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Hockey on Top of the World.
In the Himalayas, where the air is thinand distractions are few, Ladhakis people found a way to enjoy the harshwinters by practicing a sport comingfrom a distant foreign land. On icy ponds located at lofty elevations,thousands of meters above sea level,they skate and play the game of hockey, on top of the world.
Photos © Patrice Halley/LightMediation Text ®Andrew Findlay
Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LigthMediation Photo Agency - +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
Rana Tharu: life in colour.
In the far east of Népal, far from Katmandu, legend and history join together to recount how five centuries ago women of royal blood immigrated from Rajasth (India) with their children and servants. Here it is the women who rise up as guardians of the traditions and combat assimilation into an Indo-Nepalese culture. Contrary to other ethnic groups of Nepal, they themselves make their exceptional costume. At a time when the Indian sari triumphs amongst most of the tribes, here, the clothing tradition continues. The design of their very colourful costume, adorned with embroidery and little mirrors, as well as their silver jewelry is very close to the dress style adopted in Rajasthan. Of course, the fabrics and colours change according to current fashions.
Photos and text ©Bruno Morandi/Lightmediation
Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
Hyderabad: India of tomorrow.
Ambitious, the ultra-dynamic town of Hyderabad collects the charms to attract itself to the glances of the world. In spite of its preserving character and its situation in the middle of one of the poorest states of the country, it took the challenge to become the ambassadress of modern India…
Photos ©Pascal Meunier/Lightmediation Text ®Maud Tyckaert
Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency + 33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
The consequences of one-child policy in China…
According to Chinese officials, the one-child policy edicted in 1979 would have allowed to cut the number of births by 700 million (the population of the 25-member European Union) but this does not go without problems in Chinese society. An entire generation of single children –a generation of “king- children” to whom everything is owed– is beginning to take over. They live by social standards radically different from their parents’. But, for traditional as well as economic reasons, the Chinese still prefer to have male offspring. A male-female imbalance in favor of males is constantly growing. According to estimates, the deficit in women reaches 40 to 80 million. Consequences include high numbers of undeclared children, increasing numbers of unmarried men, the near absence of women in some villages, the kidnapping of women and children to be sold in other provinces and harsh repressin against families not abiding by Family Planning rules.
Photos and text ©Alain Buu/Orizon/LightMediation
Alain Buu on PARIS MATCH Web site:
Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LightMediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
The incredible castles of Kaiping.
China- In the middle of rice fields, near Canton and three hours away from Hong Kong by car, there are 1833 castles. Their architecture is inspired by middle age and Renaissance French castles. Some of them have art deco styles in their interiors. They were all built between the 15th and the beginning of the 20th century. The 28th June 2007, UNESCO has named this architectural and invaluable treasure “world testimony of humanity”.
Photos ©Zeng Nian/LightMediation
Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
Samarkand, cité des ombres glorieuses…
On en a toujours entendu parler sans savoir précisément où elle était située. Pourtant, Samarkand existe, fidèle au rêve qu’elle suggère. L’idée d’une oasis sur les routes de l’aventure, une halte opulente sur les chemins de la culture et de l’histoire.
Photos ©Rémi Benali/LightMediation Texte ®Heather Robinson
Contact - Thierry Tinacci Agence Photo LightMediation +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
Sichuan- Khampas, les Cavaliers du Ciel.
Depuis mille ans, ce peuple d’anciens guerriers tibétains se regroupe près de Litang - la plus haute ville du monde à 4100 m d’altitude - afin de célébrer le Yagi, la grande fête de l’été. Si leur ferveur bouddhiste reste constante, les affres politiques ébrèchent lentement la vie traditionnelle et impliquent à terme sa sédentarisation.
Photos ©Remi Benali/Lightmediation Texte ®Heather Robinson
Contact - Thierry Tinacci Agence Photo Lightmediation +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry[AT]lightmediation.com
Hampi: capital of the Vijayanagar Empire.
English: The final capital of the last of the great kingdoms of Southern India, Hampi, was one of the most beautiful cities of the medieval world. It remains to this day one of the most striking sites on earth, of extraordinary beauty but difficult access.
Français: Ultime capitale du dernier des grands royaumes de l’Inde du Sud, enrichie par le commerce du coton et des épices, Hampi fut l’une des plus belles villes du monde médiéval, auréolée de palais et temples dravidiens couverts de joyaux. Hampi reste aujourd’hui l’un des sites les plus saisissants du monde. Haut lieu de la beauté mais d’un accès difficile. Les sept heures de voyage à partir de Bangalore par des routes cahotantes surchargées de camions la maintienne pour l’instant hors de portée des hordes touristiques.
Photos © Cyril le Tourneur d’Ison Text ® Claudine le Tourneur d’Ison -A longer text is avalaible- Contact - Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry [at] lightmediation.com
On the horsemen’s steps by Joseph Kessel.
In December 2001, in Afghanistan, during the war between the Taliban and the coalition forces, Alain Buu, photo-reporter, covers the Tora-Bora battle for Gamma agency. The terrible battles take place in a magnificent and strangely calm landscape. Alain Buu makes himself a promise: he will come back one day, but this time it will be to reveal the authentic and savage beauty of this unique country, capable of preserving it’s nobleness despite 22 years of war. He knows he will have to immerge himself into the very heart of this land desired by all the conquerors but never completely submitted, and follow Joseph Kessel’s footsteps who also let Afghanistan absorb him in order to render it so alive in his novel “The Horsemen“. The book “On the Horsemen’s steps”, photographs from Alain Buu and text from Joseph Kessel, preface from André Velter, will be published by Gallimard and is coming out on the 26th of October 2007, in France.
Photos © Alain Buu / Orizon / Lightmediation
India: journal of a photographer.
Petrut Calinescu spent few months in India documenting the traditional life, which continues untouched by the passing time and by the changes that makes today India one of the fastest growing economy in the world. The 3 pictures series show the faith, the entertainment and the work of the normal condition Indians in the modern India.
To see the feature: 
Photos ©Petrut Calinescu/Lightmediation Agency
