Not for us | Extraordinary in the Ordinariness

Everyday Moments

Monika Wanat's day spent with the Ovahimba tribe offered a profound contrast to modern life, as seen in her photograph series "Not for us." As the camera lens followed the daily rhythms of the Ovahimba people, it became apparent that photography held no significance for them. There were no staged smiles, no efforts to “capture the moment” – because for the Ovahimba, the moment is lived, not recorded.

Unlike those in the modern world who are glued to their phones and cameras, seeking validation or documentation for every experience, the Ovahimba were refreshingly indifferent. Their lives, rooted in a deep connection to nature and tradition, leave little room for distractions like photographs. They didn’t pose, didn’t seek attention, and didn’t waste time on something as foreign to them as capturing an image.

Monika’s project was an exercise in patience and observation. Rather than directing her subjects, she waited for the moments when they were entirely unaware of the camera’s presence. In these quiet, authentic instances, Monika found extraordinary beauty. The moments she captured were not for all, the viewers, but simply reflections of the tribe’s unchanging way of life.

Her photographic series, aptly titled Not for us, emphasizes this contrast. The Ovahimba live fully immersed in the present, untouched by the obsession with documentation that characterizes much of the modern world. Their lives offer a powerful reminder that perhaps the most meaningful moments are the ones one don’t try to preserve – but simply live.

In the end, the images tell a story of a people who see no value in a frozen moment. Instead, they remind viewers to reconnect with the world, free from the constant pull of the digital age.