Jeremy and Willie
In 2003 I experienced a life changing event when I traveled to Tanna in Vanuatu in the Melanesian Islands of the Pacific Ocean with two friends. Tanna is populated by about 10,000 Ni Vans who mostly live in subsistence farming communities. Tourism infrastructure and foreign investment have been limited to less than 50% which has largely preserved their way of life from too much foreign influence.
The last time foreigners descended on mass was in WWII when the American soldiers practically took over a few of the islands. This overwhelming influx of the modern world on a traditional culture permanently altered it when a number of cargo cults started up fashioning themselves on American military camps. Many Ni-Vans so overcome with the amazing technology and physical power of these soldiers decided being American must be pretty good so henceforth considered themselves adopted Americans. To show how American they were they rebuilt their villages in the style of the military camps, saluted the stars and strips and even made planes and jeeps out of bamboo. Mixed into this infatuation was aspects of ‘Kustom’ (native) religion and Christianity into a cult called the John Frum cult (short for ‘John from America’). Ever since WWII the John Frum followers have been waiting for the second coming of John Frum with his ship full of cargo for the faithful. Just before my trip the cult had become so troublesome that the army had been called in to disperse them. They did this by simply burning the village down so people would be forced to go home to their native villages (the village happened to be constructed on the side of an active volcano as well which didn’t impress the authorities much either). On their previous trip my two companions were invited to go and speak in the John Frum Village and meet their leader the prophet Fred a rare privilege for an outsider.
I spent two weeks in Tanna climbed an active volcano and spent time getting to know the locals who kindly put us up in their village while we ministered to the local church. Two of the people I got to know the best were Jeremy a boy who took me under his wing and Willie an inspirationally spiritual man who was a church leader down there. I took this shot of my friends on the second last day I was there in the local river just below the village of Lonimilo.
Having never been out of a western culture before experiencing village life, food, water (yuck), music (with no radio or TV the sound of acoustic guitars and singing were almost constantly in the background, yum) and living with such beautiful family oriented people profoundly effected my whole way of seeing the world. Jeremy and Willie’s smiles kind of sum the whole thing up.
P.S. I don’t really see myself as a portrait/ people photographer but the bubble is such a great place to try out new things I thought I’d post it and see what people think. The shot was taken with my first ever SLR camera (a Canon EOS30 with Ilford Delta 100 b&w film) that I bought duty free on this trip. To get this shot I got into the river with Jeremy and Willie paranoid I would slip on the sloping bottom with my new baby, fortunately I kept my feet and got the shot, a precious memory. I’ve also been really inspired by Melinda Kerrs work too.
To my great surprise this shot won the ‘B&W – Character – People Shots’ groups Indigenous People Competition in August 2008. It was also a finalist in the Black and White groups Emotion competition back in May 2008 and has somehow ended up on the home page three times.
Jeremy and Willie belongs to the following groups:
! 100% !, *Islands of The World* - 3/day limit, B&W - Character - People Shots, Black and White Photography, Body of Work, Descriptions, Film Photography, For the love of Canon - 2 Images per day with type of Canon camera used, Friends of RedBubble, Human and Nature, ImageWriting (2/24), Light and Reflection 1/24, Live, Love, Dream: , People and Portraiture Photography, Portraits in Natural Light, Shadows & Reflections and Style! Class! Elegance! Excellence! Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters



Andy Evans
Very well captured Travis, reflections are great and depth of field spot on
Kathleen Hill
Awesome story and photo I wish I could se Jeremy smile like Willie is
Basia McAuley
Excellent b&w. Love the story this image tells and his great smile! Great work!
David Iori
Great Work Travis
Erin Lyall
This is a great shot with a cool story to go with it, you should do portraiture more!
Carol & Kev Ha...
An image with a beautiful story, GREAT WORK Travis!!
Klaudy Krbata
fantastic b&w and amazing atmosphere
zandria
Great image and story behind it. I like the fact that you can’t see all of Jeremy’s face, shows the timidness of adolescence. And Willie’s smile is fantastic, strong and confident.
Kitsmumma
Wonderful shot, fantastic in b&w.
LocoCow
Great Capture really cool treat
Olga
Awesome shot! very “professional” looking!
Rany Lutz
Great capture. Perfect lighting.
Andy Harris
great capture – super reflections and great choice of colour
eramophla
great story and marvellous shot
Blackroaches
The tones are simply fantastic and the composition could not have been better.
This should be hanging in some Museum in ancient Rome.
Beautiful…totally speechless…
A dose of magic indeed.
