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K V A T E R N I K

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R O K

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Igno ranti quem

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po r tum p etat

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ventus

Seneca

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The wind is never favorable for sailors who do not know where they are headed.

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I walk Through corridors Through chambe rs Through rooms Through close ts Through gre e n me adows whe re cows moo Through the e mpty de stinie s of those unawa re Through dry tributarie s and que nching we ll s Through birds, sk y-soaring Through ox yge nate d air Through hills gliste ning with uranium Through the city which, alas, is L jubljana Through orde rly citie s Through mosque s and Through the mind of a Buddhist monk Through rive rs and se as, Throughout the unive rse .

From my collection of poems, Love for Flowers, Bežigrad High School, 1988

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But what I always carry within me Th at which we live for and that which we are , And that which we all fe ar, That we shall not lose our love .

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om .c na To m y l o v e d o n e s : Dragončica, Dodo, and

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Larsi

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As a metaphor for life, with its ups and inevitable downs, photography has marked my very being, capturing moments of exploration and discovery, of celebration and of struggle. Over the years, as I’ve overcome life’s obstacles and grown wiser with age (hopefully!), so has the amateur photographer learned through countless bad decisions (on lens, exposure, focus, angle, lighting) to reach some level of mastery.

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Like intellect without the requisite study, an exceptional opportunity or a vivid panorama seen by the naked eye is not enough to create a beautiful photograph. It takes a lot of determination and time—hours and hours of waiting, miles and miles of lugging a camera backpack.

And often, even after taking hundreds of shots, it could well be that not a single one will pass muster. But, gradually and with hard work, an improved photographer and exceptional moments will collide more and more often, and great pictures will result.

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And sometimes, even when the conditions are imperfect, one gets a bit of luck and out comes the perfect picture.

That’s life.

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The book you hold in your hands contains a selection of photographs that reflects both my life’s work and my most passionate hobby. I also enjoy good, unpretentious food; more on that on pages 309–317.

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P h o t o g r a p h y i s L i f e

The images and sights in this book span the globe and exemplify moments I have experienced in a lifetime of travel. Increasingly over the last decade, my personal travels have taken me to places where culture is paramount, whether at grand festivals or in small, hidden corners. My favorite images result from such moments.

I am truly grateful to one of the best photographers in Slovenia and my informal mentor, Arne Hodalič— particularly in those early years when we used to organize National Geographic Slovenia photo trips. The first year we went to the Galápagos, then India, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and other distant locales. At the time, work commitments prevented me from focusing on photography and so I tested my photographic skills no more than a couple of times a year. Over the last few years, however, and with the idea for this book in mind, I roamed the planet for those magical places and moments I could freeze in time. I can only express my gratitude to those who traveled with me for their patience every time I made them wait while I sought the perfect shot.

The diverse subjects, places, and events depicted in these photos follow no particular order. The images reflect the gamut of life—good, bad, and everything in between.

They also reflect me, the curious photographer behind the camera. This book is my perspective, and in a very real sense, my life story.

Rok

P. S. My first shots date back to July 1983, when—during a trip to Spain— my father France allowed me, a 12-year-old boy, to shoot a couple of short films using his Super 8 camera. I am deeply indebted to him for awakening the explorer within me and instilling a strong work ethic and a passion for life.

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Saning’o Kimani, Ngorongoro, Tanzania I had always wanted to visit one of the most famous craters in the world—Ngorongoro. Lars and I came on a tailor-made trip arranged by National Geographic in 2013. The diversity of wildlife in the crater was astounding. From lions and rhinos to eland and hornbills, it seemed as if the doors to Noah’s Ark had been thrown open. And most of all, we were enchanted by the stories about the Maasai people, the land’s stewards. We visited one Maasai village where we had planned to meet Chief Ole Dorup. Instead, a group of young warriors appeared in exquisite combat regalia. I asked the guide to translate my question: “Why are lions afraid of the Maasai?”

The translation was not necessary. Saning’o Kimani, the chief’s son, introduced himself in American-accented English: “I’m a biology student in New Jersey,” was his response to my dropped jaw. Since then, we have kept in contact over Skype, and in the meantime Saning’o has graduated from the College of Education and Human Services at Montclair State University. And we are making plans to build an elementary school in his village. It should be finished before he becomes a Maasai chief.

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PLANET ROK 013

Beaded jewelry adorns two young women, members of a small Arbore ethnic group. Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Kayan women, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority, display traditional bronze neck rings. Myanmar

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kn A vendor at a picturesque market near Jinka. Key Afer, Ethiopia

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PLANET ROK 017

An Ethiopian woman sells religious souvenirs in front of the Kidane Mehret Ethiopian church. Jerusalem, Israel

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Citizens mark Communist Youth Day in the Palace of the Students (above) and in a large basketball hall (previous two pages). Pyongyang, North Korea

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PLANET ROK 023

A soldier in uniform. Pyongyang, North Korea

A protest by the Yellow Vest movement in 2019 on the Champs-Élysées (next four pages). Paris, France

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PLANET ROK 027

Fourteen hikiyama, or massive decorated floats, move along the streets of Karatsu during the three-day Karatsu Kunchi festival, held every November in the Saga Prefecture (next four pages). Kyushu Island, Japan

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PLANET ROK 031

A make-up artist holds up a mirror for his subject at the Open Air festival. Amsterdam, Netherlands

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