By Loren Brown
Published: January 1, 2001
Updated: 2 years ago

Tibet Photo Pictorial

Editor’s Note: These photographs may look old-fashioned now, but when we first started posting photos most images were scanned in from film negatives, which has a very different color gamut than digital, and the resolution on the internet was very poor. Images needed to be only a few kilobytes so that you could download them with a phone modem; now they are hundreds of times bigger. Learn more about our original film photographs. Fortunately, I found the original images for this pictorial. I hope you enjoy this trip back in time.

The following photographs were taken during five long and treacherous days driving from Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet. The winter snow had melted giving birth to the beginning of spring.

Some of the pictures are in color, while others were taken with black and white film and sent through a color processor. The sepia tone reflects the ancient and mystical feel that makes Tibet so unique.

TIBET – A World Away

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 02 — A young mother is begging for money with her daughter in a small village. Their cheeks are rosy red due to the high elevation (16,000 feet) and the chilling winds.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 03 — An elderly woman is on her daily pilgrimage of spinning each prayer wheel at a monastery in Shigatse. Her harsh voice could be overheard reciting a prayer.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 04 — A fortress is perched high upon a hill overlooking the homes that appeared to be deserted but were inhabited. A brilliant snow-capped mountain shines in the background.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 05 — The Tibetan woman is preparing sweet milk tea. We were fortunate enough to be a guest in their home overnight after a landslide prevented us from reaching our scheduled destination.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 06 — Two young monks are seen resting in front of an oversized prayer wheel while taking a few moments to study. What the picture does not show is that one of them was wearing NIKE tennis shoes!

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 07 — A group of farmers are returning to their village after a strenuous day in the fields. Goggles are occasionally worn due to the strong dusty wind gusts.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 08 — A nomad girl is begging for food and money. She would only allow her picture to be taken if she was given money first. The yak-skin jacket provided protection from the bitterly cold wind.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 09 — This is the Guardian deity on the roof of the Jokhang, which is the most revered religious building in Tibet.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 10 — The Potala Palace was home to the 5th – 14th Dalai Lama in Lhasa. Immediately after this picture was taken, an impressive thunder and lightning storm forced the vendors below to duck for cover.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 11 — Tara is the protective deity who symbolizes fertility and is believed to be able to fulfill wishes. Hundreds of yak-butter candles were lit at the base of the statue, creating an overwhelming and nauseating smell.

Tibet pictorial Loren Brown 12 — At the corner of the Jokhang, this dragon serves to protect the surroundings. Notice the barren mountains in the background, which is typical of the desolate landscape around Tibet.

Loren Brown

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Editor’s Note: These photographs may look old-fashioned now, but when we first started posting photos most images were scanned in from film negatives, which has a very different color gamut than digital, and the resolution on the internet was very poor. Images needed to be only a few kilobytes so that you could download them

Tibet Photo Pictorial

TIBET – A World Away

Loren Brown

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