Antanas
great capture, well done
Rebs O
great shot – love it
karma monero
good pic
greenfrog153
This is a beautiful portrait Travis.
Judith Oppenhe...
Jeremy’s eyes reflected in the water are incredible! that said, the picture overall is simply stunning.
Jean M. Laffitau
Beautiful, excellent shot!
Jan Piller
Perfect!!! What a great fun image!
Kristal
ncie!
Simon Mears
marvellous work.. really love the feeling in this photo
LindaR
I had missed this until the b&w bm this morning pointed me this way…I haven’t even finished my first half cup of coffee but needed it not to be drawn into this image and then your story…I love it for all the reasons I should – the light, color, comp…but most of all for the light coming from these two and wide open faces…just wonderful, Travis
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Linda, they are two of the most beautiful souls I have come across in my travels. It was a priveledge to walk with them, even briefly. Thanks for dropping by again.
CATNIPMEOW
so cool ! I love it-
Its pretty amazing when you meet such pure souls !
Steve Taylor
Wow this is a great shot.
Katja Fønss
Congrats. Well, this is a brilliant shot!
Jen Cannella
This is such an amazingly beautiful shot…beautiful faces and perfect lighting. Wonderful words to go with it!
Charl045
I see why it has made the finals.. Its excellent b/w!! The expressions on these faces are priceless!
juliettesteen
Very beautiful
Robert Elliott
superb image, congratulations
Geoff Coleman...
Beautiful image and beautiful story – very deserving finalist I reckon – don’t underrate yourself man – this is beautiful and moving.
shadowzone
great shot
caroline ellis
wow, fantastic feel and light.
Megan Russell
oh my gosh, this is so fantastic! the tonal scale and lighting is beautiful. an amazing capture!
Nenad Kostadin...
Great capture!
Matthew Hogan
Fantastic shot tells a real story of how the simple things in life are the most important things in life. “Excellent”
Bruce Dickson
Had similar feeling listing to the drumming practice sessions at night around the French Polynesian islands. Makes you really think about what really matters (and doesn’t) in life. Love all the Pacific Islands! A happy shot.
Jase812
Fantastic !
ajax
Great work caught the happiness, I love Vanuatu cos of the Ni-vans, beautiful people {>:
Mark Weaver
incredible lighting, well done
Lisa Defazio
Exquisite and LOVE what you wrote – what a blessing that experience must have been. Sitting here imagining a bamboo plane and jeep :)
Philip Rogan
Wonderful story and thanks for writing such a long description I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and though I had heard of the cargo cults and John Frum before your succinct description has clarified it all for me.
Travis Easton replied
Bit of effort to get the words down so glad you enjoyed them, the whole business is quite fascinating. Cheers
Trav
Koritar Stefan
Great capture
salsbells69
Its an image you cant help feel drawn into..and rightly so..What a wonderful story and adventure or event for you Travis. Amazing..the warmth in thier eyes and that smile..so welcoming..so trusting. So full of love and faith. Awesome.
Kathryn Potempski
fantasic comp,lighting and Techs,such a fantatic capture Travis that smile could melt a thousand hearts.
Anthony Begovic
Just brilliant.
Nick Milton
love this fantastic.
Rhona
great shot and a fascinating story to go with it. i’d never heard of these cults or anything like it.
Caroline Gorka
Your work is quite stunning – to be able to offer such variety, and so well seen and produced…amazing.
Paul Vanzella
superb image – so love the connection bewteen viewer and subject here!
igotmeacanon
stunning work
Alex Weeks
You have got some real talent, my compliments! Great Work!!
Steve Chapple
Such an amazing outcome, wonderful feeling and love the story!
Rajdev D
One of the best shots i have seen ever, great
Alateia
i absolutely agree with your sentiments on the impact foreigners have on cultures like this.. cutural tourism is raging ….. (unfortunately)
Lisa Kenny
just gorgeous Travis .. perfectly composed
dinghysailor1
superb joint capture and what a fascinating place ..! congratulations on the home page !! well done indeed! :)
PPPhotoArt
this is an amazing shot of your two friends
with a wonderful and inspirational story
to accompany this beautiful work!!!!
Di Jenkins
Congrats on Homepage Travis! This is such a wonderful image!
velveteagle
A winner from all views.. You were so blessed.. Life has its basics .. A roof over your head. Food in your stomach . And someone to share love.. You have shared something beautiful.. Thank you..
Jane Keats
Simply beautiful image!
Belinda "Billy...
