We were in Varanasi during my annual photo tour, when Piers Ede contacted me regarding an interview for his blog called “The Indiaphile”. Piers had just posted his interview with National Geographic photographer, Steve McCurry so I must say that I was honored to be chosen for his next interview. Piers and I finally hooked upon my return to the States and we had a very nice Skype call. Here’s a link to my interview and Steve McCurry’s. Piers did a wonderful job writing up our conversation.
Piers is an interesting soul. Born in 1975. Educated at Winchester College, Exeter University and the University of California Santa Cruz. While living in San Francisco Piers was involved in a hit-and-run accident. During his recovery Piers conceived his first travel book; a global adventure in search of wild honey. His book, “Honey and Dust, Travels in Search of Sweetness” documents his search for wholeness while looking for the last of the tribes that still hunt wild honey.
The Guardian called Peter Moore Eadie “a talented young writer acutely aware of light, landscape and mood”. Honey and Dust won the non-fiction category for DH Lawrence prize. Ede is also a photographer and blues guitarist who holds regular exhibitions of his work in London.
For Piers second book “All Kinds of Magic”, he embarked on a very unusual journey. Disheartened by a world seemingly hooked on material wealth and scientific fact, he decided to travel the world in search of something completely other – the magical, the mystical, the numinous. In “All Kinds of Magic”, Piers recounts this voyage of re-enchantment, which led him from snow-blanketed villages in the Himalayas to a dappled, ancient Sufi quarter in Delhi; from the world’s largest religious festival on the banks of the swollen Ganges to tiny, covert communities of whirling dervishes in rural Turkey.
Check out both of Piers books on Amazon here
Piers newest project, a Blog called “The IndiaPhile” is a website all about travel in India. Have a look www.theindiaphile.com
I love what you said about honoring the people you take photos of.
Recently, I’ve become more and more interested in street photography, but not in the manner of “gun and run.”
I approach it more how you approach your humanitarian photography. I always carry some of my work in a small album (something I picked up from the great Bruce Davidson) and I always let people see the photo(s) I took of them. To me, photography is at its worst when it’s sneaky or, even worse, exploitative.
I read that you’re going to be in the Philippines in January. I will be there too, visiting family. I’d love to treat you to some balut or sisig or whatever you like. I’ve learned so much from reading your blog and going through your albums. Just seeking to return the favor and maybe also hang out for a bit. =)
Hi Joseph,
Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you share the same attitudes about approaching people. We are often more than photographers and travelers; we are “ambassadors” of our respective countries, so it’s important that the folks we meet have a positive experience, and therefore think of us, and our country, as full of others like us!
Thanks also for your kind invitation to “share some balut or to just hang out for a bit”. I would love to take you up on the “hanging out” part, but as for the Balut, I don’t think I’m ready for that! I hear that it’s an acquired taste.
I’ll be in the Philippines between Jan 12 and 24th. Currently I am solidly booked, but if some time frees up and you’re there, perhaps we can hook up for a quick San Miguel or two. Cheers, Karl
Haha I definitely understand and respect your apprehension when it comes to balut. I’ll be here until the 26th. E-mail me if anything frees up! Thanks! -Joseph