I came across these two young Ovambo (or Herero woman) in Swakopmund in Namibia. Meeting them and asking their permission to take a photo felt incredibly awkward to my western mind. More so with my husband standing behind me. Showcasing our complete nonsense programming around nature, nudity and our undressed state. These girls were so beautiful and pure! Owning their beauty and really had no issue to stand bare before dressed Westerners. In a way, I wish I was as empowered as them to own my body with all it’s kinks and bumps!
I try to be respectful to them and keep the algorithms happy by blurring the necessary, but I think these images blown up with a beautiful frame will be such an incredible statement piece in someone’s home!
There was nothing but beauty to see in their faces. I imagined for a minute what the weight of their muddied hair might be, way to complicated and dusty a hairdo for me. But I still find their beauty fascinating and I would love to go back to do a proper shoot with 3 or 4 of these girls. My creative brain has plenty of ideas to showcase their beauty in yet other and unique ways!
I absolutely love how they own their bodies and femininity it such a unique way. Namibia’s landscape is a hard landscape to survive in, yet they bring a beautiful feminine softness with their nurturing energy.
