23 June 2016

Circling the Mighty Annapurnas

The Annapurna Circuit is a popular 20-day trek within the Annapurna Mountain Range of Central Nepal. The trek rises to an altitude of over 5,400 mamsl on the Thorong La Pass, touching the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. This trek crosses two different river valleys and encircles the Annapurna Massif, crossing Thorung La (5,416 mamsl), the highest pass on this trek. The mountain scenery, seen at close quarters, includes the Annapurna Massif (Annapurna I - IV), Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna (7,455 mamsl) and Tilicho Peak (7,134 mamsl). Numerous peaks of 6,000 - 8,000 mamsl in elevation rise from the Annapurna Range.

The trek begins at Besi Sehar in the Marshyangdi River valley and concludes at Tatopani in the Kali Gandaki Gorge. The trail passes along rice paddies and into subtropical forests, several waterfalls and gigantic cliffs, and various villages. The Annapurna Circuit has often been voted as the best long-distance trek in the world, as it combines a wide variety of climate zones from the tropics at 600 mamsl up to the arctic at 5,416 mamsl at the Thorong La Pass and a great cultural variety from Hindu villages and temples at the low foothills to the Tibetan culture of the Manang Valley and the Lower Mustang. The cultural mix takes in Gurung, Manangi and Thakali communities and their traditional stone-walled villages, Tibetan-style monasteries and unsettling animist totems.

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posed; Ngawal; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; incredible; Gurung woman; Mehta Festival; fun; binocular gesture

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posed; Ghermu; Lamjung District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; incredible; Gurung woman; fun; bad teeth; smiling; old woman; villager; earrings; nose stud; grey hair; woolen cap; friendly

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; little girl; child; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posed; Bhulbhule; Lamjung District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; Gurung girl; smiling; earrings; teeth

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; people; female; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; incredible; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Jharkot; Mustang District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; young Gurung woman; beautiful; looking at camera; snow-capped mountains; Dhaulagiri

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; people; female; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; incredible; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Khingar; Mustang District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; old Gurung woman; looking at camera; snow-capped mountains; Dhaulagiri; Tibetan heritage; traditional Tibetan costume

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; female; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posed; Ghermu; Lamjung District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; incredible; Gurung woman; smiling; very old woman; villager; earrings; nose stud; friendly; red headscarf; elongated earlobes; hand-to-cheek gesture; beauty of oldness

bokeh; depth of field; Syang Village; Mustang District; dhaka topi; Nepali hat; Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; headshot; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; en face; front view; old Thakali man; wrinkles; incredible; smiling

The people of the Manang District and Mustang District celebrate the Metha Festival aka Dha Chyang Festival every year in late April. The men apply rice tika on their foreheads and take part in boisterous archery competitions. At the end of the festival, a dance known as shabru is performed by the mostly inebriated villagers. The main objective of this festival is to wipe out the evil spirits and demons so that the people will be prosperous, healthy and happy.

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Chame; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; old Gurung man; villager; traditional costume; archery; Mehta Festival; headshot; hunter; marksman; crack shot; bow and arrow; competition; master shooter; world cultures; bow hunting; fur cap; bokeh; bad teeth; smiling; master deer hunter; wrinkled nose; beard

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Chame; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; Gurung man; villager; traditional costume; archery; Mehta Festival; headshot; hunter; marksman; crack shot; bow and arrow; competition; master shooter; world cultures; bow hunting; fur cap; bokeh

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Chame; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; Gurung man; villager; traditional costume; archery; Mehta Festival; headshot; hunter; marksman; crack shot; bow and arrow; competition; master shooter; world cultures; bow hunting; fur cap; bokeh; young man; handsome

Hindu sadhus from the Kathmandu Valley, the plains of the Terai, and from India wander all the way up to the high-altitude Muktinath Temple (3,780 mamsl) at the foot of the challenging Thorong La Pass (5,416 mamsl).

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; world; cultures; one person; character; people; male; adult; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4x3 aspect ratio; posing; Muktinath; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Muktinath Temple; shakti peetha; Nepal; Hinduism; sadhu; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; holy man; religious ascetic; gesture; spirituality; one person; looking at camera; incredible; baba; headshot; ethnicity; sunshine; bokeh; orange turban; smoking; chillum; chillum pipe; ganja; hashish; cannabis; early morning; both hands; charas; weed

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; world cultures; one person; character; people; male; adult; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Muktinath; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Muktinath Temple; shakti peetha; Nepal; Hinduism; sadhu; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; en face; holy man; religious ascetic; gesture; spirituality; one man only; looking at camera; beard; incredible; baba; headshot; ethnicity; sunshine; bokeh; red turban; smoking; chillum; chillum pipe; ganja; charas; hashish; cannabis; early morning; both hands; lived-in face

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; world cultures; one person; character; people; male; adult; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Muktinath; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Muktinath Temple; shakti peetha; Nepal; Hinduism; sadhu; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; en face; holy man; religious ascetic; gesture; spirituality; one man only; looking at camera; beard; incredible; baba; headshot; ethnicity; sunshine; bokeh; orange turban; smoking; chillum; chillum pipe; ganja; charas; hashish; cannabis; early morning; both hands

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; blessing; right hand; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Muktinath; Manang District; Asia; South Asia; Muktinath Temple; shakti peetha; Nepal; Hinduism; sadhu; grey beard; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; holy man; raised right hand; religious ascetic; Shiva; Shaivite sadhu; Hindu; moksa; body language; gesture; unkempt hair; necklaces; religion; spirituality; one man only; looking at camera; rudraksha beads; incredible; mala beads; baba; Indian baba; headshot; ethnicity; sunshine; bokeh

Matt Hahnewald Photography; Facing the World; photo; blessing; right hand; image; closeup; street portrait; outdoor; world cultures; cultural; one person; character; people; male; adult; ethnic; horizontal format; human; face; eyes; eye contact; photography; consent; empathy; rapport; portrait; portraiture; environmental portrait; ethnic portrait; travel portrait; travel destination; colour; 4 : 3 aspect ratio; posing; Tatopani; Myagdi District; Asia; South Asia; Nepal; Hinduism; sadhu; white beard; Himalayas; Annapurna Circuit; Nikon D3100; Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G; trekking; colourful; en face; front view; holy man; raised right hand; religious ascetic; Hindu; moksa; body language; gesture; dreadlocks; orange; necklaces; sunglasses; religion; spirituality; one man only; looking at camera; teeth; dread bun; topknot; baba; Indian baba; headshot; ethnicity; sunshine; bokeh


Portrait photographs with complete exif data, geotags and other specs in Matt Hahnewald's