A rainy day in September: I am dropped off in the middle of the swampy, Siberian tundra, about 200 hundred kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. An unknown number of miles alone on foot and a reunion with the Nenets reindeer herding family that I got to know 18 years ago when I first visited Jamal Peninsula lie ahead. This is unquestionable the extreme outer edge of civilization having a crude and harsh climate – at this place it’s fair to say that people survive rather than live. And the reindeer nomads do it with intelligence and experience handed down over generations. The photo series shows the trip chronologically from start to end and goes via the nomads in the 3rd brigade before I meet my family in the 4th brigade. |
 The landscape at the edge of Jamal - seen from the airplane
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 I'm dropped off on the tundra in a Russian Trekol |
 The first nomads I meet on my way |
 A lonely overnight stay on the tundra |
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 The old fellow throws a curious look at my backpack |
 A graveyard from old time |
 The coffins are placed directly on the ground |
 The graveyard is probably more than 100 years old |
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 In foggy weather I approach the group of nomads called 3rd brigade
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 3rd brigade has a visit from a Russian merchant who changes food for reindeer antlers |
 A grocery store on the tundra |
 Slaughtering a reindeer |
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 Virtually everything from the reindeer can be eaten |
 3rd brigade |
 3rd brigade - gathering the reindeers |
 3rd brigade - moving the camp in a caravan |
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 Putting up the nomads' tent (called a chum) |
 White reindeers are highly appreciated by the nomads |
 On the way home with water from a nearby lake |
 Going on a fishing trip |
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 3rd brigade |
 3rd brigade |
 Catching reindeers |
 3rd brigade |
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 Drying reindeer meat |
 The nomads are using dogs to gather the reindeers |
 3rd brigade |
 3rd brigade |
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 3rd brigade |
 3rd brigade |
 Catching a reindeer calf (to be earmarked) |
 3rd brigade |
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 Each family typically has 3-4 dogs |
 The women sew the clothes so even the smallest children can keep warm |
 Tea just before moving the camp in a caravan |
 Reindeer skin to dry |
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 Gathering the reindeers |
 3rd brigade |
 3rd brigade |
 The children seem to thrive well despite the harsh environment |
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 A family of the 3rd brigade that I lived with |
 Goodbye to 3rd brigade |
 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
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 Gathering reindeers in 4th brigade |
 Being together with mom |
 Future reindeer nomad |
 4th brigade |
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 Gathering reindeers in 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
 The father (left) in the 4th brigade, who I first met in 2001 |
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 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
 Father and eldest son (with wife and child), whom I first met in 2001 |
 4th brigade |
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 Moving camp |
 Moving camp |
 4th brigade |
 Moving camp |
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 Alisa with her child Pavel |
 Zhenja with his child Pavel |
 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
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 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
 4th brigade |
 Making the reindeer skin soft for sewing |
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 Drinking tea with the father and his eldest son in the family I first met in 2001 |
 Open fire in the middle of the chum |
 Zhenja with his reindeer team |
 A so called pingo on the tundra |
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 Northern light |
 My tent on the tundra (bottom center) |
 It almost became winter, before I was back |
 I got a 300 km long ride on the rivers heading back towards civilization |
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 Sailing 300 km on the rivers |
 Goodbye to the driver and his assistent |
