Sheffield photographer captures disappearing tribal life: GALLERY
A SHEFFIELD photographer jetted off to one of the world's remotest regions to record the fast-disappearing traditional way of life of jungle tribes - despite being diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.
Grenville Charles, of Norton, was only told he had hyper-calcemia - abnormally high levels of calcium which can lead to kidney failure - the day before he was due to leave Sheffield for the Indonesian province of West Papua.
The area he was heading to was only accessible by light aircraft followed by a trek through the rainforest, meaning it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to get help if he became ill.
The nearest hospital was not even in the same country - it was over the border in Papua New Guinea.
Grenville's partner of 15 years Della Brydon was "very worried" about him going on the trip - particularly because she would not be able to contact him while he was away, to make sure he was alright.
Grenville said: "I was devastated with the diagnosis. Almost a year of preparation had gone into organising the trip and it would be at least another year before I would be able to re-arrange it."
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But he decided his condition would not prevent his adventure - and set out as planned from Sheffield to Heathrow for his plane.
He said: "I went for a month. I have been to Papua twice before, the first time in 2004 and again in 2006.
"Both times, my intention was to photograph the indigenous tribespeople and this trip was no different.
"The area I travelled to is very remote and only accessible by light aircraft and long days trekking through the jungle to visit the tree houses that are the Kombai tribe's homes. The area is seldom visited by outsiders.
"On the last two trips, I visited the Mek and the Korowai tribes. Already, these have altered a great deal from my first visit, particularly the Korowai.
"There is now a government post and many tribes no longer follow their traditional way of life which is why I believe it is important to record them before they are irrevocably changed forever, and which is the main reason I chose to ignore my doctor's advice not to go."
Grenville, who needs to drink a large amount of water to flush out excess calcium from his body, was warned the hot and humid conditions could worsen his condition.
But he had only one scare - while in a tree house on his 40th birthday.
Grenville recalled: "We ran out of bottled water and I had to drink some that was not purified, which I had to treat with an iodine tablet. I had a pain in my stomach, which I thought was related to my condition - but then I threw up and the pain went away. I was quite relieved."
He added: "I survived and the trip was a great success. I now have a substantial record of rarely photographed Papuan tribes. An exhibition is being planned and I am currently preparing material in order to produce a book of the images."
Grenville is not letting his condition get in the way of future travels - he is now planning a trip to the Amazon rainforest.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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