Jimmy Nelson Forever Freezes Vanishing Tribes on Film

From Mongolia to the muddy banks of the Amazon live communities unchanged since the dawn of time. Some tribes are nomadic, others reside in places many of us would deem inhospitable, and all are absolutely free. Photographer Jimmy Nelson has embarked upon a worldwide quest to immortalize these incredible – and vanishing – cultures on film with a project aptly titled “Before They Pass Away.” Marvel at the richness and diversity that includes the likes New Zealand’s Maori, the Huli of Indonesia and Argentina’s Gauchos.

Arbore, Ethiopia

Banna, Ethiopia

Dassanech, Ethiopia

Hamar, Ethiopia

Karo, Ethiopia

Mursi, Ethiopia

Dani, Indonesia

Yali, Indonesia

Asaro, Papua New Guinea

Goroka, Papua New Guinea

Huli, Papua New Guinea

Kalam, Papua New Guinea

Samburu, Kenya

Maasai, Tanzania

Maori, New Zealand

Tsaatan, Mongolia

Mustang, Nepal

Tibetans, China

Vanuatu, Vanuatu Island

Gauchos, Argentina

Huaorani, Ecuador

Himba, Namimbia

Drokpa, India

Korowai, India

Ladakhi, India

Rabari, India

Chukchi, Siberia