Suspicious Gaze
A young boy hides watches from a safe distance. Villagers living around Llanga Llanga lagoon are not that used to visitors.
Hello, Goodbye
A young boy waves at the camera, not quite knowing what to make of the sudden attention.
Where the Mosquito Calls
A swampy area in the backwaters of the Llanga Llanga lagoon is brimming with mosquitos and other insect life.
Tanya
This girl contrasts against the entrance to nearby church. She has colored clay smeared over her cheeks, in celebration for a special mass.
Alame and Kwafute
A mother holds her baby up for the camera. Communal family life is given a lot of importance in the Solomons, with neighboring families helping one another care for their children.
Mimi Hangre
The young child signals that it is time to eat. People living along Llanga Llanga lagoon seemed quite content with life at the water’s edge.
Planted House
A home covered in thick layers of banana leaf and palm thatch work sits nestled between tropical shrubs and hardwoods.
Riverboat
An old chugger lies berthed in a quiet corner of the lagoon.
Melon Head
Two boys smile for the camera with mouths full of betel nut and a head sporting a melon helmet.
Child of Malaita
This young boy was photographed on the wild island of Malaita. His village home, nestled in the safety of Llanga Llanga lagoon offers protection but the jungle interior is an ominous place.
Seasonal Wear
A group of boys sport flowers in their hair, preparing themselves for an important celebration.
Adam and Gustav
Two boys share a relaxed pose for their photograph.
Boy and Hibiscus
Gustav wears one of the island’s most ubiquitous flowers in his short hair - the hibiscus.
Dead Palm
A palm leaf begins its slow process of disintegration into a saline puddle.
Making Shell Money
Two women use a sharpened rock to hammer away at bits of coral and pieces of shell to form beads known as shell money, a currency for the area.
Relaxed in the Sand
Workers sit in a tight circle on the sandy bank of the lagoon, steadily building a pile of precious shell money.
William
A planter named William joins the other workers creating shell money.
Dinka’s Dress
Dinka wears the traditional grass skirt of the Solomons, and holds on to a few Frangipani leaves for added security.
Lagoon Fragrance
The sights and smells of Llanga Llanga are a wonder to behold each evening.
The Cottage
A small wooden house sits in the water of the lagoon, connected by a wooden passageway.
Master’s Room
The soft glow of candlelight escapes a small window in this forest-clad home.
Gateway to the Canal
A small wooden entrance to a canal system is yet another wonder of the village hugging Llanga Llanga lagoon.
Fern Burst
Epiphytes such as this large bromeliad are found all over the Solomon islands.
Lily Leaves
Lilies and other water-loving plants filled the gardens of these lagoon homes.
Light on the Water
Ferns, banana plants, lilies and mangroves frame a beautiful scene over the lagoon.
Palm Waves
The slim leaves of a young coconut palm sway in the gentle breeze that runs through the valley.
Rowing Out
Canoes are the best means of transport in an area connected by waterways.
Prisoners
A rat is trapped and removed from a planter’s home. Some large species of rat can be found in the tropics and the Solomon islands are no exception.
Wooden Canopies
The front of a wooden house is shaded by palm trees and frangipani plants.
Young Shoots
Stems from a mangrove plant grow upwards towards the light. They are well adapted to their saline environment.
Pink Hibiscus
Veins running through the petal surface help guide insects to the nectary core of this exquisite tropical flower.
Green Home
Palm fronds hide a rather secretive dwelling in the backwaters of the lagoon.