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Below is a list of the photographers who will be leading this trip. Both have many years of experience as photographers and adventure travelers in Mustang and other remote areas of the world.
Wilbur Norman is a Santa Fe writer and photographer who studied social anthropology and has owned rare book and tribal art galleries. His first camera was his father's bakelite 120/220 Ansco Panda but has ‘upgraded’ over the years to his current image-making tools: the Leica M11, Leica M10R, Sony A1 and several Fuji X-cameras; kit chosen for the beautiful rendering produced by their companion lenses. He still owns and uses his first great camera, a Leica M4 Black Paint film body purchased when he was 16 years old.
Wilbur has led tours for photographers on three continents. His work may be viewed here and has been exhibited in Santa Fe, NM, USA; Havana, Cuba; The Louvre Museum in Paris; the Leica Users Group 2014 Yearbook; LFI (Leica Foto International magazine), Guardian Newspaper, etc.
Tsewang Jonden Bista is the nephew of the Late King of Mustang and was born in the village of Charang, Mustang. He is a tourism entrepreneur and social worker and conducts specialized tours in his homeland. He has been working in Mustang for the last 26 years and has in-depth knowledge of its locales, customs and practices. He has worked with The National Geographic, Discovery Channel and WGBH USA. He is also a founding member of the non-governmental organization (NGO) called Lo Gyalpo Jigme Foundation for Cultural Conservation, working in Upper Mustang to uplift the life of the Loba people and conserve the rich cultural heritage of his ancestors. He has authored a booklet in collaboration with UNESCO on the important and famous Tiji festival of Mustang.
Pema Sherpa is our fantastic guide and cook. Most everyone has heard about the incredible warmth, cheer, initiative and strength of Nepal's sherpas upon whom expeditions depend. Pema is an exemplar of these heroes of the Himalaya. Pema knows every nook and cranny of Upper Mustang and is friends with the royal family. He also knows what Westerners need in terms of dietary hygiene and fills in as cook; not a single person has ever gotten sick from food on our trips when traveling with Pema and his watchful eye. As if guide and cook are not enough he also fills in as Wilbur's camera sherpa; a useful helpmate for switching lenses and bodies. Four hands good, two hands not as good!
We are often fortunate to have the company and advice of Luigi Fieni, an Italian painter, conservator and photographer. Luigi has many awards and publications to his credit. He has worked in Upper Mustang for over 20 seasons training local artists in the conservation, restoration and preservation of ancient monastery paintings found throughout the kingdom. His knowledge and good cheer are always a plus. Exhibitions of his work have been mounted in the United States, Europe and Asia with work held in The Taragaon Museum in Kathmandu; The Manggha Museum in Krakow and The Contemporary Art Collection of The Vatican Museums. Luigi has collaborated with The National Geographic Society, The North Face, The Getty Images, The Mill Valley Film Group, Skydoor Productions, The American Himalayan Foundation, The Kham Aid Foundation, HPRC, Orticolario and Bauer Media. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, The National Geographic Magazine, and Geo Magazine. His work may be viewed here.
Stay Inspired!
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