Yet another visually compelling collection of photographs of Tibet from the extremely talented photojournalist Lynn Johnson, whose work is known for its intensity and sensitivity. Over the years Lynn divided her time between assignments for LIFE, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated and various foundations, and traveled from Siberia to Zambia.
She writes that Tibet will soon be known only as China, and that "Tibet—Land of the Snow Leopard, prayer wheels and yak herders—is being transformed by degrees as the Chinese erase both Tibetan religion and culture first by violence, then “re-education” and finally, mass immigration of Han Chinese. Some say it is progress, others genocide. These images are records of a time when anti-government monks had gone underground, common people were fleeing to India over the snowy passes of the Himalayas and those left behind were losing hope."
Although all of her photos of Tibet are excellent, I particularly liked two of the photographs...no, make that three: one is of the two monks above, and the other is of a gnarled hand reverently holding the picture of the Dalai Lama. I also liked the one of the father and son on the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, but finally decided on the two monks for the post.
Lynn Johnson's Tibet.
