Who wouldn’t love to explore the world through food? Over the past two years, National Geographic has been dedicated to sharing global stories on food with our readers. As part of the Food series, photographer Matthieu Paley got the dream assignment—traveling to observe indigenous cultures and documenting the way they eat. Paley went to Bolivia, Tanzania, Greenland, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Greece to explore ancient diets and the evolution of our meals. Not only did he take a closer look at the food people were eating, but Paley also got to show their daily lives and rituals.
Recently, Paley successfully funded a book, which will be called Man & Food – The Origins, on the French crowd-funding website Ulule. The book will combine his work from all of these vast and diverse locations while crafting a broader story on how our lives are shaped by food. Here, we share some beautiful snaps from Paley’s travels while on assignment for the Future of Food series.
A girl swings on an apricot tree at the end of a valley in Tajikistan’s Gorno Badakhshan region.
Evening in the Pamir mountains. Ayse Gul, a Kyrgyz girl, is closing the sheep pen with intertwined pieces of wood. Occasionally at night, wolves or a snow leopard might attack the family livestock.
For five winter days, I walked and sometimes ran behind these two brothers: Shur Ali and Roz Ali. These caravan traders were returning home with their family yaks and I tagged along—for safety and camaraderie–coming down from the high-altitude plateau of the Pamir to the lower valleys of the Wakhan corridor in Afghanistan. On the horizon, the first sight of the Hindukush range, the stuff of dreams!
A meal laid out in Tajikistan.
Daryo Boi having a cup of salty yak milk tea in Afghanistan’s Pamir mountains.
Hunting with the Hadza in Tanzania.
A Pamir wedding is an explosion of colors, great music, excellent dancing and even party foam thrown into it. The groom just arrived at Hanisa’s wedding in Roshorv village, Tajikistan. Shot for GEO magazine.
*****
On the go? Download Nat Geo View, National Geographic’s new, bite-size daily digest app for the iPhone. Each day editors select Proof posts, as well as our best pictures, stories, and videos, and send them straight to your iPhone. Check out all National Geographic has to offer in an elegant, easy-to-use app you can tap into wherever you are today.
Related Topics
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- These 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animalsThese 'trash fish' are among Earth's most primitive animals
- These photos are works of art—and the artists are bugsThese photos are works of art—and the artists are bugs
- The epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfishThe epic migration of a 6-foot long, 200-pound catfish
- Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75Frans de Waal, biologist who studied animal emotion, dies at 75
Environment
- Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.Are synthetic diamonds really better for the planet? The answer isn't clear-cut.
- This year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning signThis year's cherry blossom peak bloom was a warning sign
- The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?The U.S. just announced an asbestos ban. What took so long?
- The most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater weldersThe most dangerous job? Inside the world of underwater welders
- The harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to surviveThe harrowing flight that wild whooping cranes make to survive
History & Culture
- Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’Meet the powerful yokai that inspired the demon king in ‘Demon Slayer’
- A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.A surprising must-wear for European monarchs? Weasels.
- Meet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural iconMeet the woman who made Polaroid into a cultural icon
- Inside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysicsInside the observatory that birthed modern astrophysics
Science
- LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?LED light treatments for skin are trendy—but do they actually work?
- NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.NASA smashed an asteroid. The debris could hit Mars.
- Humans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying themHumans really can have superpowers—scientists are studying them
- Why engineers are concerned about aging infrastructureWhy engineers are concerned about aging infrastructure
Travel
- 2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip2024 will be huge for astrotourism—here’s how to plan your trip
- Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada
- Paid Content
Play and stay in the mountains of eastern Nevada - This couple quit the city to grow wasabi in Japan's mountainsThis couple quit the city to grow wasabi in Japan's mountains