This is an amazing photograph, its so perfect, I urge you to enter it in a competition or two. Its a real winner. BillyLee
Dayonda
Congratulations on having this fine work Featured on the RED BUBBLE HomePage! 29 July 2008
It’s great that you were able to visit outside our culture. Thank you so much for sharing it in your pics and writing!
Geri Bragg
lovely photo. :)
Angela McConnell
this is an absolutely gorgeous photo – very deserving home page!
salsbells69
Congratulations on the home page Travis~!!! One of my favourite photos! Very well deserved :D
Joanne Bradley
Outstanding shot! Congrats on homepage feature!
Agnes McGuinness
Beautiful portrait. The goodness just shine out of their eyes. Congratulations on being featured on the home page.
Katewah
Fantastic shot!!!! This caught my eye straight away. congratulations on being featured on the home page!
Melinda Kerr
Travis this is exceptional. The reflections and how you’ve managed to balance the tones is really skillful. What a great shot!
Melinda Kerr
And I’m humbled by your reference to me Travis :)
Travis Easton replied
Hi Mel, thanks for droppin by again, only reason I posted this was because of you, so thanks for the inspiration to stretch beyond landscape. Trav
Bevellee
brilliant – made me smile….
AthenaBlanco
Fantastic image Travis and congrats on making home page!!
LindaR
Congrats Travis ~ so very deserving ~ a wonderful capture of the moment xx
Tina Hogg
This is such a wonderful portrait – the faces, water, light – perfect! Thank you so much for all the info about a part of the world I know little about.
Marilyn Harris
Fantastic work Travis!! It almost speaks!! Well done!!
Lenka
Beautiful photograph and great reading!
amarica
Congratulations on being featured on B&W people shots. Great job!
tinhearts
i love this awesome shot! congrats on winning!!!!
you deserve it ;)
love, carol
xxx
Ann E. Chapman
Great capture…...Congrats on winning!!!!!
shanghaiwu
fabulous image
Rosemary Scott
congrats on the win Travis, you had my vote! I just love these beautiful vibrant faces & the darkness of the water & background…. very deserving of the win.
Everett Cook
this is a great image
Tina Hogg
Back just to say that I’m so delighted that your image won! Congratulations!
susi lawson
Congrats! Gorgeous!
Katewah
Stoked this won. Well deserved!
micmac
Wow ! Superb portrait,fantastic in B&W ..CONGRATS ON YOUR WINNING…
greenjewels77
Wonderful shot!! Well deserving of the prize winner…well done!! peace, jewels
Himiona Grace
this is so good! well done and all the best
Lauren01
Great pic. Congrats!
Goldie Lucarelli
Ooh this was my favorite !! Congrats !
John Pitman
Congratulations Travis on winning. A magic shot. John
Judith Oppenhe...
Congratulations – this was always one of my favorite shots on RB! Well done!
Maggiebee
The composition of this image is lovely and the two faces a joy to view, well done.
Bevellee
congratulations on your win travis…..
Travis Easton
Thanks everyone appreciated
Astrid Pardew
Congratulations. This is an awesome picture. A sure winner!
Sashy
Bravo. Wonderful shot.
Sean Farragher
congrats,,,,,,,,,,great image
amarica
Congratulations! On being the winner of the Indigenous People competition in the B&W Character group. Great Job Travis!
Kristal
Congrats on win! well done
Glitter
congrats on winning the contest “ind.people”!!!
nice work!!
Dayonda
Congratulations on being the Featured Artist for the Black & White Photo Group! 18 Aug 2008
I loved your pic when it was on the RB HP, and still think it’s fantastic. This needs to go to one of the Australian Groups for their Fathers’ Day. (One has a competition, but I don’t remember which.)
Dayonda
- and -THE EYES HAVE IT would probably love a pic of Jeremy. He’s a handsome young man, and his eyes are gorgeous!Kathleen Stephens
Congratulations. Beautiful photo!
Heather Mitche...
Beautiful work!
Julie Thomas
outstanding shot… love the B&W
geoff curtis
Brilliant work.
L M
Congratulations, this image has been featured in the Descriptions Group
-Lance
salsbells69
Congratulations on your feature Travis..i love this image!!!
micmac
I realy love that photo,another great work for Body of work.
Geraldine Lefoe
Wonderful story attached to this one Travis and congrats on your well deserved feature in Body of Work. My partner and I took our kids to Tanna when they were 6 and 4. It was so wonderful to see the children take their hands and go and play together even without a common language. Thansk for sharing your delightful view of the world with us.
Robxavier
Wow this is cooollll
DawsonImages
Great tones and portrait
josiem
beautiful capture!!
