In the nest of the crocodiles
Papua New Guinea is arguably one of the most unexplored countries in the world. Around 800 indigenous tribes, with just as many different languages, live mostly isolated from the outside world in the bush, swamp or in the highlands. Since most of the people are self-sufficient, everyday life is characterized by food procurement and maintenance work on the villages. Since there are enough natural resources in the various areas of life, an active barter trade is carried out.
In the middle of the more than 1000 kilometers long, serpentine river Sepik, the village Kandinge stands with its houses on stilts. Much has changed over the past few years, but people stuck to their lifestyle and culture.
The men who I like to call the crocodile people live in Kandinge. Because in order to get a crocodile-like skin, the young men have their upper bodies scarified in a ceremony lasting several weeks. This initiation rite, which is repeated every few years, is intended to give them the strength they need for their future life.
After several months of visits, I was adopted into this community and integrated into their daily life. The report shows life in the village, the hunting of crocodiles in the swamp and the initiation rite in the men's house.
Florian Spring
Florian Spring completed his apprenticeship as a carpenter in 2011 and has worked for years as a freelance decorator, carpenter and set builder. From 2011 to 2014 he regularly left the country for long periods with his camera in his luggage. Florian worked on site for board and lodging and thus got an intensive and honest approach to the people and cultures in the countries visited. With his free reports he tries to show his fellow human beings insights and knowledge about a world in which many communities coexist, often without knowing each other. Since Florian won the Globetrotter World Photo Prize at the end of 2016, he has been working as a freelance photographer.