Mythical beings during filming for the brilliant multi-media theatrical production “Hanomon – The Ultimate Warrior” by Mirwan Suwarso about Hanuman the monkey god who features in many Javanese legends

From a story about Vingki, a 14 year old Jakarta youth who left school to help support his parents by working as a bus conductor

A guard provides ceremonial protection for rice effigies during a procession prior to their being sacrificed the following day

Part of an ongoing project.  This ritual sacrifice of rice effigies takes place annually and is linked to a Javanese legend in which a couple were trapped inside the nearby Mount Gamping, whose spirit demanded an annual sacrifice of a bridal couple in return for the safety of the village and the safe continuation of the limestone quarrying going on at the time.

Tuna Fisherman, Manado

Jakarta isn’t easy to love.  There’s the smog, the dust, the lack of sidewalks, and traffic that most city dwellers around the world would just not believe.  BUT…. sometimes when you are out walking, you come across a footpath thats been in use for centuries, the city forming around it, or an insane color that someone has painted a wall, or a great smell or just something you’ve never even imagined; and that makes living here in Jakarta worth it.

I went looking to find a tempe factory to illustrate a point about food (in)security as the price of tempe in Indonesia has rapidly increased due to a major drought in the U.S. (from where Indonesia imports the bulk of its soybeans).  It was a pleasure to find that most of Jakarta’s tempe is made not in a huge impersonal industrial setting but in thousands of small home workshops.

I met this fella at a grave in South Sulawesi. He was the friendliest guy, and of course had the unforgettable smile.

When I first saw the above image in my viewfinder, this painting immediately popped into my head:

That was what first popped into my head.  I think I saw that in an art class when I was a kid and thought it hilarious – guess it stuck with me.  If you are wondering why Gabrielle is tweaking her sister’s nipple circa 1595 you can turn to WTF Art History, which is where I turn for all of my art historical needs.  If you’re wondering why the monkey is tweaking the man’s nipple, thats a longer story with an ambiguous ending.   A print of the above monkey tweaking photograph will be available for sale among an assortment of fascinating, brilliant and inspiring imagery at the highly esteemed Foto8 Summershow at the HOST gallery in London.  If you really like the picture and cannot make it to the exhibition, you can always contact me to arrange a sale  🙂