William Lawler, Masai Boy Warrior (Single Shot 2019)

"I'm 300 years old!" - That was this young warrior's answer to my question. Give or take, he was about 12 - the same age as my own son. His face paint not only signifies his very recent induction to manhood, but also to becoming a young Masai WARRIOR! Initiation rituals, themselves 300 or more years old, are a very significant part of Masai culture in Tanzania. A tear or a sniffle at the wrong moment can define the rest of your life and social standing. His stoic and hardened gaze no doubt was forged in the heat of ceremonial battle!

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.