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WorkPhotography

Little Tibet by Zico O'Neill reveals a kind and gentle culture in northern India

Little Tibet is a beautiful series of images, shot by New Zealand photographer Zico O'Neill during a recent trip to Ladakh in northern India.

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All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

All images courtesy of the artist. Via Creative Boom submission.

"It was my first time visiting this unique place. I was drawn to Ladakh because I wanted to see its dramatic scenery and I was intrigued by the people who lived in this Buddhist region so close to the borders of China and Pakistan," says Zico.

"Over the last century, it has been the site of many conflicts, yet Ladakh still manages to exude a sense of calm and tranquillity. There are green valleys that have been forged out of the beautiful but unforgiving Himalayas.

"And the people are incredibly kind and focused on living in an environmentally sustainable way. I travelled through Ladakh for three weeks by road and foot. The images in the series capture the people and situations I came across."

From this charming body of work, with its delicate colouring and setting, Zico successfully captures the kind and gentle spirit of Ladakh: "My approach is very observational and I’m interested in seeing how people interact with an environment or their surroundings. I apply a soft colour palette to my work, generally with low contrast, and tend to capture moments that are evenly lit. This helps me portray a calm aesthetic for the viewer and allows for a peaceful representation of my subject."

A beautiful series, and one of many to be discovered at zicooneill.com.

Terraced agricultural fields with poplar trees in a verdant valley surrounded by arid mountains in Ladakh, northern India
Ladakhi travellers with laden horses standing on a rocky riverbed with mountains and vegetation in the background
Ladakhi woman standing on a desert road wearing a dark robe with pink sash and head covering, backed by pale rocky mountains
Colourful prayer flags strung vertically on a pole against barren mountains and blue sky in Ladakh, northern India
Three young boys stand together against a pale rocky mountainside in Ladakh, wearing warm layers and head coverings
Three people stand on a bridge overlooking snow-capped Himalayan mountains and a glacial valley in Ladakh, northern India
Yellow and multicoloured decorative chorten structure with prayer flags in arid landscape of Ladakh, northern India
Colourful blue and orange truck laden with cargo parked on a desert road beneath bare, rocky mountains in Ladakh
Pale mountains reflected in still turquoise water in Ladakh, with scattered buildings nestled at the base of the peaks
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