Photographer Gives the Developed World Insight into Developing Nations

A girl stands in a field of flowers, her posture irregular and a sad, almost dejected look upon her face. The caption next to the picture names her Samdu, aged 11 and from Tibet, and describes the reason for her poor posture: a disease known locally as “big bone disease”.

Samdu is among a host of indigenous people featured in Phil Borges online gallery and book entitled Tibetan Portrait. Borges has been living among and photographing indigenous peoples from around the world for over twenty-five years. Through his photographs and the words that accompany them, Borges manages to give a little insight into indigenous cultures from around the world. His books and exhibits are meant to educate and inspire through the portrayal of the struggles and victories of the indigenous.

Borges has expanded his mission to educate cross-culturally by founding Bridges to Understanding, whose goal is expand the youths cross-cultural knowledge, as well as help them grow as global citizens.

Borges most recent book, Women Empowered, follows women who face sexual discrimination in traditionally strict, patriarchal societies. Education and employment are among the biggest issues in sexual discrimination, and some women go to great lengths to better themselves and the community around them. Fahima, a teacher since the mid-1980s, lost her job in Afghanistan when the Taliban came to power. Fahima continued to teach the local girls in secret and the girls were to say they were going to their “aunt’s” house if questioned.

Borges’s cross-cultural work continues to this day. His blog states that Borges is currently in Tibet working on his second book about Tibet. His most recent posting features pictures of monks camping during a pilgrimage and describes some of their cultural habits on said pilgrimage.

For more information about Phil Borges, his books, and photography visit philborges.com.