Mary Campbell
Fabulous picture, of father and child.. just love it.
Travis Easton replied
Thanks for the comment Mary. Out of interest Jeremy and Willie are not related.
ma9rk
Absolutely stunning Travis. They are the most beautifully natured people on the earth.
TracySmith
Wow
Rita H. Ireland
Fantastic!
Di Jenkins
Congrats on making homepage today with this fabulous image!!
Chaley
Very well captured and congratulations on making the home page!
Steve Chapple
Loved this the first time I visited and faved it…..now I see it on the home page well done!
Wayne Cook
Absolutely fantastic portrait!!!
Wayne Cook
Wonderful story you told too…glad you went, because you tell it well!
salsbells69
So delighted to see this image on the Home Page again Travis!! Its an excellent image and well deserved Feature!! Great job !
LisaEwingArt
Amazing! The photo lives.
mikecenter
I love this picture!!! It just brings a warm smile all over me….
dinghysailor1
Hey Trav – sooo great to see this on the home page! brilliant! congrats mate!
;)))
Emmett Connell
Nice shot man. love the depth.
Pamela B
Beautiful! Love it:)
Rosalie Dale IPA
Congrats on the Home Page Feature!
paulywog
nice shot, very well done!
Lara Bianco
what a beautiful shot
Melissa Park
This is a beautiful image Travis, well done!!
Karen Lewis
I just LOVE everything about this image. In fact your whole gallery is amazing!
Snapshot20
Wonderful shot!
Love the Band W
Lovely story!
You have a wonderful heart.
Kaiden
John Shortt-Smith
I like that!
EarthGipsy
Fantastic image – great text!
Amy-lee Foley
Wow great image :o)
Must have been an amazing experience!
I see your from Croydon South, I just live in Lilydale :o)
You have an amazing Gallery!
Christophe Testi
Wonderful image. Great impact with B&W.
follicle
simply terrific!
Simmone
Great capture!
Mary Campbell
Congradulation on your challenge win.
Jason Connolly
Excellent shot…
Albert Dickson
Fantastic. Congratulations.
JKKimball
Truly a winner Travis!
shaneran
congratulations !!! This is absolutely wonderful !!
Sharon Mau
I love your wonderful story and very much enjoy your sensitive portrayal and efforts to preserve a fascinating culture. I especially enjoy your portrait of the child. Congratulations on your features, I wish you every success and much happiness. I invite you to add your images to Dimensions.
Aloha e Malama pono,
Sharon
smallfox
Their eyes are so full of life! This is a beauftifully taken shot, well composed and the black and white enhances the lines so that there are no distractions, just the people and the water. Wonderful!
Shaun Whiteman
Wonderful shot, a deserved winner!
Lorraine Parra...
stunning shot, wonderful light on the faces, great stuff
Lorraine Parra...
opps! sorry! forgot to add congratulations on your challenge win, well deserved.
Wanda Raines
Congratulations on your feature. Great work!
Rebecca Bryson
This is a magnificent capture and congras on your feature :)
Marilyn Harris
Congratulations Travis on your challenge win!! :o)
Yool
Cathy Cale
You definitely had my vote. FANTASTIC capture.CONGRATULATIONS!!
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Cathy appreciated
aaronschwartz
wonderful picture and a really fascinating story – thanks!
Basia McAuley
I soooo love this image, I think it’s one of my fave portraits here on RB,, Love the mood and character.
jwinman
fantastic casual portrait… intimate and fun!
frankc
Great portrait… works well in B+W.
Scott d'Almeida
fabulous capture;
Robyn Bohlen
I love your story and how you got to this place of trust with these folks…quite amazing and really very interesting….Beautiful smile on the older gentleman…the child seems tentative still….only being your second day with them…I love their reflections too. This image is fantastic and I’d love to see more. ( you should write a book as well..lol…good stuff) ;)
Travis Easton replied
Hi Robyn, thanks for the kind comment, I’d been hanging out with Willie for two weeks at this stage so was getting to know him well. Jeremy I spent less days but more time, wonderful people indeed.
ozczecho
Wow. This is one heck of a portrait. Excellent.
mikebov
wonderful image
Anne O'Connor
Wow, such a lifelike image of these two people. Love the monochrome and the naturalness of the image. Great story in it as well. Well done.
antonio
Wonderful with a great meaning.
antonio
Wonderful with a great meaning.
ziko
whoo hoo
picketty
what a shot and what an insight. hope your ministry was effective. I was recently reading about a tribe that worship the Duke of Edinburgh along with other pagan deities.
Moorey
Brilliant capture
Anuja Manchana...
