widely and this visit was similar to many that I have made. My preference is to travel to less-visited rural communities. I enjoy the encounters with people who are equally excited to be meeting someone from a different background too.

It might be a surprise to many but the camera is a great tool for engaging with people with whom we have no common language. The image taking and sharing the results on the back of the camera has lead to many priceless encounters. Indeed, I have taken hundreds of images just for this purpose.

Having been a professional photographer since 2003, and arranging and leading small group photography tours for 15 years, it is very important for me to work with operators who understand that I do not want what they are used to providing for tourists; I am looking for flexible travel plans, generally away from normal tourist destinations.