Chris Kirchhoff, Circles of faith, from PRIVATE 36 – AFRIKA
[I] have a fascination for exploration and discovery and have traveled widely from Antarctica to Mongolia and across Africa. My photography is focused on that exploration and my passion for celebration, ritual and ceremony. In the photographic process I try and follow the teaching of the Dalai Lama, “Wherever I go, with whomever I go may I see myself as less than all others, and from the depth of my heart may I consider them supremely precious”.I am involved in documenting issues concerning democracy, land rights, development, HIV/AIDS and the digital divide for both non-governmental and media organizations. When I photograph rituals and ceremonies I take part in the process and I endeavor to understand it before I start documenting. I have been invited to photograph a wide range of ceremonies ranging from Sangoma (traditional healers) studies and graduations to Easter ceremonies in the Transkei region of South Africa, from Christmas in Ethiopia to weddings and funerals in Mongolia.
