Michael Hanson’s portraits prove that sometimes the most original images come when a photographer steps outside his comfort zone. When the Seattle-based documentary photographer made a trip to Ethiopia’s remote Omo Valley, he discovered that its villagers, members of ancient tribes who have not adopted Western ways, have grown used to posing for tourists. “There was no way they were going to let me photograph them in a natural way,” says Hanson, whose solution was to ditch his reportage style in favor of stark black-and-white portraiture. By focusing purely on the villagers and their tribal markings, Hanson was able to convey not just the essence of their personalities, but the compelling culture that has shaped them.
CLOSE-UP
• Training: A former minor-league baseball player, Hanson is selftaught as a photographer.
• Work owned by: The Sir Elton John Photography Collection
• Inspired by: A curiosity about the people behind food and everyday objects; he’s documented the gold mines in Chile and the oyster industry in Florida.
• Best advice: Learning how to connect to the people in your shots is more important than mastering the gear or the business side of photography.
• Website: michaelhansonphotography.com
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*Portraiture Category Winner*Omo Valley, Ethiopia. Portrait of a man holding a rifle.
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*Portraiture Category Winner*Omo Valley, Ethiopia. A portrait of a young boy in the Omo Valley.
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*Portraiture Category Winner*Omo Valley, Ethiopia. Body decoration remains an integral part of life in the Omo Valley as seen here on a woman’s arm. Repeated cutting and inducing infection help create scars.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *OttoFloat like an angel
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Personalities of Tasmania1Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Personalities of Tasmania2Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Personalities of Tasmania3Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Personalities of Tasmania4Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Personalities of Tasmania5Caption: Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Personalities of Tasmania6Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Personalities of Tasmania7Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Personalities of Tasmania8Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Personalities of Tasmania9Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Personalities of Tasmania10Portion of Tasmanian Portrait Series Book.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* I am a Money lover
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *I am a Money lover2
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* EX Soviet1
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *EX Soviet2
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *EX Soviet3
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* EX Soviet4
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *EX Soviet5
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* EX Soviet6
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *EX Soviet7
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *AlexanderPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #1
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* AllaPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #2
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Burning Dolls with TaraPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #3
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *CostiaPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #4
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Elena’s NewsPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #5
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* FiodorPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #6
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *KatiaPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #7
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Number on RoofPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #8
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Officer ToliaPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #9
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *Pavlov SistersPeople and Promises of Hanna Street #10
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* Egyptian StarAhmad El-Fishawy, Egyptian Cinema Star
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *FrancoisPart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title: *NtebogengPart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* JeremyPart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* JPPart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* RachelPart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* TammyPart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up **Title:* StevePart of a series of close-up portraits.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title: *Frozen ManMy friend Mike got caught outside on a very cold day in Northern Canada.
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title:* Andrée-AnnSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title:* CarolineSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title: *CatherineSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title:* DominiqueSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title: *KaterineSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title:* Mélie-AnneSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title: *RebeccaSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title: *SaraSherbrooke 2009
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*Portraiture Category Runner-Up**Title:* SarahSherbrooke 2008
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*Portraiture Category Winner*Omo Valley, Ethiopia. A young boy stands on stilts in the middle of the road hoping to receive a tip.Michael Hanson’s portraits prove that sometimes the most original images come when a photographer steps outside his comfort zone. When the Seattle-based documentary photographer made a trip to Ethiopia’s remote Omo Valley, he discovered that its villagers, members of ancient tribes who have not adopted Western ways, have grown used to posing for tourists. “There was no way they were going to let me photograph them in a natural way,” says Hanson, whose solution was to ditch his reportage style in favor of stark black-and-white portraiture. By focusing purely on the villagers and their tribal markings, Hanson was able to convey not just the essence of their personalities, but the compelling culture that has shaped them.