What a photo. Well done.
A.M. Ruttle
Hi Travis, I was looking at your fisheye shot of the Pinnacles and took a stroll through your other work as well. This is a hauntingly beautiful shot of your friends, and the story is amazing and beautifully told. I’ve wondered how the heck some native cultures could preserve their way of life, and limiting outside investment to 50% may be the only real way. Thank you for going there, being with them, making friends with them, and wading into the pool with your new camera! Clearly you have the gift and the eye for people shots!! AMR
A.M. Ruttle
Hi Travis, This shot is so arresting, I had to come back for another visit!
Elizabeth Bravo
Wow I really like the look of this shot. So nice. Bold with the dark but soft with the content of father and son. Congratulations on being featured on the home page!!!
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Elizabeth, Out of interest Jeremy and Willie are not related.
Alf Caruana
Travis congrats on being on the home page, this is a wonderful piece
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Alf
CapturedByKylie
Congratulations on being featured on the “A Touch Of Red”-themed home page. August 12th 2009.
Sharon Mau
Aloha Trav, I am delighted to see your beautiful image again and to see it is featured on the homepage today!! Congratulations!!
Travis Easton replied
Thanks again Sharon a thrill to be sure
Richard George
A terrific study…a well deserved place on the RB H/P. Congratulations on this fine work and feature!
Tony Ryan
Incredible photograph. Love everything about it. So uplifting.
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Tony, from a portrait photographer of your caliber that is praise indeed, appreciated.
Beve Brown-Clark
Sometimes blessings come when one least expects it! Wonderful story…what a wonderful Experience! Congrat on Homepage feature…very well deserving of that recognition!
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Beve, it was a fantastic life changing trip, appreciated.
Travis Easton
Woo hoo, home page 12/8/09
Garth Smith
Congrats Travis, is this the third time this image has been on the homepage?
Its a great shot, love the contrast, perfect tones.
Travis Easton replied
Second actually Garth, the first one happened last July, good memory though. Noticed this comment was picked up on the rb home page thread and has upset someone…. hehe.
Travis Easton replied
Woah, I stand corrected it has been on three times… far out.
Tenee Attoh
Professional fantastic b&w Congrats with homepage?
AnnDixon
Wonderful !!! well deserved feature on the home page, CONGRATS,
Carolina Couto
Great photo!! Well done!
KellyThomas
really beautiful photo and story. What an experience for you.
Travis Easton replied
Certainly was Kelly thanks for droppin by
Hélène David-Cuny
Great shot !
John Dekker
Congrats on the home page feature Trav….it’s a great shot
Travis Easton replied
Thanks John, funny how the landscape photographers second most popular shot is a portrait.
TheLoveShop
fabulous story and shot xoxox
Sains
Wonderful shot…....perfect composition. Well done!
LoriSmaltz
I love this photo! Great.
Garth Smith
I thought it might have been 3 times as i knew I had seen it there twice and the first time I found it in your thread was before I came to the bubble.
Anyway congrats on a great image again.
Neophytos
Congratulations Travis !!!!

Richard George
My apolgies for the tardy comment… A beautiful shot and so deserving of the feature. Your work is always top notch!
Wayne Pearson
Excellent image
Esther van de ...
This is stunning. Great subject, lighting, composition, works realy well in B&W, Love the waterfall in the background. Just fantastic ..instand fav !!
Travis Easton replied
Thanks Esther, you fav was the 100th one on this shot so thanks for helping me reach that landmark, Cheers
Esther van de ...
Congratualtions !!! So well deserved , it does not suprice me at all. Glad I was of some help to reach that milesone , how special is that !! ;o))
Travis Easton replied
1% of the glory is all yours haha, thanks Esther
BornToRoam
Outstanding BW, obviously everyone feels the same way judging by how long it took me to scroll down !
Globalphotos
Congrats on your challenge win Trav, always my fav shot of yours, well done !!!
Travis Easton replied
Thanks V, had no idea until you let me know, cool.
Wayne Pearson
Congratulations on your winning entry, this image is so incredible, beautifully captured.
hsien-ku
such a beautiful image!
Scott d'Almeida
stunning
Elva
Beautiful image :)
LeighN
Great shot, works so well in B&W.
Bob Wickham
Brilliant shot and brilliant B&W
Nira Dabush
B
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Craig Hender
Outstanding story, and a perfectly executed b&w image! Just brilliant. I especially like the awesome contrast, the inky black water is fantastic.
Shelly Hiebert 4 days ago
I SO love this image for so many reasons! What a great capture Travis :)