By Tessa Bunney on 25 August 2014
Slash and burn landscape, Phongsaly province, Lao PDR.
Swidden cultivation or ‘hai’ in Lao consists of cutting the natural vegetation, leaving it to dry and then burning it for temporary cropping of the land, the ash acting as a natural fertiliser. To rebuild the soil fertility after growing crops on a shifting cultivation plot, farmers ‘abandon’ that plot and allow vegetation to regrow for a number of years. This is called the ‘fallow period’. In the meantime, they grow crops on other new plots.
Low population densities, low incomes and low…
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By Tessa Bunney on 18 August 2014
In some remote areas of Phongsaly province, Loma women still grow, gin and spin cotton into thread and set up their looms outdoors for weaving cotton.
Lao PDR is home to around 6.5 million people and is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in SE Asia with 49 officially recognised ethnic groups, although there are many more self-identified and sub groups.
Phongsaly province is inhabited by more than 25 different ethnic groups, each distinguished by their own culture, traditions, clothing and languages. Details down…
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By Tessa Bunney on 11 August 2014
For my first Picture of the Week from my new and ongoing series The Corridor of Opportunity – a banana plantation in Luang Namtha Province – taken in 2011, the year before we moved to Laos. One of my first images, it was one of those defining moments in the project which gave the work some direction and showed me something about Laos I knew nothing about. There have been quite a few of those moments over the last couple of years.
Banana plantation,…
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By Tessa Bunney on 6 August 2014
I am busy working on a brand new website which will include new galleries of my recent work from Laos. But in the meantime, every Monday I will be posting a Picture of the Week from my new and ongoing project The Corridor of Opportunity. More about that next week.
Meanwhile to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week here’s portrait of a young Hmong woman and her baby in a village near Luang Prabang.
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By Tessa Bunney on 11 July 2014
Marta Layaog (77), fish saleswoman, Pooc, Bantayan Island, The Philippines © Tessa Bunney/Oxfam
Every morning at 7 am fisherwomen meet fishermen as they return from the sea with their catch. Women sort the fish by size and type, then weigh and distribute the fish between saleswomen to be sold on to local customers. On November 6 2013 Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines and was one of the most…
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By Tessa Bunney on 11 June 2014
Thank you to MAG Lao PDR for the lovely mention in their latest newsletter about the work Rebecca Harley and I did about the women’s UXO clearance team in Xieng Khouang province.
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By Tessa Bunney on 1 April 2014
I’m delighted to announce that I have two images shortlisted for the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Award, a gallery of the 400 shortlisted images can be viewed on their website.
Here are my two shortlisted images:
The award ceremony and exhibition opening will take place on the 23rd April at The Mall Galleries, London and then the exhibition will open to the public from the 24th-27th April.
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By Tessa Bunney on 27 March 2014
Two prints from my recent ‘Open Water Swimming’ exhibition at Photofusion are now available as limited edition prints for the bargain price of £50.00! You can buy them directly from Photofusion’s website – please click here for more information.
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By Tessa Bunney on 22 February 2014
Whilst I am not one generally to head off to disaster zones, I still can’t quite believe that tomorrow I’ll be heading off to the Philippines on my first assignment for Oxfam GB – working on two amazing projects, be back in a couple of weeks or so…
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By Tessa Bunney on 18 January 2014
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