“BLOOD FACES”. Jens Uwe Parkitny.

Came across the work of photographer Jens Uwe Parkitny…..in his own words, “Jens is a photographer, writer and traveller. With a passion for sustainable tourism, he believes that we must tread lightly on earth’s natural resources and cherish and appreciate local customs and traditions.”

A book (which can only be ordered from the site) and a selection of his work is available at http://www.bloodfaces.com/….

“In his one-of-a-kind book, Bloodfaces, Jens Uwe Parkitny’s lenses draw us up close to the women from tribal groups such as the Laytu, and his camera unveils not only the variety of delicate tattoo patterns among various Chin groups, but also, more importantly, the innate strength and courage of these women who sat in pain, enduring the needlework, as blood and tears ran down their faces.The book, a limited edition, is the first of its kind to portrait of what is left in contemporary Myanmar (Burma) of an ancient tribal practice which is vanishing fast but was once wide spread among indigenous ethnics in Asia. Though facial tattoos are still practiced by the Naga tribes in North East India, very little is known about the fact that until recently the Chin in Rakhine and Southern Chin State tattooed the faces of their young girls and women.”

Great Christmas present if you ask me…

(Jens would like me to stress all these photos are under strict copyrights laws.Thanx.)