Mandy Ross

I have just returned from a photography trip to the Omo Valley with Giovanna and Krista , and it’s hard to put into words just how extraordinary the experience was. From start to finish, the journey felt raw, intense, and completely beyond anything I had imagined. The tribes of the Omo Valley were remarkable—powerful, striking, and unforgettable.

What truly set this trip apart were the photographic moments that couldn’t be planned. Yes, there were opportunities to create incredible images with the tribes, but it was the unexpected encounters—the moments we quite literally stumbled upon—that stayed with me the most. These scenes felt surreal, fleeting, and deeply human, and they resulted in photographs I never dreamed I’d capture.

This is not an easy trip, and it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s physically demanding, remote, and at times uncomfortable—but that is exactly why it delivers something so rare. To come away with photographs that feel truly original, photographs that very few people will ever take, you have to live and work in these conditions. Every challenge was worth it.

Despite the remoteness, the experience was incredibly well run. The camping exceeded all expectations, with immaculate campsites and a level of care that made life in such a wild place feel surprisingly effortless.

Giovanna is as warm, generous, and inspiring as her photography suggests—a genuinely wonderful person to travel with. Krista is an absolute force of nature, calmly and efficiently moving us through airports, vehicles, and remote locations with tireless energy and strength. Together, they made the impossible feel achievable.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this trip to anyone seeking adventure, challenge, and the chance to create truly exceptional photographs of remote tribes. It was intense, humbling, and unforgettable—and an experience that will stay with me for a very long time.